---
title: Fraud risk flags
slug: fraud-risk-flags
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-09-03T03:14:03.264Z
---

Roster automatically reviews ambassadors who earn cash and commission rewards, watching for signs that someone may be gaming the program rather than driving genuine word-of-mouth sales. When our checks find a likely bad actor, we flag them so you can review before any commissions are paid out.

This guide explains why we do this, what the flag means, and how to handle a flagged ambassador.

## Why We Check for Fraud

Because ambassador programs pay real commissions, they occasionally attract people who try to earn payouts through methods your program doesn't allow.

The two most common patterns:

1. **Paid-ad arbitrage**: buying online ads (for example, Google Ads) to manufacture "referral" clicks and sales, instead of genuinely recommending your brand to their audience. 
2. **Impersonation**: posing as a well-known creator they aren't, to look more credible in their application.

These patterns can lead to commissions being paid on traffic that was never true word-of-mouth. Our automated review is designed to catch this before you pay, so your program budget goes to real advocates.

## What a Fraud Risk Flag Means

A flag means our system has spotted a combination of signals that, together, suggest an ambassador may not be legitimate.

**Some of the things that factor into a flag:**

- A referral audience made up overwhelmingly of paid-ad traffic rather than organic clicks 
- Social handles listed on an application that were never connected or verified 
- Payout details that don't line up with the rest of the account Application information that appears fabricated or templated 
- The same identity applying to multiple brand programs in a short window

No single item causes a flag on its own. We only flag when the overall picture warrants a closer look. We also hold off on making a decision until there's enough information to be confident, which helps reduce false alarms.

:::BlockQuote
A flag is a prompt to review, not a final verdict. It's meant to give you a heads-up so you can make the call.
:::

## How You'll Know

- **Notification email**: when new flags appear, your team receives a digest email. If nothing is flagged, no email is sent. 
- **Profile banner**: a flagged ambassador shows a banner on their contact profile. 
- **Search filter**: you can filter your contacts by fraud risk to see everyone who's currently flagged.

## Handling a Flagged Ambassador

1. Open the ambassador's contact profile and review their activity and application details.
2. Check their referral traffic and rewards to decide whether the activity looks genuine.
3. Hold or reject any pending rewards you're not comfortable paying while you review.
4. If everything checks out, proceed as normal. A flag doesn't block your ability to work with them.

## FAQ

**Does a flag automatically stop payouts?** 

No. A flag surfaces the ambassador for your review. You stay in control of approving, holding, or rejecting their rewards.

**Can a legitimate ambassador be flagged by mistake?** 

It's possible. Because we combine multiple signals and wait for enough data before flagging, false alarms are rare, but if you believe a flag is incorrect, review the profile and contact support if you'd like help.

**Which ambassadors get reviewed?** 

The automated review focuses on ambassadors who earn cash and commission rewards, since that's where payout risk exists.

## Need Help?

If you need any additional assistance with a fraud risk flag or your Roster account, feel free to contact our support team at [support@getroster.com](mailto\:support@getroster.com). We're here to help!