--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: November 9 - 13, 2020" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from 9-13 November 2020. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/games-gaming.png --- [![pixalate-full-logo](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixalate_Logos/pixalate-full-logo.jpg?width=150&height=60&name=pixalate-full-logo.jpg "pixalate-full-logo")](https://www.pixalate.com) Search **Menu** ** ** ![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/games-gaming.png) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 2 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: November 9 - 13, 2020 Written by [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/pixalate) Nov 13, 2020 4:30:00 PM This week's review of ad fraud and quality in the digital advertising space. ### **1: How big is the ad fraud problem in OTT/CTV?** ### ![watching-tv-ott-ctv-channel](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/watching-tv-ott-ctv-channel.png?width=600&name=watching-tv-ott-ctv-channel.png) "One thorny problem with connected TV (CTV) advertising is that the growing number of ad dollars spent on CTV has attracted fraudsters," wrote [eMarketer](https://content-na1.emarketer.com/how-big-is-ctv-ad-fraud) in a piece examining the state of ad fraud in OTT/CTV. "Pixalate ... estimated that 22% of programmatic OTT and CTV ad impressions were served as invalid traffic [in 2019]. Vendors in this area have unveiled numerous CTV fraud schemes that they claim were worth millions of dollars," wrote eMarketer, including [DiCaprio](https://www.pixalate.com/dicaprio-ott-ctv-ad-fraud-scheme-grindr-mobile-app) and [Monarch](https://www.pixalate.com/monarch-ott-ctv-ad-fraud-scheme). ### 2. Mobile Marketing Magazine: Ad fraud scheme on popular video editing app ![mobile-video-phone-play](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/mobile-video-phone-play.png?width=600&name=mobile-video-phone-play.png) [Mobile Marketing Magazine](https://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/vivavideo-mobile-ad-fraud-upstream-secure-d) reports that a popular video editing app with over 100 million downloads from the Google Play Store "has allegedly been attempting to initiate subscription charges while serving hidden ads to users in order to generate fake clicks," citing research from Upstream.  ### 3. 'Fighting digital ad fraud' ![fighting-shadow](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/fighting-shadow.png?width=600&name=fighting-shadow.png) [The Edge Malaysia Weekly](https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cover-story-fighting-digital-ad-fraud) published an in-depth look at the fight against digital ad fraud, writing: "Digital advertising fraud has been plaguing the advertising industry both locally and [globally] for the longest time, and it is expected to remain an issue in the foreseeable future." ### 4. Gaming industry hit by scammers ### ![games-gaming](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/games-gaming.png?width=600&name=games-gaming.png) [SC Media](https://www.scmagazine.com/home/security-news/ransomware/attackers-target-gaming-as-the-latest-always-on-industry-impacted-by-ransomware/) reports that "the gaming industry [is] an even more alluring target than usual for cybercriminals" due to shifts in consumer media habits stemming from COVID-19. SC Media quoted Robert Gates, threat intelligence analyst with IBM Security X-Force, as saying: “Gaming companies are great targets for ad fraud, credential fraud, bots or distribution of malware through Trojan horse games,”  ### 5. Lawsuit over clicks from fake Facebook accounts given green light ### ![court-gavel-sue](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/court-gavel-sue.png?width=600&name=court-gavel-sue.png) "Siding against Facebook, a federal judge has ruled that the Arkansas company dotStrategy can proceed with a class-action complaint alleging that Facebook charged marketers for clicks originating from 'fake' accounts," reported [MediaPost](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/357759/facebook-must-face-lawsuit-over-ad-clicks-from-fak.html). ### Search Blog Search ### Follow Pixalate ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Previous Story [← Pixalate Week in Review: November 2 - 6, 2020](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/programmatic-ad-fraud-news-november-6-2020) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [2020 Programmatic Connected TV/OTT report: 70% rise in ad spend despite COVID-19 pandemic; 72% of US households now reachable →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/connected-tv-ctv-ott-ad-supply-trends-report-q3-2020) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Weekly Recaps [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/pixalate-week-review-june-13.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-20-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 16 - June 20, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-20-2025) Jun 20, 2025 11:09:13 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/pixalate-week-review-june-13.