How do I prevent referral fraud or abuse?

Introduction

Referral programs work best when customers genuinely invite friends. But without safeguards, some shoppers may try to “hack” the system by creating fake accounts or using their own referral codes. Roadmap includes built-in protections and gives you options to limit referral abuse.

1. One Reward Per New Customer

• Roadmap only gives the referee reward on a new customer’s first order.
• Repeat orders or multiple uses of the same code by the same customer won’t trigger extra rewards.

2. Order Validation

• Referrers only get their reward after the referee’s order is confirmed (e.g. not canceled or refunded).
• Prevents fake orders from triggering referral rewards.

3. Customer Uniqueness

• Referrals require a unique customer account and email.
• This prevents someone from using their own account multiple times.

4. Minimum Spend Requirements

• You can set a minimum order value for referee rewards.
• Example: Friend must spend at least $50 for either party to get rewarded.
• Helps stop people from placing tiny orders just to unlock rewards.

5. Code Controls

• Use a code prefix (e.g. REF123, FRIEND123) to make tracking easier.
• Set quantity limits for rewards to cap usage per order.

6. Customer Tagging & Review

• Roadmap logs referral activity to customer profiles.
• You can review suspicious accounts and manually adjust or revoke rewards if needed.

7. Encourage Genuine Sharing

• Highlight the program as a way to reward loyalty and friendships, not just free discounts.
• Encourage sharing via social media/email widgets, which are harder to game than fake signups.

Best Practices

• ✅ Require a minimum spend for the referee reward.
• ✅ Delay the referrer’s reward until the order is fulfilled or past return window.
• ✅ Regularly review referral logs for unusual activity.
• ✅ Use tiered loyalty perks to make referrals just one of many ways to earn.

Common Questions

• Can customers refer themselves with another email?
  • Roadmap blocks self-referrals by requiring a unique customer account and confirmed purchase.
• Can someone trigger rewards with a canceled/refunded order?
  • No — rewards are only granted after successful completion.
• Can I revoke fraudulent rewards?
  • Yes — admins can manually adjust points or remove discounts from customer accounts.
• Can I limit the number of referrals per customer?
  • Yes — set a cap in your referral settings if you want tighter control.

Summary

To prevent referral fraud in Roadmap:

• ✅ Only first-time customers are eligible.
• ✅ Orders must be valid and confirmed.
• ✅ Minimum spends and limits can be applied.
• ✅ Admins can monitor and revoke suspicious rewards.

​