Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mention-me.com/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
What Is Gaming?
Gaming refers to attempts by customers to get referral rewards without referring genuine new customers. Common forms include:- Self-referrals and fake accounts — Creating multiple accounts using different emails to refer themselves
- Collusion — Groups of individuals referring each other to inflate numbers
- Incentive misuse — Signing up multiple times to access welcome offers
- Broadcasting referral links — Posting links on public forums or coupon sites
Three Tools to Manage Gaming
Mention Me provides three complementary tools:- Gaming Controls — Algorithmic scoring that evaluates referrals via IP address, cookies, email similarity, and more
- Velocity Controls — Limits on how many rewards a referrer can earn or distribute in a set time
- Eligibility Controls — Business-specific criteria that must be met before rewards are issued
Gaming Controls
Our gaming algorithm evaluates referrals via factors such as IP address, cookies, and email similarity to prevent self-referral. You can:- Apply controls to referrer and referee flows independently
- Manually review or automatically decline high-scoring referrals
- Use recommended defaults or customise for each offer
- Enhance scoring using additional data (e.g. postcode)
- Blacklist suspicious emails or IPs
Components of the Gaming Score
Each triggered fraud rule adds to the score. Higher scores mean increased likelihood of dishonest behaviour.
Configuring the Gaming Score
Controls can be applied to either the referrer or referee side, or both:- Referee side: Stops reward until a reviewer approves
- Referrer side: Allows introductory reward; referrer is reviewed only if fraud is detected later
Acting on the Gaming Score
Referrals that exceed thresholds go into an approval queue. These should be reviewed regularly for approval or rejection.
How to Switch on or Amend Gaming Controls
Gaming Controls are enabled by default. To update them:These controls apply at the Offer level. If you update one offer, replicate changes across other active offers.
Create a draft experiment
Click Campaigns, select the relevant campaign, then click Drafts, Upcoming & History. Click experiment actions (three dots) and Duplicate (to draft).
Add gaming rules
Click Add rule, and repeat to add both:
- Gaming score (at Referrer fulfillment)
- Gaming score (at Referee fulfillment)
Velocity Controls
Velocity controls prevent disproportionate reward distribution, especially during viral events. They pause referral rewards once limits are reached, requiring manual approval. They can apply to:- Referrers: Cap how many vouchers they send per timeframe
- Referees: Cap how many referrals can come from a referrer
- 5 referrer rewards in 24 hours
- 25 referrer rewards in a month
- 10 introductory offers claimed from the same referrer in 24 hours
Acting on Velocity Thresholds
When scores exceed limits, referrals go to a queue. Review them manually for approval or decline.
Eligibility Controls
Ensures referrals meet business-specific criteria before rewards are issued. Examples:- Utilities: Reward delayed until supply begins
- Travel: Reward given after trip completion
How Mention Me Detects Gaming
Mention Me uses several methods to identify and address gaming:- Intelligent detection — Machine learning and behavioural analytics identify unusual activity patterns such as repeated referrals from the same device, email domain, or IP address
- Gaming score system — Evaluates referral behaviour based on risk indicators including referral frequency, IP duplication, and account creation patterns
- IP and device tracking — Monitors IP addresses and device fingerprints to detect unusual patterns
- Dynamic rewarding rules — Set specific eligibility criteria such as purchase validation periods or referral thresholds
- Controlled reward distribution — Implement a waiting period before rewards are issued