When we think of ad fraud, we tend to think of things like PPC ads, mobile apps, and video streaming platforms. What we normally call ad or click fraud is very easily perpetrated in a display environment. It is much harder to pull off with streaming audio. But that doesn’t mean ad fraud in the audio space is nonexistent.

Advertisers and audio platforms have long said that they don’t see a lot of ad fraud in the audio space. But recent discoveries by a number of ad fraud detection services seem to counter those claims. Granted, ad fraud in audio streams is not nearly as prevalent compared to display ads, but at least some experts say that audio streams are becoming more attractive to fraudsters.

Monthly losses from ad fraud in audio are estimated at roughly $1 million right now. Compared to the amounts lost via PPC ads, website banner ads, etc., that’s not a lot. But in terms of sheer dollars and cents, $1 million constitutes a significant monthly loss for advertisers.

How Ad Fraud Works

Ad fraud is a crime that works by fraudulently creating charges for advertisers by faking clicks, impressions, views, etc. One of the most common forms of ad fraud is click fraud, a scenario in which a fraudster simulates fake clicks knowing that every click represents a charge against the advertiser.

Media channels involving visual display are easy targets for fraudsters. With PPC ads, there are numerous ways to artificially inflate clicks. On a … READ MORE ...