The company expects the direct cost to advertisers to hit $26bn in 2020, $29bn in 2021, and $32bn in 2022. Global ad fraud could cost $ 23bn in 2019 , rising to $ 30bn if economic and social costs are added , according to a report by cybersecurity firm Cheq . The report said digital ad spending would reach $ 316bn in 2019 . Lack of regulation and the complexity of online advertising are cited as the main reasons , and the report forecast the direct cost to advertisers could reach $ 32bn by 2022 . It said high - end campaigns could expect a 5 % fraud rate , with a higher rate for lower - end campaigns . The report said studies which put the cost at $ 1 each year were based on limited samples .
Global ad fraud could cost $ 23bn in 2019 , rising to $ 30bn if economic and social costs are added , according to a report by cybersecurity firm Cheq . The report said digital ad spending would reach $ 316bn in 2019 . Lack of regulation and the complexity of online advertising are cited as the main reasons , and the report forecast the direct cost to advertisers could reach $ 32bn by 2022 . It said high - end campaigns could expect a 5 % fraud rate , with a higher rate for lower - end campaigns . The report said studies which put the cost at $ 1 each year were based on limited samples .