online communications are susceptible to high levels of fraud or other unauthorized communications . online sources of information about goods , including business - to - business resources , marketplace web sites , custom retail web sites , and the like may knowingly or unknowingly transmit communications representing counterfeit goods as genuine , communications regarding overstock goods at low prices without production and commission costs , and solicit customers anonymously . in some embodiments of the present disclosure , electronic information sources are monitored using data metrics to track electronic retailer activities , monitor distribution volumes by source , and monitor pricing . analysis of such communications may be used to detect potentially fraudulent activity , and , based on manufacturer policy and threshold settings , may automatically report , notify , or take action against such illicit communications .