diff --git a/website/api/views.py b/website/api/views.py
index d66e590d0..48feb1c5b 100644
--- a/website/api/views.py
+++ b/website/api/views.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import json
+import smtplib
 import uuid
 from datetime import datetime
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
@@ -652,45 +653,68 @@ def get(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
 
 
 class InviteFriendApiViewset(APIView):
+    permission_classes = [IsAuthenticated]
+
     def post(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
-        email = request.POST.get("email")
-        already_exists = User.objects.filter(email=email).exists()
+        email = request.data.get("email")
 
-        if already_exists:
-            return Response("USER EXISTS", status=409)
+        if not email:
+            return Response({"error": "Email is required"}, status=400)
 
-        site = get_current_site(self.request)
+        # Check if user already exists
+        if User.objects.filter(email=email).exists():
+            return Response({"error": "User already exists"}, status=400)
 
-        invite = InviteFriend.objects.create(sender=request.user, recipient=email, sent=False)
+        try:
+            current_site = get_current_site(request)
+            referral_code, created = InviteFriend.objects.get_or_create(sender=request.user)
+            referral_link = (
+                f"https://{current_site.domain}/referral/?ref={referral_code.referral_code}"
+            )
 
-        mail_status = send_mail(
-            "Inivtation to {site} from {user}".format(site=site.name, user=request.user.username),
-            "You have been invited by {user} to join {site} community.".format(
-                user=request.user.username, site=site.name
-            ),
-            settings.DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL,
-            [invite.recipient],
-        )
+            # Prepare email content
+            subject = f"Join me on {current_site.name}!"
+            message = render_to_string(
+                "email/invite_friend.txt",
+                {
+                    "sender": request.user.username,
+                    "referral_link": referral_link,
+                    "site_name": current_site.name,
+                    "site_domain": current_site.domain,
+                },
+            )
 
-        if mail_status:
-            invite.sent = True
-            invite.save()
+            # Send the invitation email
+            email_result = send_mail(
+                subject,
+                message,
+                settings.DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL,
+                [email],
+                fail_silently=False,
+            )
 
-        if (
-            mail_status
-            and InviteFriend.objects.filter(sender=self.request.user, sent=True).count() == 2
-        ):
-            Points.objects.create(user=self.request.user, score=1, reason="Invited friend")
-            InviteFriend.objects.filter(sender=self.request.user).delete()
+            if email_result == 1:
+                return Response(
+                    {
+                        "success": True,
+                        "message": "Invitation sent successfully",
+                        "referral_link": referral_link,
+                        "email_status": "delivered",
+                    }
+                )
+            else:
+                return Response(
+                    {"error": "Email failed to send", "email_status": "failed"}, status=500
+                )
 
-        return Response(
-            {
-                "title": "SUCCESS",
-                "Points": "+1",
-                "message": "An email has been sent to your friend. Keep inviting your friends and get points!",
-            },
-            status=200,
-        )
+        except smtplib.SMTPException as e:
+            return Response(
+                {
+                    "error": "Failed to send invitation email for an unexpected reason",
+                    "email_status": "error",
+                },
+                status=500,
+            )
 
 
 class OrganizationViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
diff --git a/website/templates/email/invite_friend.txt b/website/templates/email/invite_friend.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7533637d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/website/templates/email/invite_friend.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+Hi there!
+
+{{ sender }} has invited you to join {{ site_name }}!
+
+{{ site_name }} is a platform where we can discover and report bugs across various applications and websites. It's an exciting journey where you can:
+
+- Explore and report bugs
+- Earn rewards and recognition for your contributions
+- Join a community of like-minded individuals passionate about improving software quality
+
+You can sign up using this special referral link:
+{{ referral_link }}
+
+Looking forward to seeing you on {{ site_name }}!
+
+Best regards,
+The {{ site_name }} Team
diff --git a/website/templates/invite_friend.html b/website/templates/invite_friend.html
index 895f990e7..7b1966564 100644
--- a/website/templates/invite_friend.html
+++ b/website/templates/invite_friend.html
@@ -69,4 +69,4 @@
         alert("Copied to clipboard: " + copyText.value);
     }
     </script>
-{% endblock content %}
+{% endblock after_js %}