Text Link Ads has change their long referral id link by using tinyurl. Tinyurl is quite a good tool for affiliate marketing or referral. This is because your referral id would not be shown.
Although Tinyurl still shows some number+alphabetical combination which looks a bit like like referral id to me too. Not sure if it would work, but it is definately better compare to using ref=xxxxx on the url.
UPDATES: WTJ actually commented that this may be a prank or a fraud, and it seems that there is possibility. Therefore I am still keeping my original text link ads affiliate link.
28/8 UPDATES: It is confirmed that Text Link Ads uses tinyurl, you will be able to see your affiliate link when you login to your account.
better access it through the original URL, just in case it’s a prank
wtj: come and think about it, you have a point actually. I will stick with the original url for now
I have posted your update. Thanks for your comment