Detect Mobile App Install Fraud

Prevent Fake App Installs and Mobile Ad Fraud

Stop Fraudulent Installs and Detect Fake Installs from Malicious Publishers

As the mobile ad industry continues to grow advertising revenue and cannibalize budgets from traditional desktop campaigns, fraudsters are shifting their focus to generating fake installs for mobile aps and engaging in other types of mobile ad fraud. Mobile app install fraud was estimated to be upwards of $2 billion in 2023 across both Android and iOS devices, and this year is on track to surpass that figure.

Mobile advertisers could be wasting as much as 40% of their budget for ad networks, spending on fake installs and low quality users from install farms that quickly abandon an app after the initial download. These figures rival the percentage of fraud exhibited with traditional click fraud for other advertising channels. A good defense for fake app installs is crucial to a thriving mobile marketing industry.

IPQS fraud detection tools can easily detect install fraud for both desktop and mobile devices including invalid traffic protection. Real-time filtering using our Mobile Device Fingerprinting SDK prevents low quality clicks from bots and click farms which are the main culprits for generating fake installs. Protect advertising budgets and prevent mobile install fraud without impacting your legitimate traffic.

Validate traffic quality and verify your apps are installed by real users and devices. IPQS bot fingerprinting provides complete protection from fraudulent installs and fake human interactions.

How Does Fake Install Fraud Occur?

Fraudsters often use affiliate marketing incentives, which pay per completed app install, to turn their fraudulent behavior into a full fledged business. Each fraudulent app install can generate between $0.20 and $3.00 or even more. Automated scripts, bots, and device farms, take advantage of this by using device emulators and virtual machines which spoof the signature of unique mobile devices. The apps are then automatically downloaded and opened to resemble a human interaction. These ghost users never return to the app, costing advertisers billions per year on fake app installs without any return on investment.

How Can Fake Mobile App Installs Be Prevented?

IPQS anti-fraud technology can detect fraudulent activity such as device emulators, SDK spoofing, affiliate fraud, and fraudulent behavior patterns among fraudulent app installs, powered by over 10 years of experience with accurate bot detection. By embedding our Device Fingerprinting technology, apps can easily identify malicious installs, fraudulent affiliates, and fraudulent traffic sources that should be refunded. Real-time protection makes it easy to automate quality control. Protect your mobile advertising budgets and maximize your reach to legitimate clients and users.

Detecting Fake App Installs

IPQualityScore fraud detection solutions are the perfect fit for solving fake app installs across any app type such as gaming apps, dating networks, ride share, fitech, etc. Detect fraudulent app installs directly within the app through an SDK integration, or integrate the service in an affiliate network's tracking links. Ad networks can also deploy our affiliate fraud detection service for complete coverage against fraudulent activity such as proxies, VPNs, virtual devices, install farms, and similar abuse.

Simple Integration Methods

Directly embed our Device Fingerprinting code in your app, mobile backend, or other funnel points such as a registration, login, or payment page to accurately score your users and protect against fake app installs. Integration only takes a few minutes and can instantly protect your mobile apps for Android or iOS operating systems.

View available fraud detection plugins that make it easy to enable app install fraud management for over 2,000 apps including AppsFlyer, Adjust, and TUNE.

App Install Fraud Prevention Highlights

• Detect Device Emulators and Mobile Spoofing
• Easily Identify Fake Installs & Low Quality Users
• Prevent Mobile Ad Fraud for iOS and Android Apps
• Instantly Improve User & Install Quality
• Increase Budgets, Reach, & Overall ROI
• Improve User Engagement with Higher Quality Installs
• Filter Bots & Fake Actions
• Machine Learning Behavior Analysis
• The Only Install Anti Fraud Solution Needed
• Easy API Integrations & Plugins