Step 1: Install and Activate Fraud Detection
Start by installing Affiliate Engine on your WordPress site. Once activated, navigate to its settings and enable the Fraud Prevention module. This unlocks self-referral checks, self-click monitoring, and risk scoring for all affiliate activity.
Step 2: Configure Self-Referral Rules
Under Fraud Rules, locate the Self-Referral Detection section. Enable the toggle to compare WooCommerce customer IDs with affiliate user IDs on every order. Set the severity level to High, this ensures flags appear prominently in fraud logs.
For stricter enforcement, add a secondary rule for shared IPs or devices under Advanced Settings. This catches affiliates using household accounts to bypass direct user-ID matches.
Step 3: Monitor Self-Clicks and Test Traffic
Affiliates often click their own links to test tracking, which skews analytics. In Visit Fraud Settings, enable Self-Click Detection to log these events. Configure the system to:
- Ignore the first 2-3 self-clicks (for legitimate testing).
- Flag repeated self-clicks as Medium severity.
- Send an automated warning email to affiliates after their third self-click.
Publish a quick guide for affiliates on how to test links safely (e.g., using incognito mode or a staging site).
Step 4: Review Fraud Logs Before Payouts
Before processing commissions, check the Fraud Logs dashboard in Affiliate Engine. Filter by High severity to prioritize self-referral cases. Each flag includes:
- The matching order and affiliate IDs.
- Timestamp and IP data.
- A link to void the commission directly from the log.
For grey-area cases (e.g., shared corporate accounts), use the Manual Review option to add notes or adjust scores before approval.
Step 5: Enforce Policies with Automated Actions
Under Payout Rules, set up automatic responses to fraud flags:
- Void commissions for confirmed self-referrals.
- Suspend payouts for affiliates with 3+ self-clicks until reviewed.
- Terminate accounts after repeated violations (configurable threshold).
Document these actions in your affiliate terms, and use Affiliate Engine's Policy Template to generate compliant language for your program's FAQ.
Step 6: Audit and Refine Over Time
After two payout cycles, review the Fraud Score Trends report. Adjust thresholds if:
- Legitimate affiliates are falsely flagged (lower sensitivity).
- New fraud patterns emerge (add IP velocity or bot detection rules).
Schedule a quarterly cleanup to purge old fraud logs and update your policy based on recent cases.
Key Takeaway
Self-referral fraud drains budgets and erodes trust, but automation handles 90% of detection. With Affiliate Engine's built-in rules, you'll spend minutes reviewing flags instead of hours reconciling payouts, while keeping your program fair for honest partners.
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