How our anti-cheat framework works
Last updated: August 30, 2026
Our goal
Clout Clock only works if the leaderboard is fair. We actively monitor for bots, automated traffic, and coordinated manipulation so that real businesses get genuine, honest visibility. Our enforcement is designed to be fair, transparent, and appealable.
What we monitor
- Bots & automated traffic — scripts, click farms, and non-human activity
- Rate-limit abuse — excessive requests from a single source
- Fake visitors — referrers that never load the page, or repeat hits from one source
- Cross-listing abuse — one source tapping many listings to inflate metrics
- Velocity abuse — unusually rapid activity that suggests automation
How we enforce
We use a tiered enforcement ladder:
Tier 1 — Warning
First suspected violation. We notify you and may temporarily freeze the affected activity.
Tier 2 — Remove artificial support days
Confirmed abuse. We remove protected days earned through bots or manipulation. Clout is never removed by automated enforcement — it can only be bought and it decays on its own.
Tier 3 — Suspend
Repeated or serious violations. Your listing is temporarily hidden while we review.
Tier 4 — Terminate
Severe or persistent abuse. Your account is permanently removed.
Automated vs human review
Clear-cut cases (confirmed bots, automated traffic, velocity abuse) are handled automatically — we remove artificially earned support days and notify you. Sharing a listing you own is never a violation; enforcement targets fake traffic, not who is doing the sharing. Ambiguous cases (borderline activity, high-value listings, appeals with evidence) are reviewed by a human before any action. We never automatically suspend or terminate an account — those always require human review.
How you're notified
If we have your email, we'll notify you by email. If we don't, you'll see a notification the next time you visit the site. Every notification explains what we detected, what action we took, and how to appeal.
Your right to appeal
You have 30 days to appeal any enforcement decision. We respond to appeals within 10 business days. To appeal, use the link in your notification or email support@cloutclock.com. Every decision is logged and can be reconsidered.
See our full Rules for the complete fair-play policy.