Advertisers could lose $16.4bn to ad fraud in 2017, according to a study which places the figure at double the original amount estimated to be lost in 2016. Advertising fraud could cost the world $ billion this year , according to a report by The&Partnership and m / Six . The study found that the cost of bot ##nets could have been as high as $ 12.5bn last year , or about 20 % of the $ 66bn spent on digital advertising across the world . Market research firm eMarketer has predicted that digital ad expenditure could total $ 80bn this year . If this is the case , the cost of ad fraud could exceed $ 16bn , warned The&Partnership 's report .
Advertising fraud could cost the world $ billion this year , according to a report by The&Partnership and m / Six . The study found that the cost of bot ##nets could have been as high as $ 12.5bn last year , or about 20 % of the $ 66bn spent on digital advertising across the world . Market research firm eMarketer has predicted that digital ad expenditure could total $ 80bn this year . If this is the case , the cost of ad fraud could exceed $ 16bn , warned The&Partnership 's report .