CRWD

You don’t need to have a large social media following to make money reviewing products online, according to these TikTok influencers promoting CRWD, an app that is currently in prelaunch.

In the videos, the influencers claim that CRWD will pay you $10 to $50 (or more) to review products, such as candy, appliances and cosmetics, purchased from Amazon and TikTok Shop or sold at Target and Walmart. And you don’t have to pay a dime. Influencers say CRWD sends you the funds to purchase the items and then pays you for your review the same day you post it. You can even get paid to dine at local restaurants and bars, influencers claim. And you can do it all with your friends (aka your crowd).

“This is a perfect little side job for anybody, stay-at-home moms who are trying to make extra money, or anybody in general trying to make an extra $50,” says one influencer. “And this isn’t a one-time thing, this is multiple, multiple times and let me remind you, you don’t need a following for this, this is for everyone.”

In addition to consumers, including minors, CRWD targets companies, marketing its forthcoming app as a “game-changer” for businesses.

On Instagram, the company’s founder and CEO Ryan Chen claims that CRWD can connect brands to thousands of consumers who will do things like test an app or buy a product until it sells out.  According to the company, this allows for more exposure than traditional influencer marketing (even as the company itself is using influencers with large followings to promote its app during the current prelaunch phase).

So both consumers and brands benefit – sounds like a win-win, right? But before you sign up, there are a few red flags associated with this purported money-making opportunity that you need to mull over first.

Despite claims of same-day payment, CRWD’s worker terms and conditions reveal that payouts are typically processed within 48 hours but may also take up to 30 days. And that’s if you get paid at all. Some consumers have left comments on influencers’ videos saying they never received their money or even heard back from the company after they texted the number the influencer provided.

But wait, there’s more.

Some CRWD influencers don’t properly disclose that their videos are ads. According to the FTC, if there’s a material connection between an endorser and the marketer (such as a payment or a free or discounted product) that isn’t obvious, it needs to be clearly and conspicuously disclosed.

Company responds

In response to a TINA.org request for comment, Chen said despite influencers’ focus on getting paid to review products, the company “prohibit[s] any review in exchange for payment.” Rather, Chen said, CRWD “reimburse[s] participants for their time spent ‘focus-testing’ products and providing internal feedback to our clients.”

“CRWD never pays users to leave reviews on third-party platforms,” Chen said, adding, “Participants are instructed solely to test products and submit internal feedback through our platform. … any public review they choose to leave is voluntary and uncoupled from payment.” Chen did not respond to a question about what users typically earn, only stating that compensation “ranges from $1 to $100 per assignment, depending on complexity.”

The CRWD founder also objected to influencers’ representations that the company provides the funds to purchase products, saying consumers buy the items themselves.

Chen noted that “[n]ot all influencers who promote CRWD are paid deals” but did not comment on the specific TikTok posts TINA.org provided with regard to whether they’re from paid influencers or not. He said the company uses influencers to “amplify awareness.”

Lastly, the CRWD CEO said “most reimbursements” are processed within 24 hours and if someone comments on social media about not getting paid, the company “contacts them immediately to investigate.”

The bottom line

Consumers should be cautious of any claims that you can make money with minimal effort. And if a purported money-making opportunity first requires that you spend some of your own money, proceed with caution. That may be money that you never get back.

Find more of our coverage on influencer marketing.