Monarch: An Apparent Connected TV/OTT Ad Fraud Scheme Stealing from Premium Brand and Political Ad Budgets

Roku apps designed for passive viewing appear to have been targeted in a new over-the-top (OTT) content and connected TV (CTV) ad fraud scheme unearthed by Pixalate researchers.

The alleged as fraud scheme exploited over a dozen Roku apps in an apparent scheme that looks to have exploited OTT/CTV advertisers including political ad groups, luxury automakers, and CPGs.

What you need to know about the “Monarch” OTT/CTV ad fraud scam:

• MRC guidelines breached: Sophisticated Invalid Traffic (SIVT). Specific SIVT types identified in this scheme include app misrepresentation and falsified measurement events, as defined by the Media Rating Council (MRC).
• Political ad budgets defrauded. Political ads include personal campaign ads for Senate and other political offices, and ads from political groups.
• Premium brands scammed
• OTT/CTV device farms. Pixalate analysis reveals this scheme may share characteristics consistent with device farms.

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