Sponsors please STOP this THEFT (part#1)

**N J** · 05-16-2006, 02:17 AM

Would love to hear more about any software checking for referral urls vs. ref.ID, but as said earlier in this thread it's most likely that they only change the ref.ID at the processor.

Anyway, we always look into new whales, mainly because of creditcard fraud, but during this we check suspecious conversionrates, non-refferal sales, fake info/whois and in general people we don't know. So we should be alerted if anyone stealing ref.IDs are doing a lot of sales, however as it is now I can't see a solution for checking all our resellers

Some say sponsors don't care, but that's plain stupid - either by the people saying it or the sponsors who really don't care - because eventually the "real reseller" will stop sending traffic if the ratios/sales are bad. Can only speak for ourself, but we can't afford to lose our whales becuase of this, that's for sure, so if anyone can find a solution to avoid this or prove some of our resellers are ref.ID stealing we would of course take the necessarily steps.

**Choppa** · 05-16-2006, 02:28 AM

yeah some simple SQL scripts would go along way to fixing up these stealing Mofos

**dcortez** · 05-16-2006, 06:28 AM

Sponsors MUST provide RAW and UNIQUE hits in the stats they show their affiliates.

Affiliates should be using a bounce script, which at face value does not reveal their sponsor destination. That script will redirect to their affiliate url but BEFORE doing so will make an entry in the affiliate logs to show that outbound traffic bound for the sponsor.

Then it's simple math to see how much of your traffic is reaching your sponsor. As an affiliate, you can then decide how many excuses you will tolerate from a sponsor before writing them off.

Is there ANY legitimate reason (other than giving conversions ratios a 'boob job') why ALL sponsors cannot provide affiliates raw stats along with their 'qualified' (diluted) numbers?

??

**one eight** · 05-16-2006, 06:56 AM

Originally posted by --MARIAN--

It looks like that no one actually cares about this.

It's gonna be like this for a while until the spyware spreads more and more and more and then some sponsor program will step-in, implement some new features and get all affiliates with big traffic.

Then the others will follow, etc.

SmokeytheBear and I were chatting last night about another project he's helping with, and I told him I'd like to contract him to write up some protection for affiliates, as mentioned here. Will let you know as soon as it's ready!

**NTSS** · 05-16-2006, 07:35 AM

Originally posted by dcortez

Sponsors MUST provide RAW and UNIQUE hits in the stats they show their affiliates.

Affiliates should be using a bounce script, which at face value does not reveal their sponsor destination. That script will redirect to their affiliate url but BEFORE doing so will make an entry in the affiliate logs to show that outbound traffic bound for the sponsor.

Then it's simple math to see how much of your traffic is reaching your sponsor. As an affiliate, you can then decide how many excuses you will tolerate from a sponsor before writing them off.

Is there ANY legitimate reason (other than giving conversions ratios a 'boob job') why ALL sponsors cannot provide affiliates raw stats along with their 'qualified' (diluted) numbers?

??

How does one get this "bounce script"?

**Tom_PM** · 05-16-2006, 07:49 AM

We address this sort of electronic means of altering links or ID's in our terms of service for a reason (do all of your sponsors include such clauses? Maybe time to check.). As stated already, any new "whales" will always be under scutiny. Newbies dont just pop online one day and then start sending 100 joins per day.

If anyone see's this sort of thing, we absolutely want to know about it so we can confirm the activity and take action. Same with content theft, or any other attempt to defraud or mislead.

PimpRoll
AdultElite

ps: a "bounce" script could be as simple as:

Code:

<?php Header ("Location: http://www.yoursponsorcode"); ?>

**Splum** · 05-16-2006, 07:51 AM

A tip to new adult webmasters, every spyware scum will try to have you promote their shitty installs and shit for like $1 per download. DONT DO IT you are fucking yourself and everyone else in the end. NEVER EVER promote ANY installs.

JD · 05-16-2006, 07:57 AM

Originally posted by PR_Tom

We address this sort of electronic means of altering links or ID's in our terms of service for a reason (do all of your sponsors include such clauses? Maybe time to check.). As stated already, any new "whales" will always be under scutiny. Newbies dont just pop online one day and then start sending 100 joins per day.

