1. The short version
- A real brand never asks you to pay a fee, download software or log in to “see the contract”.
- Check the sender’s domain against the brand’s own website, not the name in the email.
- Forward anything doubtful to check@influencerunion.com.
2. The signs
- It asks you to download or install something to read the contract or brief — the most common way channels are taken over.
- It comes from a free email account (gmail.com, outlook.com) while claiming to be a company.
- The sender’s domain is close to, but not the same as, the brand’s.
- It asks for a fee, a deposit or your login details before you are paid.
- It wants to move to Telegram or WhatsApp straight away, or pays in crypto or gift cards.
- It links to a file-sharing site instead of the brand’s own pages.
3. Check it in two minutes
- Find the brand’s real website yourself (not from the email) and compare its domain with the sender’s.
- Look for the creator program on that website. Real programs are listed there.
- Paste the sender into the IU check, or forward the email to check@influencerunion.com.
4. If you already clicked
Change your Google password from a different device, sign out of every session, turn on two-step verification with an app or a security key, and check which apps have access to your YouTube account. Then report the email so the union can warn others.
5. Method
Figures use the average views of 8,277 YouTube channels IU tracks, refreshed at least every 30 days. Rate floors use IU’s published pricing method at its low end; ranges are shown only where a group has at least 20 channels. This guidance comes from creators, for creators; it is not legal or financial advice.
Cite as: InfluencerUnion, “How to spot a fake sponsorship email”, influencerunion.com/academy/spot-a-fake-sponsorship-email (2026).
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