Report: Affiliate marketers may use adware deceptively

Are your affiliates really doing their job? According to a recent report from Ben Edelman, an adware researcher and Harvard Assistant Professor, they may not be. Ben found that some affiliate marketers are deceptively using adware to take credit for sales they aren't responsible for.

by Kristina Knight

Ben researched how affiliates were using VistaPrint's online graphic design and printing shop and found that some affiliates are tricking the system. He found that affiliates were able to serve pop-ups for VistaPrint after he navigated to the site independently; Edelmen says it appeared as though the affiliates could then claim his "visit" as a commission and get paid.

"VistaPrint's marketing partners are defrauding VistaPrint by claiming commissions on sales they actually did nothing to cause," said Ben Edelman. He goes on to say that VistaPrint could be seen as both victim and perpetrator. Victim because their marketing partners are defrauding them. Perpetrator because they aren't overseeing their partners adequately.

What does this really mean for other marketers will affiliate programs? It should serve as a wake-up call to look into how affiliates could be using adware to defraud the marketer and harm the consumer. If there are problems such as these, remove the affiliates from your program and begin an auditing process where affiliates are audited. This will help marketers better understand how the affiliate program is working, keep consumers' information safe and ensure that cheating is not occurring.

Tags: advertising fraud, affiliate marketing, Ben Edelman, online advertising