Introduction
Rivo has many different tools and checks we do each time a referral link is used. These security checks can cut down on fraud by up to 95%. An overview of the fraud protection tools is below.
✨ Referral campaigns are available on plans that include referrals. See pricing →
Fraud prevention tools
Our tools are built-in to the referrals platform and provide multiple layers of protection. Most work automatically, while some can be customized in your referral settings dashboard.
IP address check to ensure only one referral per household
We track IP addresses to help prevent referrals from the same Wi-Fi network or IP address as the advocate (for example, in the same household).
New: Add an IP address threshold from the referral fraud settings dashboard.
Enhanced self-referral blocking by email
If an advocate tries to refer themselves, the system can block the referral based on email matching checks.
This includes exact email matches plus common email variation tricks. For example, if the advocate’s email is “[email protected]”, trying “[email protected]” won’t work for the friend.
Shared phone number detection
If the advocate and referred customer share the same phone number, the referral can be blocked automatically.
Checkout address matching
You can enable a setting to block referrals when the friend’s checkout shipping address matches the advocate’s address.
Referral link cookies
We use cookie tracking to stop people from referring themselves using different email addresses through the same browser.
Referral Share Links
Rivo uses Share Links technology to create a custom referral experience unique to each merchant. This experience is customized and contains protection tools built in.
Existing customer validation
Referrals are only applicable for new customers to your shop. Our system performs comprehensive checks:
Purchase history check: If someone tries to refer an email address that has already purchased from your brand, the system will automatically block it
Account existence check: The system verifies that the referred email doesn’t belong to an existing customer account
Order timing validation: We check account age and order history to help prevent referrals from existing customers
This ensures that referral rewards are only given for genuinely new customers.
Advocate referral limits
You can set limits for how many referrals an advocate can generate in your referral settings dashboard (for example, monthly and total referral limits).
Order IP address verification
For enhanced security, we can cross-reference referral signup IP addresses with previous order IP addresses to identify potential fraud patterns. This helps detect when the same person is placing orders and creating referral accounts.
Minimum Cart Requirements and conditions for rewards
As the merchant, you can configure specific reward amounts to reach for the referral to apply. These will automatically apply to your emails if you use the dynamic email variable called #{{reward_tos}}.
For example, for the advocate to earn a reward, the friend should make a purchase that meets $100 or more from the new arrivals collection.
Reward timing controls
By default, advocate rewards are sent when a qualifying order is placed.
You can also configure your referral settings to send advocate rewards after fulfillment, and optionally delay the send time after fulfillment.
Manual exclusion and management tools
You have complete control over who can participate in your referral program:
Shadow ban capability: Silently exclude any customer from the referral program with the click of a button, right from their customer profile
Referral status management: View and manage referral statuses (pending, completed, blocked) from your dashboard
Unblocking capability: Manually unblock referrals that were automatically blocked if you determine they’re legitimate
Bulk management: Handle multiple referrals and customer exclusions efficiently
When a customer is excluded from your program, they won’t be able to participate in referrals.
Unique discount codes and security
Rewards are specified and limited to the friend or advocate to whom they belong. Each discount code is unique and cannot be shared or reused by others.
Translating your error messaging
The default translation labels and messages are listed below. You can edit these in Branding > Translation.
Message Type | Default Error Message |
Referrals general invalid title | We’re Sorry |
Referrals general invalid | Sorry, looks like this referral is invalid |
Referrals similar ip invalid | We are unable to process referrals within the same IP address |
Referrals code invalid | This referral code is invalid |
Referrals already visited | Already visited this page |
Referrals program disabled | This referral program is disabled |
Referrals email already claimed | This email has already been claimed |
Referrals account already claimed | You already have an account. You can invite your friends to win rewards! |
Common questions
Can I manually exclude a customer from the referrals program?
Yes! You can click here to learn how to exclude a customer.
Can an advocate try to refer a friend who is an existing customer and who has placed past orders but never used a referral discount code?
When the friend submits their email address we run a whole list of fraud checks before we award them the referral reward. One of these checks is if the email provided has a purchase history. If the customer placed an order previously this referral will be marked as blocked status. Learn more about statuses here.
What happens when a referral is blocked?
When a referral is blocked, no rewards are issued to either the advocate or the friend. The referral appears in your dashboard with a “blocked” status, and you can see the specific reason it was blocked. You can manually unblock referrals if you determine they’re legitimate.
How do IP address thresholds work?
By default, any referral from the same IP address is blocked. When you enable IP thresholds, the system allows up to 10 referrals per week from the same IP address before blocking additional ones. This can be useful for businesses like colleges or offices where multiple legitimate customers share the same IP address.
Can I customize the fraud detection settings?
Yes. You can configure several fraud prevention settings in your referral dashboard, including IP blocking, IP thresholds, checkout address matching, attribution settings, and reward timing.
What’s the difference between automatic and manual fraud detection?
Automatic fraud checks run during referral activity and can block ineligible referrals based on your configured settings. Manual tools let you review referral records, block or unblock referrals, and manage customer participation when needed.