How to draft a fraud policy that stops abuse without killing affiliate growth.

How to draft a fraud policy that stops abuse without killing affiliate growth.

Vague terms like "suspicious activity" create uncertainty. A policy must define specific violations—such as cookie stuffing or click injection—to ensure transparency. Listing forbidden traffic sources clearly prevents accidental breaches and protects honest partners from unexpected chargebacks.

Use objective benchmarks. Define acceptable conversion rates and source requirements. If a partner hits an anomaly threshold, trigger a manual review rather than an automatic ban. This protects the brand while giving legitimate publishers a chance to explain data outliers.

Establish a clear dispute resolution process including the evidence required and investigation timeline. When partners know there is a fair trial, they scale faster. Avoid hard-coded "no-appeal" clauses as they drive away professional media buyers.

A solid fraud policy acts as a filter, not a wall. Specificity attracts high-quality partners.