--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: February 4 - 8, 2019" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from 4-8 February 2019. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/blank-tv-television-ott.jpg --- [![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/blank-tv-television-ott.jpg) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 2 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: February 4 - 8, 2019 Written by [Tyler Loechner](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/tyler-loechner) Feb 8, 2019 1:21:21 PM This week's review of ad fraud and quality in the digital advertising space. *Attending Mobile World Congress 2019? [Meet with Pixalate ](https://pixal.at/2Tz4SNc)to discuss the latest trends in mobile advertising.* ### **1. eMarketer releases Digital Ad Fraud 2019 report** ![ad-fraud-2019-emarketer-report-1](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/ad-fraud-2019-emarketer-report-1.jpg?width=600&name=ad-fraud-2019-emarketer-report-1.jpg) eMarketer recently released the[ Digital Ad Fraud 2019](https://www.emarketer.com/content/digital-ad-fraud-2019) report, noting that mobile and video are the riskiest channels for advertisers. The comprehensive report features everything you need to know about invalid traffic (IVT) and ad fraud in 2019, including the latest stats and estimates from Pixalate. Our blog post highlights some of the key takeaways. [Read more](https://www.pixalate.com/emarketer-digital-ad-fraud-2019-report). ### **2. Does OTT have an ad fraud problem?** ![blank-tv-television-ott](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/blank-tv-television-ott.jpg?width=600&name=blank-tv-television-ott.jpg) "As advertisers funnel more dollars toward over-the-top (OTT) video, they may want to keep ad fraud concerns in the back of their mind," wrote [eMarketer](https://content-na1.emarketer.com/does-ott-have-an-ad-fraud-problem) in an article exploring the latest trends in OTT ad fraud. "In a Q3 2018 study, [Pixalate found](https://blog.pixalate.com/what-is-ott-connected-tv-ad-fraud) that 19% of worldwide OTT impressions were invalid, due to a combination of fraud and ad serving and measurement errors caused by technical malfunctions," the article noted. "Companies may fear that acknowledging the existence of fraud in their platforms could make them vulnerable, but [Pixalate VP of Product Marketing Amy] King believes that transparency is the best way to reduce fraud," eMarketer added. ### **3. Top mobile in-app programmatic sellers are improving transparency** ![q3-2018-msti-transparency-mobile-app-programmatic-sellers](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/q3-2018-msti-transparency-mobile-app-programmatic-sellers.png?width=600&name=q3-2018-msti-transparency-mobile-app-programmatic-sellers.png) Pixalate recently released the Q3 2018[ Seller Trust Indexes](https://pixalate.com/sellertrustindex/global/#!global), and we examined historical data from the Mobile Seller Trust Index (MSTI) to identify some industry-wide trends. Per the MSTI, the top mobile in-app sellers have become increasingly transparent, a potential response to calls for more transparency in the in-app advertising world. [Learn more](https://www.pixalate.com/mobile-app-programmatic-seller-trust-index-transparency). ### **4. Over half (52%) of brand advertisers say ad fraud is top in-app concern** **![array-of-mobile-apps](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/array-of-mobile-apps.jpg?width=600&name=array-of-mobile-apps.jpg)** Reporting on a recent Forrester Consulting and PubMatic study, [Mobile Marketer](https://www.mobilemarketer.com/news/73-of-media-buyers-favor-programmatic-in-app-ads-study-finds/547769/) reported that "just over half (52%) of brand advertisers said their biggest concern about in-app advertising was ad fraud, while 36% of their agency partners reported the same concern." ### **5. Ad fraudsters target ads.txt** ![fraud-definition](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/fraud-definition.jpg?width=600&name=fraud-definition.jpg) "Scammers recently found a new workaround for one of the advertising industry’s most significant efforts to protect marketers from being tricked into buying ads on fake websites," reported the [Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/articles/scammers-target-ad-industrys-initiative-to-thwart-fraud-11549537200). The scheme involved fake websites, malware, botnets, and find a workaround to ads.txt. ### 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 [← eMarketer releases Digital Ad Fraud 2019 report](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/emarketer-digital-ad-fraud-2019-report) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Competition between programmatic video ad sellers heats up →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/programmatic-video-seller-trust-index-competition) ## 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-week-in-review-february-8-2019#) # 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... 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