This post may contain affiliate links. If a product or service is purchased using a link(s) in the post below a small commission may be earned.
Image created using ImageFX by Google
There’s a new collab scam going around. This one is featuring the skincare brand Kopari. I knew it was a scam because it was from a Gmail account. I still reached out to the brand. They replied quickly and confirmed it was a scam.
These scams are becoming more and more popular. They are offering many of the same collab offers. Such as a box of up to X items Your own discount code and more.
The Sender
The email was sent from the following person and email address:
Ko Pari collab.koparibeautyinc@gmail.com
Here’s the red flags already the brand name is broken up like a first and last name. Then the email is a Gmail account.
The email
The email was rather long and offered some great collab opportunities for someone who is trying to break into getting a brand deal in a way.
Hello and good day miss I am JULIA DYSON,the brand partnership manager here @ KOPARI BEAUTY
We took time to check,review and applaud the content creation of your profile account.We are interested in sponsoring you as a creating influencer for our influencer/ambassador campaign launch.The work that you do inspires style,beauty and confidence. Your social media profile is great! We think our audience would find your content very interesting and convincing.We became interested in your beauty content by viewing your tags in while surfing through URBAN PLANET on INSTAGRAM.This campaign gives you the privilege of getting free monthly makeup packages (30 items)of your choice per month), your own exclusive discount code to share, shoutouts and reposts to our Instagram and website and also a follow back from our main handle on Instagram @ KOPARI BEAUTY
We will be sending out free PR packages every month, this means you will get to show off our newest cosmetics completely free with no catch! in return just tag us with the cosmetics either wearing them or just showing off the package! You will also be getting a payment of $2000( this is because of your social media engagements as an influencer of this brand)You are expected to create 10 content posts for a start.Subsequently we may increase your payment as you grow your audience and make the best post we want to see.You will be paid via bank transfer to paypal,venmo,cashapp or Zelle every time you post a shout-out of our newest brand product,wearing them on your page or just a convincing image of the product.We expect a maximum and minimum of ten posts from you per month.
Note:this is a paid collaboration and the campaign’s payment will depend on your social media engagements as it is still low but as we work together you may get an increment in the payment subsequently depending on your activeness to the job.If the first 3 months of this partnership goes well, we may consider making it a long term collaboration.Kindly let us know if you accept our offer so as to begin all necessary registration processes required to make you a creative influencer for this brand.
ALL RIGHTS RESPECTFULLY RESERVED.
IMPORTANT:- This email and the information that it contains is very confidential,legally privileged and protected by law of trademark.Access by the intended recipient only is authorized.Any liability (in negligence or otherwise) arising from any third party acting, or refraining from acting, on any information contained in this email is hereby excluded.If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and do not disclose the contents to any other person, use it for any purpose, or store or copy the information in any medium.Copyright in this email and attachments created by us belongs to KOPARI BEAUTY author also asserts the right to be identified as such an object to any misuse.
BEST REGARDS
JULIA DYSON
COLLABORATION PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT
A few things I noticed about this email was it was long-winded. it also mentioned a random Instagram account named Urban Planet. I looked it up and it appears to be a fashion brand.
The email also threw out the typical ploy of you can pick a PR box loaded with items. A discount code and shoutouts. Do little and get paid.
The Red Flags 🚩🚩🚩
The big red flags for me was the email address. It was from a Gmail account. Many brands have their own email addresses. Which is a brand dot com. For instance, it would be PR@XYZbrand.com
Another red flag is the way the email was written it was all run together. It seemed like the more they crammed into the email the more enticing it would be to the reader.
The All rights reserved disclaimer at the end of the email was a bit suspicious to me. The email didn’t contain any trademarked or Logo material in it.
The usual suspects of Grammar, spelling, and sentence structure is also important to notice as well.
Beware of payment offers
The line in the email is a bit suspect:
You will be paid via bank transfer to paypal,venmo,cashapp or Zelle every time you post a shout-out of our newest brand product,wearing them on your page or just a convincing image of the product
I know many brands offer different payment options but it seems they will pay you for general posts. I always find it odd that these types of scams always mention bank transfers or peer-to-peer payments. As we know Zelle is still being hit by scammers.
Always be wary of large payouts. This scam claimed you’d be paid $2,000.
I reached out to Kopari
I reached out to Kopari and they replied back rather quickly. The customer service rep stated the following:
Hi Vanessa,
Thanks for reaching out and letting us know! It’s not us, we always use company domain emails, @koparibeauty.com, for any communications. There are always fake emails that impersonate us and we’re so sorry for the confusion that caused your inconvenience. Please report & block them and do not give them any information.
As I mentioned I already knew it was a scam email but it was nice that the brand took my email seriously and offered a genuine reply.
What kind of scam is this?
I would say it could be a phishing scam or a money scam. They prey on folks who want to get onto a PR list. So maybe after contacting them you would be told you needed to pay a fee or something.
Let’s get the word out and don’t let others fall for this scam.
