SEO Scams in the Age of AI: How to Spot Them and Hire the Right Partner

Steve Crayne
Jun 11
3 min read

Tired of SEO promises that never deliver? You’re not alone.

A hooded figure at a computer surrounded by digital graphics and the word "SEO" in vibrant colors, conveying a tech-focused atmosphere.

In today’s AI-powered marketing world, SEO scams are more convincing, and more costly, than ever. That’s why I hosted a webinar with award winning SEO expert John Morabito to help business owners cut through the noise and find real, strategic SEO help.

Did you know:

74% of business owners say they’ve been misled by an SEO provider
$20,000+ is the average annual loss on ineffective SEO

In this post, we recap our webinar and reveal how to spot SEO scams, what real SEO looks like, and how to confidently hire the right agency for your business.

🚨 Why SEO Scams Are So Dangerous Today

AI tools have made it easier than ever for shady “experts” to mass-produce content that looks good on the surface but fails to deliver results.

At the same time, Google’s algorithm is evolving fast, prioritizing authentic, human-focused content over volume or shortcuts. This makes it easier to get scammed, and harder to rank if you fall for the wrong tactics.

🚩 5 Red Flags That Scream "SEO Scam"

1. Guaranteed #1 Rankings No one can promise specific rankings. If they do, they're lying or using risky tactics.

2. Unedited AI Content Generic text, repetitive phrases, and fact errors are signs of lazy, auto-generated content. This hurts your credibility with both users and search engines.

3. Mass Link-Building Packages Hundreds of backlinks for cheap = spammy, low-quality links. Google will notice,and penalize you.

4. Meaningless Reporting If your reports don’t connect to business outcomes (like traffic or conversions), they’re just fluff.

5. Dirt-Cheap Packages Legit SEO starts around $1,000/month. Anything less should raise a red flag.

✅ What Real SEO Actually Looks Like

🎯 Keyword Strategy Transactional search terms > high-volume, low-intent keywords.

🔧 Technical Optimization Mobile, speed, structured data, and crawlability are must-haves.

🧠 Human-Edited Content AI is useful for drafts, but editing by an expert is essential.

📈 Reporting That Matters Track organic traffic, conversion rates, and ROI, not just rankings.

🔍 Transparent Process If you don’t know what your agency is doing each month, it’s a problem.

SEO concept graphic with icons for strategy, analytics, innovation in a futuristic, blue-toned digital network on a blurred background.

📋 Ask These Questions Before Hiring an SEO Agency

Make these part of your next agency interview:

“What specific deliverables will I get each month?”
“Can I see case studies from businesses like mine?”
“How do you use AI in your content creation?”
“What metrics will you track, and how often will I get reports?”

✅ Pro Tip: Listen to how confidently and clearly they answer. Vague answers = red flag.

💡 What AI Can, and Can’t, Do for Your SEO

Great Agencies Use AI to...

Identify keyword trends
Outline draft content
Speed up research

But They Still...

Fact-check and edit
Add brand voice
Align with search intent

“AI is an assistant, not a replacement.” – John Morabito

📊 What SEO Success Really Looks Like

Here’s what real results from Winston Digital clients look like:

Sea the City (Boat Tours) +687% traffic • +123% revenue
True Energy Socks (E-commerce) +173% traffic • +128% revenue
EVOQ.BIKE (Coaching) +417% conversions

These weren’t overnight wins, they were the result of long-term strategy, quality content, and transparent reporting.

"It took me 2 years to find an SEO vendor partner who showed me case studies, John was the first and only, and has done a fantastic job for my clients." - Steven Crayne