Four Tips to Stop Brand Abuse Ahead of 11/11
Singles Day, which takes place on November 11 (11/11), is a holiday in China for single people to celebrate their independent relationship status and lavish themselves with gifts. It is a massive day for retail and the most successful online shopping day in the world, bringing in more sales than Black Friday and Amazon Prime Days.
As with any high spend event, there is a high rate of fraudulent activity associated with 11/11. Scammers target unsuspecting consumers, often infringing on popular brands to profit.
Sophisticated bad actors use mobile apps, websites, and social media profiles as interrelated components in complex networks. These highly organized bad actors are the ones causing the most harm to brands and their consumers.
With 11/11 shopping just around the corner, it’s time to enact a plan to protect your customers and your brand equity. Here are some tips to save yourself from a Singles Day brand abuse emergency:
1. Investigate Bad Actor Networks
2. Develop a Mitigation Strategy
3. Dismantle the Network
4. Educate Your Customers About Bad Actors’ Methods and How to Avoid Engaging With Them
Be proactive in reaching out to your consumers ahead of Singles Day to warn them of common signs of fraud. Communication could include tips to avoid phishing scams or sharing a list of authorized sellers to discourage the accidental purchase of counterfeit goods or parallel imports.
With increased reliance on digital channels and the flood of new users leveraging those channels, brands play a significant role in protecting consumers. Use the data found in promotional channels to help identify the full scope of brand abuse targeting your loyal customers ahead of big shopping holidays like 11/11. Bad actors are using social media, advertising, websites, and branded materials in a way that makes them seem legitimate while evading detection. Legacy enforcement techniques against these scams may slow the fraudster but seldom disable the scam for any sustained period.
Would you like a custom brand abuse risk analysis ahead of 11/11? Request one here.