Ayup! Yesterday, yet another Leaflet Lion client told me they’d previously been scammed by a distribution company. It’s getting to the point where nearly all of our new clients say the same thing.
How leaflet distribution scams work
- Someone masquerading as a leaflet distribution business shows up on Google.
- You contact them, and they plan out the job with you.
- They happily accept your money, which is often thousands of pounds.
- Not a single leaflet gets delivered. No tracking. No refund.
- They become unresponsive.
And here are ten things to look out for when choosing a distribution partner:
- Research, research, and even more research.
- How long have they been established?
- Who runs the business? Can you easily speak to them?
- Reviews: are they genuine, consistent, and recent?
- What are their terms and conditions?
- Will you get a refund if no GPS tracking is provided?
- What have they got in place to make sure your flyers are delivered?
- Do they know what they’re talking about?
- Are they actively helping you improve your response rates?
- Does the price seem too good to be true?
I pour my heart and soul into this business. To say these leaflet distribution scams infuriate me is a massive understatement. It not only gives our industry a bad name, but it can also make folks hesitant about using us.
We’re as genuine as it gets. With the right research and questions, this is obvious. But it’s becoming such a regular conversation, I thought I’d share it as a blog post.
Even if it only helps one business avoid a scam, that’s hundreds or even thousands of pounds saved. Please, please, please, do plenty of research before handing over your money.
They collected 10’000 brochures from me, delivered them as promised in the timescale stated and in the areas I requested, so all seemed good!
I thought I’d do a bit of checking myself, so I randomly called about 200 houses in the area, and not one of the houses said they have received it!
The nationwide outsourcers
This one’s not exactly a scam, but more and more of our clients are checking that we’re not outsourcing their job. This is because companies that do this have no control over your campaign. Furthermore, I’m assuming they dish it out to whoever will do it the cheapest. Obviously, this is never going to end well.
Based on the feedback, this business model has a similar outcome. Lots of money invested for very little (if any) return.
How do you know Leaflet Lion is genuine?
Our entire business model is built around response rates. We know that if your campaign is successful, you’re highly likely to use us again. As we largely rely on repeat business, we need to carry out the work properly. There’s no way around this.
A modern strategy
We don’t follow the outdated business model that most distribution companies use. Here are a few bits we’ve got in place to protect your investment:
- GPS tracking or your money back
- Properly paid distribution staff
- In-house team – Zero outsourcing
- We’ve been in business for over 12 years
Genuine reviews
Our Google reviews are genuine. I can tell you every single business name that each one relates to. They were all written following a real campaign with real results.
Leaflet Lion in Nottingham, Derby, and Mansfield holds a 5-star rating based on 25+ Google reviews as of early 2026, with clients praising their professional, reliable, and fast service. Known for high-impact, targeted, and transparent campaigns, they focus on “solus” (exclusive) or “solus+1” distribution to ensure maximum visibility for clients.
Google’s AI overview of our reviews
A valued, experienced team
Most of the staff here at Leaflet Lion have worked with us for over five years. Any new starters must pass an initial trial. Based on the GPS data and tracking, it’s also easy to tell whether the work has been completed properly or not.
Purposely small
Leaflet Lion is a fully independent business with zero interest in nationwide coverage. This way, we retain full control over your campaign. As we’re not a franchise, we also have the freedom to constantly improve how we operate.
The business owner
Lastly, you’ll be dealing directly with the business owner/manager. That’s me! My name’s Mike Hindle. I have a personal website, plus you can find me on LinkedIn, Mastodon and Bluesky. I’ve been active within the Nottingham and Derby business communities for 12 years, with the relevant LinkedIn connections backing this up.
I’m always available by phone and email if you have any further concerns or questions. Let’s talk…