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Pop Ads scheme and fake traffic exposed by security researchers (13)

11-24-2017 04:14 PM #1 fightingfffreedom (Member)
Pop Ads scheme and fake traffic exposed by security researchers

http://sadbottrue.com/article/12-let...-fraud-scheme/

11-24-2017 04:32 PM #2 cmdeal (Veteran Member)

I think this is from several months ago, but certainly a good reminder of just how much crap traffic is out there, especially in these low intent channels like pops or redirect or dsp "arbitrage site" traffic

11-25-2017 08:47 AM #3 eurosen (AMC Alumnus)

Has Popads ever responded to these allegations?

11-25-2017 09:03 AM #4 stickupkid (Senior Moderator)

Ad fraud is the most profitable fraud at the moment, for relatively less effort and risk compared to ID fraud, cc fraud etc.

Click image for larger version.  Name: Hewlett.png  Views: 102  Size: 17.2 KB  ID: 17564

11-25-2017 06:38 PM #5 bizfreak22 (Member)

If the owner of PopAds was the one who created the Bot Network...leaves him wide open for a nice class action. This business just keeps getting shadier and shadier.

Forbes picked up the story. Hope it spreads like wildfire. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbest.../#4089cfa934e2

11-26-2017 04:46 PM #6 nickpeplow (AMC Alumnus)

5. PopAds.net is hosted on a nearby IP on the same server in Dallas.
216.21.13.12 - Active ad fraud domains
216.21.13.14 - Pop Ads

It’s not like they have even tried to hide it 🤣

11-27-2017 01:58 AM #7 gts6 (Member)

Do you want to know when the ad fraud will stop? When some of these assholes start getting prison time.

It might not STOP it, but bet you it will drop considerably once a few of the bigger players get handed major punishment to deter others from trying.

11-27-2017 02:39 PM #8 bizfreak22 (Member)

Quote Originally Posted by gts6 View Post
Do you want to know when the ad fraud will stop? When some of these assholes start getting prison time.

It might not STOP it, but bet you it will drop considerably once a few of the bigger players get handed major punishment to deter others from trying.
Couldn't agree more. It just gets my blood boiling, this prick was/is ripping off his own clients. Pathetic.

11-27-2017 07:13 PM #9 matuloo (Legendary Moderator)

Hm, first time I see this popads case ... would be nice if they could jump in and give us their stand on the issue ... though I'm not sure there is much to explain here

I would certainly love to see ad fraud go, it would make campaign optimization so much easier for all of us ...

11-28-2017 12:00 AM #10 pierren (Member)

Hope Santa Claus will be generous this year

Attachment 17587

Btw I have always appreciated PopAds for make my first tests, everything was too simple.

11-28-2017 12:03 AM #11 vortex (Senior Moderator)

It's no secret that bot traffic will always comprise of a percentage of most any pop traffic we buy.

The main concern is whether there's still enough genuine traffic to make money from, i.e. whether we could still turn a profit in spite of the bot traffic.

Compared to most other major pop networks, I'd say PopAds has some of the best-quality traffic - relatively-speaking of course, for pop traffic.

Whether or not the allegations are true, I really don't care. As long as I can still turn a profit on the traffic, that's all I care about.



Amy

11-28-2017 01:13 PM #12 matuloo (Legendary Moderator)

Quote Originally Posted by vortex View Post
It's no secret that bot traffic will always comprise of a percentage of most any pop traffic we buy.

The main concern is whether there's still enough genuine traffic to make money from, i.e. whether we could still turn a profit in spite of the bot traffic.

Compared to most other major pop networks, I'd say PopAds has some of the best-quality traffic - relatively-speaking of course, for pop traffic.

Whether or not the allegations are true, I really don't care. As long as I can still turn a profit on the traffic, that's all I care about.



Amy
Yup, I share your view from the most part, as long as there is enough legit traffic, I continue to buy.

I still wish that the networks themselves would take a more aggressive stance against bot traffic distribution.

11-28-2017 05:21 PM #13 vortex (Senior Moderator)

Quote Originally Posted by matuloo View Post
Yup, I share your view from the most part, as long as there is enough legit traffic, I continue to buy.

I still wish that the networks themselves would take a more aggressive stance against bot traffic distribution.
I'm definitely wishing for the same!

Now would be a good time for a new traffic network to come along, that will actually do everything in its power to detect bot traffic and cut off publishers that have say over 20% of bot traffic (just to give them benefit of the doubt).

And I wished that the same noble company would open an affiliate network too - one that doesn't shave by default. Scrubbing due to low quality is one thing, but based on what I know, way too much of that (plus shaving) is going on behind the scenes at many an affiliate network. In the long run this would just drive affiliates elsewhere.

Not pointing fingers at any particular networks at all - just putting the positive expectations out there. The industry is definitely ready for more honest networks. I'm not saying they don't already exist - just wished there could be more.



Amy

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