If anyone see's this sort of thing, we absolutely want to know about it so we can confirm the activity and take action. Same with content theft, or any other attempt to defraud or mislead.

PimpRoll
AdultElite

ps: a "bounce" script could be as simple as:

Code:

<?php Header ("Location: http://www.yoursponsorcode"); ?>

like I was saying earlier, a 301.

**Tom_PM** · 05-16-2006, 08:08 AM

If someone wants to post a sample encryption routine, that'd be cool.
But ultimately, the decrypted URL *must* appear correctly in the clients browser, so I think you can only do so much and then just track click counts as noted above.

**SmokeyTheBear** · 05-16-2006, 08:16 AM

Originally posted by PR_Tom

We address this sort of electronic means of altering links or ID's in our terms of service for a reason (do all of your sponsors include such clauses? Maybe time to check.). As stated already, any new "whales" will always be under scutiny. Newbies dont just pop online one day and then start sending 100 joins per day.

If anyone see's this sort of thing, we absolutely want to know about it so we can confirm the activity and take action. Same with content theft, or any other attempt to defraud or mislead.

PimpRoll
AdultElite

ps: a "bounce" script could be as simple as:

Code:

<?php Header ("Location: http://www.yoursponsorcode"); ?>

Thanks for sticking your neck out ...

it gives me alot more respect for you guys ,

**David - PG** · 05-16-2006, 08:39 AM

When you post a thread like this, why not show us some code, show us some exploit, show us how it modifies affiliate HTML or linkcodes? I can not walk to our security guy and tell him "Come up with a solution to these weird Trojans, ok?". He'd look at me and laugh. I need something more physical than mere assumptions and allegations.

I take it 75% of the Internet is infected with this type of trojan horses? C'mon, please.

**Why** · 05-16-2006, 08:39 AM

your worried about refcodes getting changed? its just as easy to add a list of sites in the same niche to a file and redirect any hits to those domains to another link.

so i dont think the problem lies on the sponsor at all. some of these fuckers could be very hard to catch. or they could just be stealing all of the hits to shit like AFF, SexSearch, etc to thier own shitty dating sites. there are lots of ways to do this.

how about everyone starts promoting Anti-Virus products and making sure to send in virus reports everytime you come across installers.

**SCORE Ralph** · 05-16-2006, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by PR_Tom

We address this sort of electronic means of altering links or ID's in our terms of service for a reason (do all of your sponsors include such clauses? Maybe time to check.). As stated already, any new "whales" will always be under scutiny. Newbies dont just pop online one day and then start sending 100 joins per day.

If anyone see's this sort of thing, we absolutely want to know about it so we can confirm the activity and take action. Same with content theft, or any other attempt to defraud or mislead.

PimpRoll
AdultElite

ps: a "bounce" script could be as simple as:

Code:

<?php Header ("Location: http://www.yoursponsorcode"); ?>

We agree with you guys. Any sort of fraud should be reported to sponsors. Dont just take it, advice us, snitch on your neighbors, we'll take action. We understand that this is going on and in the long run it hurts both the sponsor and affiliate for the various reasons posted above. This is nothing new and we will continue to scrutinize sales and uniques, from new AND old accounts--as always. We are always vigilant. Contact me directly if you see anything suspicious.

This is a hell of a thread. Smokey/AdultSeriesCash when you guys get that "project" in order, pls mssg/email me or make a huge announcement. Sponsors need to know of every way to protect affiliates and their money.

**Quickdraw** · 05-16-2006, 08:43 AM

Originally posted by Why

your worried about refcodes getting changed? its just as easy to add a list of sites in the same niche to a file and redirect any hits to those domains to another link.

so i dont think the problem lies on the sponsor at all. some of these fuckers could be very hard to catch. or they could just be stealing all of the hits to shit like AFF, SexSearch, etc to thier own shitty dating sites. there are lots of ways to do this.

how about everyone starts promoting Anti-Virus products and making sure to send in virus reports everytime you come across installers.

lol, you should see how all these dating sponsors use spyware to advertise over the top of each other(and big name sites), it's crazy.

**RogerV** · 05-16-2006, 09:12 AM

the theft has gotten out of control. the internet is filled with scammers it fuc kin sucks for the straight shooters.

Sponsors please STOP this THEFT (part#1)

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