The Dark Arts Lesson 2 - Cookie Stuffing
What is Cookie Stuffing - Sounds Really Tasty!
Cookie stuffing is not loading up your turkey with a bunch of crushed cookies. Rather it's placing cookies for affiliate commission purposes on a computer without the user having clicked on an appropriate link and typically without the user's knowledge.
For example, using a cookie stuffer I could place cookies for Amazon, eBay, Clickbank products, and pretty much anything I wanted on a person's computer when they visited my website. I am not limited to placing 1 cookie at a time. A simple visit of my home page could result in dozens of cookies being stuffed.
Cookie Stuff - Do NOT Pass Go, Go Straight to Jail
If caught, the affiliate not only faces being banned as an affiliate but also potential jail time. In 2013, the FBI working hand-in-hand with EBay took down eBay's top two earning affiliates. Shawn Hogan, the top affiliate at eBay, had 9 FBI agents enter his home with a warrant. He pleaded guilty to one charge of wire fraud and served 5 months in Federal prison plus fines. He also faced civil action for restoration of all his affiliate income (what percentage of the $28M he earned over the years was recovered by eBay is unknown).
Rich Fulton
BizMaker
Recent Comments
4
I see so many websites out there where cookies must be accepted in order to participate in certain functions, or view certain things.
Are you talking about that?
Normally, the individuals behind cookie stuffers try to be invisible so you don't know they are doing it. You simply navigate to the home page or other page and they do it behind the scenes. I think what you are referring to came about from the European Cookie Laws require disclosure that a site is using cookies. They then have you acknowlege the fact that you know they are using cookies.
The European cookie laws appear to be no longer being enforced. I have seen a site challenge them to come after them for violation of the law. The site provided many examples of Government sites in Europe not complying :)
It is also possible that a browser is configured to have to accept every cookie, but that is not usually a default configuration. If that setting is on, it is a major pain navigating around the web.
I can imagine! So what is the actual danger to a person that connects with them?
Forgive me, I'm quite slow on the technical......
If you personally connect to one of their stuffing sites and then buy from a site where they've placed a cookie, they get a commision even though you didn't visit the affiliate destination from their site. Essentially, you're giving them a profit and helping fund their operation unintentionally. If you are buying a product for yourself (on the few sites that allow affiliates to get discounts), they just stole your discount. Of course, if recognized you could report them and they would be banned and possibly criminally prosecuted.
Another issue is that it's another way for black hatters to steal your commission. Let's say you had someone visit your site and click affiliate links to Amazon, Ebay, and a few other sites where you have affiliate arrangements. They can blow away everyone of those cookies by putting new cookies in place and get credit for the sales assuming they have affiliate arrangements at the same sites you do. Your clients never visited Amazon, Ebay, and the other sites from the cookie stuffer's site but they are getting paid.
When they are placing cookies on your potential clients, there is little you can do when they steal your commissions. You will almost never know that i happened. You have to rely on measures that your vendor or provider has in place to catch these types of criminals.