Originally Posted by JJonahJ

The apply by referral is not a requirement to get the welcome bonus a second time. It was prop'd by those who wanted to convince others to signup for a card by using their referral (because for a few weeks the policy notes weren't updated yet on referral signups). Churners who signed up without referral, by going thru GCR for $50 cash back also got the repeated welcome bonus.

Other than a few posts lately, where have you seen that Amex has truly cracked down? Overwhelming majority of people's reports are still saying it hasn't happened yet, though it may be starting now with heraclitus' report.