Mobile Ad Fraud Is Surging as Scammers Get Smarter
“This is—I think correctly—definitely the number one high-profile topic, which is probably, maybe, slowing down the progression of the industry… If I were a triple-A brand, I would be hesitant to go into mobile advertising right now” says Maor Sadra, CRO at marketing firm AppLift. When a prominent figure in an industry gives a statement like that, it’s usually well worth paying attention. How will this effect timeshare fraud and all the ads we see all over the internet?
Recently, Adweek spoke to Sadra, and other mobile marketing experts. She shined a light on a burgeoning consumer protection issue which could affect users and businesses alike. Namely? As Adweek’s Patrick Kulp puts it (emphasis ours):
“Mobile ad fraud is in the midst of a period of rampant innovation.
That was the takeaway of a recent report from app marketing firm. Adjust, which found that the rate of fake app-installs, clicks, attributions and other mobile scams doubled in the past year alone. The company said around 7.3 percent of the 3.4 billion app-installs and 350 billion interactions it monitored in the first quarter of the year showed evidence of fraud.”
(If you wish to view Adjust’s white paper in more depth, you can obtain that information here.)
Why is that report so significant? Well, as Adweek suggests, this “scramble gives rise to an environment in which every actor in the ads supply chain, except for the companies footing the bills, might have an incentive to overlook fraud to keep up the illusion of big numbers. This, which ultimately affects companies’ reputations and reach, may “take a toll on the industry’s overall growth.”
At the same time, understanding this information can cause consumers to reel. Particularly, when you consider that these fraudsters use methods that involve “remotely hijacking a user’s device” and causing it click on an ad, often without leaving a “noticeable trace.”
In a time when data protection, online transparency, and cybersecurity are some of the biggest issues out there for consumers and businesses of all sizes, this information is a stunning reminder that there are systems and actors working at levels that many of us cannot fully understand. They will ultimately leave effects that can ripple through the entire digital ecosystem.
This report serves as a reminder to all. Be Cautious when buying, selling, and advertising online or in app. In many cases, things aren’t always as they appear.
For more information and insights – including a more in-depth look at some of the questionable methods used by fraudsters in this space – you may wish to peruse the full article, via Adweek.
Other Timeshare Articles of Interest:
Led by Attorney Michael D. Finn with 50 years of experience, the Finn Law Group is a consumer protection firm specializing in timeshare law. Our lawyers understand vacation ownership as well as the many pitfalls of the secondary market of timeshare resales. If you feel you have been victimized by a timeshare company, contact our offices for a free consultation. Know your rights as a consumer and don’t hesitate to drop us a line with any questions or concerns.
