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# Musicians: How to protect yourself from false promises, fake streams and digital scam artists
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/musicians-how-to-protect-yourself-from-false-promises-fake-streams-and-digital-scam-artists/
- Published: 2022-05-23T16:22:22.000Z
- Updated: 2022-05-23T16:22:24.000Z
- Description: From fake streams to false opportunities from major record labels, there is no shortage of scammers preying on the dreams of musicians hoping to move their careers forward. We’ve all. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2022/05/musicians-how-to-protect-yourself-from-false-promises-fake
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: DIY Advice & Tips, Indie Music, Music Marketing, Social Media, DIY musicians, fake streams, music, Music Business, music industry, music promotion, Music Tech, musician, musicians, Spotify, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 09:48

From fake streams to false opportunities from major record labels, there is no shortage of scammers preying on the dreams of musicians hoping to move their careers forward.

We’ve all seen ads selling streams and social media followers, which could get you kicked off these platforms forever. Recently Hypebot featured a [video reportedly taken inside a New York City stream farm](https://www.hypebot.com/video-of-nyc-streaming-farm-allegedly-used-by-major-artists-labels-surfaces/) that claims to regualry deliver tens of thousands of fake streams on Spotify for major label artists.

![](https://haulixdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/haulix-groove-logo.png)

**James Shotwell** of [**Haulix,** a platform that makes running legitimate promotional campaigns easy, fast, and secure](https://haulixdaily.com/?ref=hypebot.com), has been uncovering these kinds of scams for several years now and as such become a kind of go-to repository of bad behavior targeting musicians.

Shotwell also regularly shares how-to advice for musicians on the informative [Haulix Daily blog](https://haulixdaily.com/?ref=hypebot.com) which we often repost here on Hypebot,

Now he’s created a step-by-step guide and video to understand[ how music scammers operate](https://haulixdaily.com/2022/05/scam-artists-video-2022?ref=hypebot.com) and share real-world experiences, including screenshots of conversations and much more.

#### **Check it out this much watch video.**

#### MORE FROM JAMES SHOTWELL: [How to guarantee that fans actually see your content](https://www.hypebot.com/how-to-guarantee-that-fans-actually-see-your-content/)

**Bruce Houghton* is Founder and Editor of [Hypebot](https://www.hypebot.com/) and [MusicThinkTank](http://www.musicthinktank.com/?ref=hypebot.com) and serves as a Senior Advisor to [Bandsintown](https://www.bandsintown.com/?ref=hypebot.com) which acquired both publications in 2019\. He is the Founder and President of the[ Skyline Artists Agency](https://skylineonline.com/?ref=hypebot.com) and a professor for the [Berklee College Of Music](https://online.berklee.edu/courses/touring-101?ref=hypebot.com).*