DoubleVerify has revealed a fraudulent operation named ShadowBot, which exploited mobile and Connected TV environments to create over 35 million fake devices in Q1 2025, resulting in an estimated loss of $2.5 million for unprotected advertisers. Despite its scale, the scheme employed rudimentary techniques and amateur mistakes, making it detectable by DoubleVerify’s advanced fraud detection systems. Key indicators included outdated screen resolutions and suspicious IP activity. The findings highlight the persistent risk of digital ad fraud, even from less sophisticated scams.
ShadowBot shows that fraud doesn't need to be sophisticated to be costly, with USD$2.5m lost to bots using resolutions of an old CRT screen from the 1990s.
We're happy to know that DV clients remain safe, thanks to DV's AI-powered Fraud Lab, which catches subtle deviations from normal user behavior.
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