Fraud in affiliate marketing: a comprehensive analysis of modern schemes
In modern internet marketing, there are more and more tools for attracting customers. Affiliate marketing has become a full-fledged segment of digital marketing. However, the industry still faces a serious problem: a significant number of fraudulent schemes that harm both advertisers and bona fide webmasters.
The main thing to understand is that it is a completely legitimate marketing tool, What hides under this definition. A specialized type of outsourcing of advertising functions, where the performer works for results. The relationship between the advertiser and the performer is built on the model of performance marketing: payment is made only for actually attracted clients.
However, as in any other direction, there is a percentage of unscrupulous performers. How to recognize a fraudster? The first thing you need to know is what types of deception are used against conscientious customers. What will make you wary and refuse the services of a potential fraudster? We will briefly tell you about the main triggers that allow you to identify a fraudster. And thus, save your money.
Main types of scams
The use of bot traffic remains the most common form of fraud in affiliate marketing. Modern bots have become significantly more sophisticated: they have learned to bypass captcha, imitate behavioral factors and even create plausible scenarios of interaction with the site. However, defense systems are not standing still either. Implementation of long holds (from 14 to 28 days) and complex analysis of behavioral metrics allow to effectively detect traffic.
Fraud and motivated traffic have several varieties. The most common is motivated traffic - when users perform targeted actions for a reward. It is especially dangerous in niches with delayed monetization. For example, in mobile applications. Statistics show that the conversion of such traffic into real sales is close to zero, but it can be detected only with long-term tracking (24+ days).
Technical methods of deception
Cookie spoofing and URL hijacking are more complex technical fraud schemes. In spoofing, attackers embed special tags in users' browsers that later allow them to assign conversions from organic traffic. URL spoofing works through the creation of clone sites that redirect users to original resources, but with traffic source spoofing.
Educational fraud
The problem of unscrupulous educational products deserves special attention. More and more pseudo-experts appear on the market, selling low-quality courses at inflated prices.
Typical signs of such products:
- Lack of a real case portfolio. This should make you wary. If you are offered courses or trainings without a course history - it is very likely a scam.
- Promises of unrealistically high earnings.
- Selling publicly available information as “secret techniques”. Such methodology ceases to be secret, exactly at the moment when it is published on any social networking platform.
- Lack of practical component of training. Empty, meaningless phrases. No specifics, tools or problem-solving.
Fraud defense methods, effective scam defense requires a comprehensive approach.
Technical measures:
- Implementing a tiered traffic verification system;
- use of advanced analytics of behavioral factors;
- regular auditing of traffic sources.
Organizational measures:
- Thorough vetting of new affiliates.
- Implementation of a hold system for payments.
- Regular monitoring of quality traffic indicators.
Trends and predictions
As the customer increases the technical level of detection, the fraudster does not stand still. Using new methods or psychological techniques. The solution is to constantly improve the analysis of fraudulent schemes. Use the recommendations of this article. Analyze each offer. Easy money making does not exist. Ignore any messages about fabulous enrichment or inflated expectations.
How to achieve success? Only a professional approach and constant training. Use our methods of defense. This is the only way to build long-term effectiveness and development in the dynamic field of digital marketing.
