1800 Solutions steals affiliate commissions by replacing affiliate codes with their own.

You can see proof of this at http://www.benedelman.org/spyware/180-affiliates/merchants-silent.html

It also shows the names of merchant domains that are known to be attacked by 1800 solutions

This means that these merchants have accepted this company into their program and many know how they operate.

The Register also has an article on them today: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/28/affiliate_network_controversy/

The article indicates that they work with Commission Junction and Linkshare and that

quote:

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Although LinkShare's policies clearly state that "hidden windows are not a permissible way to set tracking codes and earn commissions", the company hasn't cut 180solutions out of its network yet.

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Interesting Article. It goes on to say that ShareASale has removed them and ends with

quote:

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it seems the online affiliate business is in desperate need of standards and regulations

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I agree 100%

Wow, some of the sites on that list are sites that I am an affiliate with.

It amazes me that affiliates would still work with those sites. Maybe they just dont know about 1800 solutions and the affiliation the merchants have with them.

I am new online but had worked in retail business for a long time. I would think that this activity would be illegal. It is stragiht stealing. Has there been lawsuits filed and won?

Mike

What are other adware companies besides 1800Solutions that affiliates should be aware of?

I know WhenU and Gator are two major ones.

180 Solutions is also part of clickbank. Here is their vendor details: https://secure.clickbank.net/cgi/customer/vp.cgi?nick=dfw180

Does clickbank know 180 Solutions is stealing commissions?

Is there a way to tell if your affiliate links are being manipulated by adware? Can you see it in your logs?

None that I know of. Since the adware is on the person's PC I think it probably hijacks before it can be showned as a click in your web site logs.

Hmmn, so you can only guess that your commissions are being stolen then?