Need help applying this to your account?
Contact support and we will keep this article attached to your request.
Overview
To reduce self-referrals, use email verification, wait for a referral to qualify before rewarding it, review rewards, and set clear campaign rules. Check the referral details in your Leads view when something looks unusual.
What does Referral Factory already prevent?
Email is unique within a campaign. If someone tries to use the same email address again, Referral Factory does not create another person. The form shows an error such as This email is already registered. Please log in.
That prevents the simple case where a referrer tries to refer themselves using the exact email address already registered in the campaign.
What if another email address is used?
A different email address is a different situation. It may not be identified automatically as a self-referral, so use your usual qualification and review process.
Practical ways to reduce abuse
Require a real qualification event before issuing a reward.
Keep rewards Due while someone reviews higher-value referrals.
Turn on email verification for the parts of the journey where it makes sense.
Review Source, Referred By, Status, Qualified Date, and IP in the Leads view.
Use Referral Limit and reward limits to control exposure.
Add clear Terms & Conditions explaining eligibility and when rewards can be cancelled.
An IP match can help you spot a pattern, but it does not prove that a self-referral has occurred.
Read what happens when someone refers themselves for the exact same-email behaviour, or use the broader fraud-prevention guide for additional controls.
