GeeTest Secures a World-Class Athletic Footwear Brand from 99.9% of Automated Scalping Attempts

The Challenge

The company’s online stores became primary targets for organized scalping groups seeking to exploit limited-edition and high-demand releases. Fraudsters created large volumes of fake accounts and used automated tools to secure valuable items within seconds of product launches. These items were then resold at inflated prices on unauthorized third-party platforms, undermining the brand’s direct-to-consumer model and creating frustration among genuine customers.

The disruptive activity also distorted essential business metrics. Since predictive analysis relied heavily on customer behavior and purchase data, automated traffic created misleading patterns that affected demand forecasting, inventory planning, and marketing strategy. In addition, unfair purchasing experiences weakened customer loyalty and reduced engagement across the brand’s online ecosystem, especially among communities that valued authenticity and transparency.

“We were drowning in fake account registrations. They distorted user metrics, triggered unnecessary promotional costs, and created a constant cleanup burden for our team.”
— Director of Growth & CRM

The Solution

Facing relentless bot attacks during its direct-to-consumer push, the global sportswear leader vetted leading anti-fraud tools and partnered with GeeTest in 2018—a cybersecurity pioneer with over a decade of success defending major e-commerce players. GeeTest CAPTCHA was seamlessly embedded at high-risk touchpoints: login screens, add-to-cart buttons, and checkout flows. Operating invisibly in the background, it provided constant vigilance without disrupting the user journey. Deployment insights were eye-opening: automated bots accounted for 99.9% of traffic during peak promotions. By syncing with the leader’s integrated fraud platform, GeeTest’s AI engine transformed these hotspots from vulnerabilities to fortified gateways, delivering real-time intelligence to outsmart threats and unlock cleaner, actionable data.

Intelligent Bot Detection to Stop Automated Scalping

The company implemented GeeTest’s AI-powered bot mitigation engine across critical touchpoints including login, registration, add-to-cart, and checkout. By analyzing behavioral patterns, device signals, and environment data in real time, GeeTest accurately identified automated scripts attempting to mass-purchase high-demand releases. During major product drops, the system revealed that up to 99.9 percent of purchase attempts originated from bots. With adaptive risk scoring and precise bot interception, the company successfully prevented scalping groups from manipulating inventory and distorting demand.

Multi-Layered Protection to Secure Customer Accounts

To safeguard the brand’s fast-growing direct-to-consumer ecosystem, GeeTest deployed multi-layer verification that effectively blocked credential stuffing, unauthorized logins, and account abuse. Behavioral biometrics, dynamic tokens, and real-time anomaly detection helped ensure that only legitimate customers could engage in product launches, rewards programs, and exclusive membership benefits. This reinforced a secure shopping environment where customer identities and transactions remained fully protected.

Seamless Integration for a Frictionless User Journey

GeeTest’s lightweight verification framework ensured smooth integration with the brand’s global e-commerce platform. Verification was triggered only when necessary, enabling genuine customers to complete challenges with minimal friction. During peak traffic events, this adaptive approach preserved high conversion rates and maintained website stability across web and mobile experiences. The solution also aligned seamlessly with the company’s internal fraud-detection workflows, ensuring rapid response to emerging threats without disrupting purchasing behavior.

Customized Branded CAPTCHA to Strengthen Engagement

To further enhance brand consistency and user engagement, the company introduced a fully customized CAPTCHA experience designed around its signature product. Instead of generic verification images, users complete a playful “slide the sneaker puzzle” challenge that reflects the brand’s identity and product culture. This approach makes security verification more enjoyable while reinforcing brand awareness across every interaction. The dynamic sneaker-themed CAPTCHA adds a memorable touch to the user journey, creating both functional and emotional value during high-demand releases.

The Result

GeeTest CAPTCHA delivered game-changing wins for the global sportswear leader, supercharging fraud defenses, purifying data streams, and reigniting customer passion. Initial scans revealed a shocking 99.9% bot takeover during prime promotions, but the system’s swift rollout spiked detection accuracy by 35%, vaporizing automated raids and handing back exclusive drops to true fans. This erased resale shadows and stabilized stock for real demand.