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Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam [video]

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Re: Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam [video]

#11

Post by fabianhjr »

the4anoni wrote: post #10

For me It was somehow obvious "they need to make money on something", and it doesn't surprise me at all that they are inserting own affiliate links. Would I call this scam? No, I wouldn't. Firstly I thought they started to genuinely deploy malware or some crypto-coin miner.

It is not the only claim in the video.

There are at least the following claims:

- Inserts its own affiliate link (even when no discount is found, uses strategies to push for interaction like adding a dismiss/pay with paypal link that adds the affiliate association)

- Adds a very small kickback from the affiliate payment they receive as a rewards program. (Which, while scraps, makes content creators "lose" in economic terms in the affiliate offerings)

- Promises to consumers to find the best discounts available

- Promises to vendors to allow control of the discounts offered and the offer rate of said discounts

- Previous both promises are contradictory yet simultaneously offered

- An extra/upcoming claim around forcing non-affiliated stores to affiliate.

Re: Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam [video]

#12

Post by sgerenser »

the4anoni wrote: post #10

For me It was somehow obvious "they need to make money on something", and it doesn't surprise me at all that they are inserting own affiliate links. Would I call this scam? No, I wouldn't. Firstly I thought they started to genuinely deploy malware or some crypto-coin miner.

It’s not as big of a scam as deploying malware, but it’s still definitely a scam.

Re: Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam [video]

#13

Post by mandmandam »

the4anoni wrote: post #10

For me It was somehow obvious "they need to make money on something", and it doesn't surprise me at all that they are inserting own affiliate links. Would I call this scam? No, I wouldn't. Firstly I thought they started to genuinely deploy malware or some crypto-coin miner.

> it doesn't surprise me at all that they are inserting own affiliate links.

I bet it surprises everyone who had their affiliate links quietly swapped out.

> Would I call this scam? No, I wouldn't.

Then your definition of 'scam' needs work.

While we might expect PayPal's Honey to scam people like this, and be less than surprised that they would screw people over in this way, that doesn't mean this doesn't have every element of a scam - deception and trickery (and likely illegality).

Re: Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam [video]

#14

Post by shufflerofrocks »

the4anoni wrote: post #10

For me It was somehow obvious "they need to make money on something", and it doesn't surprise me at all that they are inserting own affiliate links. Would I call this scam? No, I wouldn't. Firstly I thought they started to genuinely deploy malware or some crypto-coin miner.

I think that's surprising... why wouldn't you consider it a scam? Hell, even a malware?

Honey does the following:

- Stealing the commission from an affiliate link assigned to someone else

- Cutting itself a commission by inserting an affiliate link, when there was none, essentially profiting off you without your consent.

- Gives you the worst discount code possible, while saying it got you the best deal

- Cheating the companies doing the affiliate marketing by taking credit for purchases that happened without honey's involvement

Re: Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam [video]

#15

Post by darthwalsh »

mandmandam wrote: post #13
the4anoni wrote: post #10

For me It was somehow obvious "they need to make money on something", and it doesn't surprise me at all that they are inserting own affiliate links. Would I call this scam? No, I wouldn't. Firstly I thought they started to genuinely deploy malware or some crypto-coin miner.

> it doesn't surprise me at all that they are inserting own affiliate links. I bet it surprises everyone who had their affiliate links quietly swapped out. > Would I call this scam? No, I wouldn't. Then your definition of 'scam' needs work. While we might expect PayPal's Honey to scam people like this, and be less than surprised that they would screw people over in this way, that doesn't mean this doesn't have every…

Sure, it was a scam, but we weren't the victims. I won't shed a tear for the marketing departments they were defrauding. I do feel bad for the small YouTube channels who lost affiliate revenue, though.

Re: Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam [video]

#16

Post by loeg »

Kapura wrote: post #5

This is absolutely wild. In a just society this would be illegal. Why are we just hearing about this now? this is the most rot economy, rent-seeking behaviour imaginable.

It arguably is illegal, although I'm sure they have a high-powered legal department that will argue it isn't.

Re: Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam [video]

#17

Post by toomuchtodo »

loeg wrote: post #16
Kapura wrote: post #5

This is absolutely wild. In a just society this would be illegal. Why are we just hearing about this now? this is the most rot economy, rent-seeking behaviour imaginable.

It arguably is illegal, although I'm sure they have a high-powered legal department that will argue it isn't.

PayPal has deep pockets, making it an ideal civil suit target. There are also 50 state AGs who might be interested in pursuing due to this potentially fraudulent activity.

Re: Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam [video]

#19

Post by xyst »

With more deregulation just beyond the horizon, I wonder how much latitude these companies are going to get with siphoning/stealing from people.

It’s amazing IJ from MegaLag, but what’s do we expect going forward?

Honey was essentially given a slap on the wrist by a pseudo-regulator, BBB [1]

Yet another slap on the wrist with a civil suit? Honey changes their T&C. Lawyers get their massive cut of the class action settlement while individual consumers, “influencers” get a pittance?

Nothing ever changes unless C-suite starts going to jail.

[1] https://bbbprograms.org/media-center/dd/nad-honey-science-co...

Re: Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam [video]

#20

Post by xyst »

sss111 wrote: post #18

How would you even build a better version of this geared towards consumers? I don’t see the incentives lining up unless you start charging for the service.

a simple database of coupon codes for each retailer. That’s it. Basically a “Retailmenot” copy.

Interestingly, RMN did sue over alleged IP infringement in 2018 [1]

[1] https://ia803106.us.archive.org/8/items/gov.uscourts.ded.656...

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