# REFERRAL PROGRAM — LATAM VARIANT

> **Region:** Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru)
> **Email rules:** opt-in required (Brazil LGPD strictest)
> **SMS rules:** opt-in required + telco scrutiny (PROCON in Brazil active)
> **WhatsApp rules:** Meta WhatsApp Business policies + opt-in for marketing template
> **Endorsement rules:** disclosure mandatory (CONAR Brazil, PROFECO Mexico, etc.)
> **Privacy laws:** **LGPD Brazil** (since 2020) + LFPDPPP Mexico + Ley 25.326 Argentina + Habeas Data Colombia
> **Cash incentives:** Allowed; high inflation in some countries makes flexibility important

---

## Privacy law summary by country

### Brazil (LGPD — most mature, GDPR-equivalent)

- Effective since 2020
- Opt-in mandatory for marketing
- DPO required for scale
- 72-hour breach notification
- Penalty: up to BRL 50M (~$10M) per violation
- ANPD (Authority for Data Protection) actively enforcing
- Subjects' rights: access, deletion, portability — must respect

### Mexico (LFPDPPP)

- Opt-in for sensitive data
- ARCO rights (Access, Rectification, Cancellation, Opposition)
- INAI enforcement
- Penalty: up to MXN 32M

### Argentina (Ley 25.326)

- Opt-in mandatory
- AAIP enforcement
- Penalty: variable (up to ARS 5M)
- Hyperinflation context — penalty values lose meaning quickly

### Colombia (Estatuto del Consumidor + Habeas Data)

- Opt-in for marketing
- SIC enforcement
- Penalty: up to ~$6,000 USD per violation

### Chile / Peru / others

- Less mature but moving toward GDPR-equivalents
- Chile: new privacy law 2024 (mirrors GDPR more closely)

---

## Compliant referral structures for LATAM

### Approach 1: WhatsApp share (DOMINANT — different from US/EU)

**How it works:**
1. Customer has unique referral link
2. Native WhatsApp share button → opens their WhatsApp
3. Pre-filled message with link sent through their WhatsApp

**Why ideal for LATAM:**
- WhatsApp 95%+ penetration (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina)
- Peer-to-peer share = legal sense (referrer's communication, not yours)
- Cultural fit — referrals in LATAM happen through WhatsApp groups normally

**Variation:** WhatsApp Group sharing
- Brazilian WhatsApp groups can be 256-1024 members (community sale groups)
- Referrer drops link in their group → viral spread
- Reward only if signup happens (link tracking)

### Approach 2: Form-based invite

**How it works:**
1. Customer enters friend's email/phone
2. Platform sends single message

**LATAM compliance:**
- **Brazil:** LGPD opt-in required → friend's data processed without consent = violation
- **Mexico:** LFPDPPP opt-in for sensitive data
- **Argentina:** Ley 25.326 opt-in
- **Colombia:** Estatuto opt-in

**Risk:** Brazil ANPD particularly active in 2025-2026; LGPD enforcement maturing.

### Approach 3: NEVER — Bulk import

Same rule globally. Never accept "import all WhatsApp contacts" without consent.

---

## WhatsApp Business rules for LATAM referrals

### Meta WhatsApp Business Platform policies

- **Marketing messages** (referral invites): require opt-in (24-hour customer service window doesn't apply)
- **Pre-approved templates** required for outbound messages
- Quality rating (Green/Yellow/Red) — block too many users = number suspension
- Cost: $0.005-0.10 per message depending on country (Brazil cheaper, Argentina/Colombia mid, Mexico mid)

### Best practice for LATAM WhatsApp referrals

1. **Use share button (peer-to-peer)** — outside Meta API restrictions
2. **For platform-initiated**: only after referee opts-in via your site
3. **Welcome flow on referee signup**: confirm consent first
4. **Yalo / Take Blip / Sirena** chatbot platforms — LATAM-native, compliant patterns built-in

---

## Email rules for LATAM referrals

- **Brazil (LGPD):** opt-in mandatory; consent record + revocation flow
- **Mexico:** opt-in for sensitive; opt-out OK for non-sensitive
- **Argentina:** opt-in (Ley 25.326)
- **Colombia:** opt-in (Habeas Data)
- **Chile:** opt-in (new law 2024)

**Practical default:** Treat Brazil like GDPR (opt-in). Other LATAM countries: opt-in is safer baseline.

### Required email elements

- Sender clearly identified
- Physical address
- 1-click unsubscribe (CAN-SPAM-equivalent expectations from Gmail/Yahoo)
- Local language (Portuguese for BR, Spanish for rest)
- Lawful basis disclosure in privacy policy

---

## SMS rules for LATAM referrals

- **Brazil:** PROCON active on SMS spam complaints; Anatel rules
- **Mexico:** IFT rules; sectoral
- **Argentina:** AAIP + ENACOM
- **Colombia:** SIC + CRC
- **All:** opt-in is safer; auto-SMS to referee illegal without consent

---

## Endorsement / disclosure rules

### Brazil — CONAR (Conselho Nacional de Autorregulamentação Publicitária)

- Disclosure mandatory for paid endorsement
- Hashtag: "#publi" or "#publicidade" or "#ad"
- 2024 update: disclosure must be in first 3 seconds of video, not just hashtag

