The Honey Influencer Scam: Exposing the Truth
By now, you’ve likely heard about Honey, the browser extension marketed as the ultimate money-saver that finds you the best coupon codes while shopping online.
Countless influencers have championed it, urging their audiences to install Honey for what’s essentially “free money.” But behind the slick endorsements and glowing claims lies a web of deceit affecting consumers and influencers alike.
The Shocking Reality
Honey’s business practices aren’t just misleading—they border on fraudulent. The most egregious issue? Honey has been quietly hijacking affiliate commissions from influencers who helped promote their product in the first place. Here’s how it works:
- A viewer clicks on an influencer’s affiliate link to purchase a product, which ensures the influencer earns a commission
- At checkout, Honey activates, claiming to search for coupon codes. Whether it finds one or not, it overrides the affiliate link, replacing it with its own.
- Honey then claims the commission meant for the influencer, even when providing no actual discount.
This system, designed to exploit affiliate marketing’s “last-click attribution” model, has cost influencers millions in lost earnings. And the deception doesn’t stop there.
Consumers Misled
Honey’s core promise is to “find every working coupon code on the internet” and apply the best one for maximum savings. However, Honey’s partnership agreements with businesses tell a different story.
Partner stores have full control over which discount codes appear on Honey’s platform, even if better codes exist elsewhere. In essence, Honey withholds the best deals from consumers to prioritize its profits.
The Impact on the Creative Community
Beyond harming consumers, Honey’s tactics undermine the livelihoods of content creators, bloggers, and small affiliates who depend on commissions to sustain their work.
Influencers unknowingly directed their audiences to download a tool that ultimately harmed their own revenue streams. Even large creators, like Linus Tech Tips, took years to catch on, only ceasing their partnership with Honey after discovering its unethical practices.
A Wake-Up Call
Honey’s success, fueled by billions of YouTube views and thousands of sponsorships, highlights the unchecked power of aggressive marketing campaigns. It’s a reminder to approach “too good to be true” claims with skepticism and to demand greater transparency from companies profiting off consumers and creators alike.
