Some affiliates register domains that are confusingly similar to advertiser domains. When a user misspells an advertiser’s domain, the user arrives at the affiliate’s site – typically, only to be redirected to the advertiser. The user might never notice. But the advertiser ends up paying a fee – often, an affiliate commission.
Typosquatting is unlawful. In the United States, the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act disallows domain registrations that are identical to, or confusingly similar to, others’ trademarks. Globally, ICANN established the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy, which has a similar prohibition. So perpetrators must not register these domains, nor use them to send traffic to merchants.
We can identify affiliates using these tactics, then help advertisers take action both to stop the payments and to get the domains transferred to an advertiser’s own ownership.
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VPT helps clients keep their affiliate programs. Every dollar paid to fraudsters is a dollar less for legitimate affiliates that drive genuine and incremental value. Let us help you focus your spend on the affiliates that matter!
