FTC Helps Consumers Understand Affiliate Marketing in Online Advertising

A “free” trial offer may be tempting, but it could be a scam out to get your money.

The Federal Trade Commission wants consumers to be aware of affiliate marketing in online advertising. Affiliate marketing is a good way to promote a product or service, but only if the ad is truthful. Some marketers may use misleading information to get people to click on their ads.

An FTC blog post, What’s affiliate marketing? Should I care? describes how affiliate marketing works and how to avoid scams, which is summarized in an infographic, How Affiliate Marketing Works.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).  Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.