Who We Are
UGC Brand Alliances is an independent organization dedicated to protecting brands from fraud and exploitation in the user-generated content industry.
The UGC industry connects thousands of brands with creators every day. The vast majority of those relationships are honest and productive. But the industry's rapid growth — and the trust it requires brands to extend to freelance creators — has created opportunities for exploitation.
When a creator exploits that trust, brands lose money, time, and public reputation. Worse, most brands never see it coming, because the tactics used against them are designed to look like normal business disagreements until it is too late.
What We Do
UGC Brand Alliances documents the tactics used by bad actors in the UGC industry so that brands can protect themselves before signing a contract.
- Documentation. We research and document patterns of fraudulent behavior by UGC creators, including contract disputes, invoice fraud, location misrepresentation, and extortion.
- Public awareness. We publish public warnings — like this site — so that brands can research creators before hiring them, and so that victims know they are not alone.
- Education. We publish guides on protecting your brand from UGC scams, so that every brand can benefit from the lessons others learned the hard way.
- Community. We connect brands so that information about bad actors travels faster than the bad actors can.
Why This Site Exists
This site documents the experience of brands that have worked with UGC creator Paula Nina Ranara. Multiple brands report the same pattern of fraud and extortion: unrequested work, inflated invoices, and threats of public disparagement when payment is refused.
This site exists to warn other brands before it happens to them — and to give the brands already targeted a clear, factual account of the pattern they are experiencing.
If your brand has been targeted, read what to do if she's contacted your brand, and feel free to reach out to us.
Our Standards
Everything published on this site reflects the documented experience of brands that have worked with the individual in question. We publish facts, cite verifiable details, and encourage every brand to do their own research before making decisions.
We believe the UGC industry works best when it is built on trust — and that trust requires honesty from both sides. Creators deserve fair payment for their work, and brands deserve protection from fraud and extortion. Our work exists to protect the second without undermining the first.
Questions? See the FAQ or contact us.