---
title: Fraud Detection and Brand Safety — RGM Training
url: https://realgrowthmatters.com/training/affiliate-marketing/fraud-detection-and-brand-safety/
updated: 2026-06-10
source_html: https://realgrowthmatters.com/training/affiliate-marketing/fraud-detection-and-brand-safety/
---

[Home](../../../index.html) › [Training](../../index.html) › [Affiliate Marketing](../index.html) › Fraud Detection and Brand Safety

RGM° · Training

# Fraud Detection and Brand Safety

Affiliate fraud costs billions. Fraud types, detection, platforms, response, prevention, measurement.

### What you will learn

1. [Why fraud detection is mandatory](#why)
2. [Fraud types](#types)
3. [Detection methods](#detection)
4. [Anti-fraud tools](#platforms)
5. [Response protocol](#response)
6. [Prevention](#prevention)
7. [Measurement](#measurement)
8. [Advanced](#advanced)
9. [Mistakes](#mistakes)
10. [Checklist](#checklist)

## Why anti-fraud

Affiliate fraud costs billions industry-wide. Without detection, you pay for non-incremental or fake conversions. Mature programs invest heavily in fraud prevention.

## Fraud types

- Coupon code stuffing (last-touch on coupon sites).
- Cookie stuffing.
- Brand bidding (PPC on your branded terms).
- Fake conversions (bot traffic).
- Adware / browser hijacking.
- Click farms.
- Self-referrals.
- Customer manipulation (post-purchase coupon).
- Sub-affiliate fraud.
- Trademark infringement.

## Detection

- Last-touch analysis (coupon over-attribution).
- Time-to-conversion patterns.
- Device / IP fingerprinting.
- Sub-affiliate origin tracking.
- Brand bidding monitoring.
- Conversion path analysis.
- Geographic anomalies.
- Velocity-based detection.

## Anti-fraud tools

- **FraudScore, Brand Verity:** Specialized.
- **Network-native:** Impact, Awin built-in features.
- **BrandVerity:** Brand bidding monitoring.
- **Forensiq, TrafficGuard:** Click fraud.
- Custom rules and monitoring.

## Response

- Investigation protocol.
- Partner communication.
- Suspension procedures.
- Commission clawback.
- Termination criteria.
- Documentation.
- Legal action when warranted.

## Prevention

- Strong approval process.
- Terms of service explicit on banned practices.
- Brand bidding policy.
- Coupon affiliate policy.
- Sub-affiliate transparency required.
- Regular partner audits.
- Compliance education.

## Measurement

- Fraud rate (suspected / total).
- Clawback volume.
- Partner termination rate.
- Brand bidding incidents.
- Coupon attribution share.
- Annual fraud cost estimate.

## Advanced

- Anti-fraud tools deployed.
- Detection rules tuned.
- Brand bidding monitoring.
- Coupon attribution policies enforced.
- Sub-affiliate transparency required.
- Partner audit calendar.
- Response protocol documented.
- Legal partnership for severe cases.
- Annual fraud assessment.
- Industry information sharing.

## Mistakes

- Anti-fraud tools absent.
- Brand bidding tolerated.
- Coupon attribution unchecked.
- Sub-affiliate transparency missing.
- Response protocol absent.
- Annual audit skipped.
- Partner education absent.
- Legal partnership absent.
- Industry sharing absent.
- Fraud rate not measured.

## Checklist

- Anti-fraud tools deployed
- Detection rules tuned
- Brand bidding monitoring
- Coupon attribution policies
- Sub-affiliate transparency
- Partner audit calendar
- Response protocol
- Legal partnership
- Annual fraud assessment
- Industry information sharing

## Sources and further reading

- BrandVerity brand bidding monitoring
- FraudScore, Forensiq, TrafficGuard
- PMA fraud research
- Affiverse anti-fraud
- Affiliate Summit fraud content
- Network anti-fraud features (Impact, Awin)
- RGM Marketing Operations governance module
- MMA anti-fraud guidelines
- Andrew Faris affiliate fraud
- Common Thread Collective affiliate
- Marketing Brew fraud coverage
- Federal Trade Commission affiliate guidelines

---

Part of the [Affiliate Marketing](../index.html) series.