Phew! Just when we thought we were nearly tapped out after publishing over 200 articles since October, here we are uncovering even more about Darren Campbell’s FBA Brand Builder program. And to the doubters out there: do a little investigation yourselves. You’ll quickly realise everything we’re reporting on is factual. The truth is, you’re likely too deep into this programme—financially and emotionally—to see that the dream you’ve been sold is anything but. But hey, let’s dive into yet another layer of this so-called “expert” operation.
This article delves into the hidden practices behind FBA Brand Builder’s PPC management services, exposing a troubling lack of transparency and the ethical questions that Darren Campbell’s team has yet to address.
The £150 Monthly Myth: Who’s Really Managing Your PPC?
Clients of the FBA Brand Builder shell out £150 per month for PPC account management, an expense pitched as a critical investment in growing their Amazon business. The service is marketed as a personalised, hands-on approach, designed to optimise ad campaigns, drive traffic, and boost sales.
What clients aren’t told, however, is that their sensitive data and advertising budgets are being outsourced to freelancers like Saqlain Ali and Leonora Picou—individuals whose involvement is deliberately concealed.
Who Are These Freelancers?
Saqlain Ali, based in Pakistan, offers his Amazon PPC expertise on freelance platforms like Upwork, charging $18/hour for services like ad optimisation, campaign management, and keyword research. His profile proudly states “100% job success,” but there’s no mention of any connection to Darren Campbell’s team—or any indication that he directly communicates with the clients whose accounts he manages.
Leonora Picou, a freelancer based in the Philippines, presents an even more troubling example. Despite handling significant PPC management responsibilities, she was unpaid for months of work. In her own words:
"From August to October, I worked without receiving any compensation. Additionally, I was required to document nearly every click I made while working."
Leonora’s meticulous tracking wasn’t about accountability—it was so Darren’s team could take credit for her work when presenting results to clients. This deceptive practice leaves clients paying a premium for services performed by exploited freelancers working behind the scenes.
Inflated Costs for Subpar Service
The outsourcing model reveals a concerning profit margin:
- Freelancers like Saqlain and Leonora are likely earning petty dollars per month per client for their work.
- Clients, on the other hand, are being charged £150+ for the same service—a hefty markup.
This kind of discrepancy might be easier to swallow if the service delivered exceptional results. However, as we’ll explore through client testimonials, the reality is far less impressive.
The Exploitation Behind the Scenes
Leonora Picou, a freelance PPC specialist, shared her troubling experience working for Darren’s team:
"There was no agreement in place from the start... From August to October, I worked without receiving any compensation."
In addition to being unpaid, Leonora was subjected to extreme micromanagement:
"I was required to document nearly every click I made while working. This consumed a lot of my time, leaving little room for actual work and strategising."
The purpose of this micromanagement wasn’t quality assurance—it was about creating a paper trail that Darren’s team could use to falsely present her efforts as their own to clients.
Saqlain’s Role: Outsourced Expertise at a Premium Price
Saqlain Ali, whose Upwork profile touts his capabilities as an Amazon PPC expert, serves as an outsourced contractor for Darren’s team. However, clients are kept in the dark about his involvement and have no direct access to him.
This lack of transparency raises critical questions:
- Why are clients being charged premium rates for outsourced work?
- What qualifications or oversight do these freelancers actually have?
- How is the sensitive data and advertising budget of clients being safeguarded?
These issues expose a troubling disconnect between the premium service clients think they’re paying for and the reality of what’s being delivered.
This Isn’t an Isolated Incident
The outsourcing of PPC management isn’t a one-time oversight—it reflects a broader, troubling pattern within Darren Campbell’s FBA Brand Builder program.
In our December 10, 2024, article, “The Hidden World of FBA Studio,” we uncovered that much of the branding and listing design work was outsourced to freelancers in the Philippines. Clients were charged upwards of £1,500 for these services, which cost a fraction of that to produce.
When confronted, Darren brushed off concerns, stating:
"I don’t care where the person is from as long as they do an incredible job."
This response ignores the core ethical issue: transparency. Clients were led to believe they were paying for premium, in-house services—not outsourced work with questionable quality control.
The Maria Zafar Scandal: Fake Legal Expertise
In our December 19, 2024, article, “Troubling Trademark Practices in the FBA Brand Builder Program,” we exposed Darren’s use of a fabricated attorney, Maria Zafar, to manage trademark applications. Presented as a licensed attorney, Maria was revealed to lack any credentials to practice law.
From outsourcing critical tasks to unqualified freelancers to inflating costs while concealing the truth, Darren Campbell’s program operates with a consistent lack of transparency. Clients are paying premium prices for services that are often poorly executed, unethically sourced, or outright misrepresented.
The Bigger Picture: Ethical Failures and Financial Exploitation
For clients, the financial burden of Darren Campbell’s practices is staggering. Beyond the £150/month PPC fee, many have reported additional costs spiralling out of control, including:
- Amazon Storage Fees
- Ad Spend Exceeding £2,000 - £3,000 Per Month
- Hidden Charges for Listing Services and Branding Packages
The emotional toll is just as devastating. Clients like Kirsty, whose struggles we’ve extensively documented, have been pushed to the brink of financial and mental collapse. Meanwhile, Darren Campbell and his team continue to deflect accountability and evade transparency.
Questions Darren Needs to Answer
- Why aren’t clients informed about the use of outsourced freelancers for PPC management?
- How is client data being safeguarded when shared with third-party contractors?
- Why are freelancers like Leonora not being compensated for their work?
What Clients Can Do
If you’re a current or former client of FBA Brand Builder, you have options to protect yourself and push for accountability:
- Demand Transparency: Request detailed invoices that outline who is managing your PPC campaigns and a clear breakdown of charges.
- Explore Alternatives: Use platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to hire freelancers like Saqlain directly, often at a fraction of the cost FBABB charges.
- Share Your Story: The more clients come forward, the harder it becomes for Darren Campbell to maintain his façade. Transparency starts with speaking out.
By taking these steps, clients can begin to reclaim control over their businesses and expose the unethical practices within Darren’s program.
This isn’t just a story about poorly handled PPC campaigns—it’s a cautionary tale about the risks of trusting a program that prioritises profit over transparency and integrity. Darren Campbell’s clients deserve far better than outsourced services, hidden costs, and unfulfilled promises. Until these practices are confronted and corrected, the FBA Brand Builder program stands as a case study in unethical business practices.
Stay tuned for more updates, and remember—you can ask questions anonymously in our Q&A Hub without fear of being censored or share your story on our Guestbook.