The Commission Bait
Offers that sound risk-free by suggesting they only get paid a percentage of the sales they generate.
“I'll work on commission only — you only pay when you make sales”
What this pattern means
While 'pay-on-performance' sounds like a founder's dream, it's often a setup for high-pressure tactics or data theft. These actors often demand 'full access' to your store to 'track sales'—which they then use to export your customer lists or pixel data. Alternatively, they may use 'black-hat' marketing tactics that provide short-term sales spikes but get your Facebook Ad account or Shopify Payments account permanently banned. Professional talent knows their worth and rarely works solely on the 'hope' of sales from an unverified partner.
The psychology of the scam
This tactic uses classic social engineering to create a sense of trust or urgency. By following a behavioral script, the actor attempts to bypass your natural skepticism and move you closer to a payment or access request before you've performed a full background check.
What to do instead
- Slow down the conversation and ask for verified case studies of live stores.
- Avoid making any access or payment decisions during the initial outreach phase.
- Verify their public identity (LinkedIn/Portfolio) through a separate search.
- Trust your intuition—if the outreach feels rehearsed or “too good to be true,” it usually is.
Details
Severity
Medium Risk
Category
promises
Tags