What is Attribution Fraud?

Attribution fraud manipulates credit so a conversion or revenue is assigned to the wrong source or partner. In mobile: click injection (fake click before install), SDK spoofing (forged install postbacks). In web/affiliate: cookie stuffing, sub ID tampering, fake postbacks.

What buyers see

Conversions in the ad account or network without real traffic; abnormally short CTIT (click-to-install time); tracker vs MMP last-click mismatches. In gambling revshare—"leads" with no deposits or play.

Detection

MMP fraud suites (AppsFlyer Protect360, Adjust Fraud Prevention), CTIT/ITET anomalies, device cluster analysis. CPA networks cut sources by pattern; advertisers may reject postbacks later.

Defense

Non-incent IOs, source whitelists, tracker/MMP reconciliation, datacenter IP blocks on landings. Deliberate fraud leads to network bans and withheld payouts.

See also: click fraud, cookie stuffing, install fraud, attribution.