### Mexico — PROFECO + IFT

- Disclosure required
- "Publicidad" or "#ad" in Spanish

### Argentina — AAIP + Ministerio de Salud (for health products)

- Disclosure required
- "Publicidad" tag

### Colombia — Estatuto del Consumidor

- Disclosure required
- "Patrocinado" / "Publicidad" tag

### Chile / Peru

- Increasingly enforced
- Local language disclosure required

---

## Cash incentives in LATAM

**Allowed in all countries.**

### Country-specific tax considerations

- **Brazil:** Imposto de Renda Pessoa Física — referrer income above BRL 2,640/month taxable; 1099-equivalent (DIRPF) required for high earners
- **Mexico:** ISR (Impuesto Sobre la Renta) on referrer income; CFDI invoicing for B2B
- **Argentina:** Ganancias tax; high inflation makes ARS rewards lose value fast
- **Colombia:** Impuesto a la Renta on referrer income

### Popular LATAM incentive types

- **Brazil:** Pix payment (instant, free) — dominant
- **Mexico:** Mercado Pago credit, OXXO cash voucher
- **Argentina:** Mercado Pago + USD-pegged stablecoin (some apps) — inflation hedge
- **Colombia:** Mercado Pago + Nequi
- **Cross-region:** Mercado Pago, account credit, discount codes

**Inflation note (Argentina):**
- ARS hyperinflation — referrer cash rewards can devalue 50%+ in months
- Best: USD-equivalent or stablecoin
- Or: shorter reward windows (instant Mercado Pago)

---

## Tools (LATAM-friendly)

| Tool | Origin | Notes |
|------|--------|-------|
| **Yalo** | Mexico | WhatsApp commerce + chatbot — native LATAM |
| **Take Blip** | Brazil | Multi-channel (WhatsApp, Messenger) — native BR |
| **Sirena** | LATAM | WhatsApp CRM with referral support |
| **Buzzlead** | Brazil | Brazil-built referral platform — LGPD-native |
| **MGM Friends** | Brazil | Member-Get-Member SaaS |
| **ReferralCandy** | Singapore | International, configurable for LATAM |
| **Friendbuy** | US | Has Spanish/Portuguese support |

**Recommendation:** Yalo or Take Blip for WhatsApp-led referrals; Buzzlead for Brazil-specific compliance.

---

## LATAM-specific viral mechanics

### Brazil

- Pix instant reward — rewards arrive in seconds, social proof shareable
- WhatsApp Status (Stories) — referrers post their referral link in Status
- Google Pay / Apple Pay less common — rely on Pix + Mercado Pago

### Mexico

- OXXO cash vouchers as reward (works for unbanked) — uniquely Mexican
- WhatsApp groups in family/community — strong viral channel
- "Tarjeta" (card) culture — credit card rewards work

### Argentina

- USD-pegged stablecoin rewards (some early-adopter apps) — hedge against ARS inflation
- WhatsApp viral mechanics
- Mercado Pago dominant for payments

### Colombia/Chile/Peru

- Mercado Pago + Nequi (Colombia) + bank transfer
- WhatsApp groups + Facebook groups still strong

---

## LATAM referral output template addition

```markdown
## LATAM Compliance Status (Country: [BR/MX/AR/CO])

- [x] Privacy law: [LGPD BR / LFPDPPP MX / Ley 25.326 AR / Habeas Data CO]
- [x] DPO appointed (Brazil at scale)
- [x] Referral mechanism: WhatsApp share (peer-to-peer) — no auto-message to referee
- [x] Local language: PT-BR or country-specific Spanish
- [x] Disclosure: #publi (BR) / Publicidad (ES regions)
- [x] Pix integration (Brazil) for instant rewards
- [x] Mercado Pago for cross-LATAM payouts
- [x] Tax compliance reviewed (referrer income reporting)
- [x] WhatsApp Business API approved templates (if platform-initiated)
- [x] Anti-fraud: ICR (Identificador Cliente Referido) check
```

---

## Common pitfalls (LATAM-specific)

1. **English-only or single-Spanish copy** — Portuguese for BR, regional Spanish (vos/tú/usted varies)
2. **Auto-WhatsApp blast** without consent → Meta suspension + LGPD fine
3. **No Pix integration** (Brazil) → using card-only payouts, slower + worse experience
4. **ARS cash rewards** in Argentina without inflation hedge → referrer dissatisfaction
5. **No DPO** in Brazil at scale → LGPD violation
6. **Same SMS spam tactics** → PROCON / Anatel complaints (Brazil)
7. **#ad disclosure missing** in influencer referrals → CONAR fine
8. **No WhatsApp share option** → losing #1 channel
9. **Importing WhatsApp contacts** → instant violation everywhere
10. **Ignoring tax reporting** for referrer income → LGPD + tax authority issues

---

## Quick-wins (LATAM)

- WhatsApp share button (native) as PRIMARY mechanism
- Pix integration (Brazil) for instant referrer rewards
- Mercado Pago for cross-country payouts
- Yalo or Take Blip for WhatsApp Business at scale
- Buzzlead for Brazil-native referral SaaS (LGPD compliant)
- Local language disclosure (#publi BR, Publicidad MX/AR/CO)
- USD-pegged rewards in Argentina (inflation hedge)
- WhatsApp Status (Stories) as viral surface for referrers to post