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-13-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 9 - June 13, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-13-2025) Jun 13, 2025 11:39:50 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/June-6-Pixalate-Recap.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-6-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 2 - June 6, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-6-2025) Jun 6, 2025 1:00:13 PM | 2 min read ** ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) ![pixalate-logo-red-small](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2018NewTemplate/pixalate-logo-red-small.png?width=208&name=pixalate-logo-red-small.png "pixalate-logo-red-small") ** By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Products [Analytics](https://www.pixalate.com/products/analytics) [Blocking](https://www.pixalate.com/products/blocking) [Media Rating Terminal](https://www.pixalate.com/products/mrt) [Publisher Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [Seller Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [IoT Device Rankings](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=iotDeviceReach) Resources [Blog](https://blog.pixalate.com/) [Press](https://www.pixalate.com/press) [Careers](https://www.pixalate.com/jobs) [Team](https://info.pixalate.com/pixalate-leadership-team) Contact Email [** sales@pixalate.com ](mailto:sales@pixalate.com) [** privacy@pixalate.com ](mailto:privacy@pixalate.com) US: [** +1 888 749 2528 ](tel:+1%20888%20749%202528) EU: [** +44 (0)800 011 2050 ](tel:+44%20(0)800%20011%202050) Slack: [Join ATSAPI Slack Channel ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) Offices Global Offices US 1775 Greensboro Station Place, Suite 425, McLean, VA 22102 UK 20 North Audley Street London, W1K 6WE, United Kingdom EU 10 Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland Singapore 10 Anson Road, #22-02 International Plaza, Singapore 079903 [![facebook](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/facebook.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/pixalate) [![x](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/twitter-x.png) ](https://twitter.com/pixalateinc) [![linkedin](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/linkedin.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pixalate) ![wechat](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/wechat.png) [![slack](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/slack.png) ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) [GDPR Compliance](https://www.pixalate.com/gdpr) Disclaimer Copyright © 2025 Pixalate [Back to top **](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/programmatic-ad-fraud-news-november-13-2020#) # Disclaimer Disclaimer: The content of this page reflects Pixalate’s opinions with respect to the factors that Pixalate believes can be useful to the digital media industry. Any proprietary data shared is grounded in Pixalate’s proprietary technology and analytics, which Pixalate is continuously evaluating and updating. Any references to outside sources should not be construed as endorsements. Pixalate’s opinions are just that - opinion, not facts or guarantees. Per the MRC, “'Fraud' is not intended to represent fraud as defined in various laws, statutes and ordinances or as conventionally used in U.S. Court or other legal proceedings, but rather a custom definition strictly for advertising measurement purposes. Also per the MRC, “‘Invalid Traffic’ is defined generally as traffic that does not meet certain ad serving quality or completeness criteria, or otherwise does not represent legitimate ad traffic that should be included in measurement counts. Among the reasons why ad traffic may be deemed invalid is it is a result of non-human traffic (spiders, bots, etc.), or activity designed to produce fraudulent traffic.” ** ** *By clicking Download and entering your email address, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and have read and acknowledge our [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/2024-08-20_Pixalate_Privacy_Policy.pdf). *Copyright © 2025 Pixalate** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * × ## Subscribe to the Pixalate Blog The first step in ad fraud prevention. Loading... By entering your email address and clicking Submit, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy). ![pixalate-logo-white](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_V2_08_26_2016/logo/Pixalate_Logo_WHITE.png) ##### Contact Us12 Loading... ![pixalate-logo-white](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_V2_08_26_2016/logo/Pixalate_Logo_WHITE.png) ##### Download GSTI Loading... Schedule your demo today Please complete all fields Loading... By entering your email address and clicking Submit, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy). * * * * *