How to detect ad fraud: fake clicks and installs
Short answer: Ad fraud wastes budget with fake clicks and installs. Very short click-to-install times, click bursts from one source and inconsistent timestamps are the main signals.
Main signals
- Too-fast install: An install a few seconds after a click may not reflect human behaviour.
- Multiple installs per click: More than one install tied to a single click.
- Click bursts: Many clicks per minute from one source.
- Timing inconsistencies: An install recorded as happening before its click.
Explainable signals
Attrely treats these rules as review hints, not verdicts. Each flag has an explanation and a severity, and a reviewer marks it as reviewed or dismissed.
What to do
Review high-severity flags weekly, reduce budget for sources with repeated patterns, and watch each campaign for recurring behaviour.