Accusations of Fraud and Corrections in the Phia Shopping App
Phia 購物 App 被指控欺詐及採取修正措施
Introduction
Phia, an AI-powered shopping extension, has been accused of using dishonest technical methods to earn affiliate commissions without permission.
Phia 是一款由 AI 驅動的購物擴充功能，被指控使用不誠實的技術手段，在未經許可的情況下賺取聯盟行銷佣金。
Main Body
The company was co-founded by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni in April 2025. It makes money through commissions on sales made via its platform. After launching, the startup grew quickly, reaching over 500,000 downloads by September 2025. Furthermore, it raised more than $40 million from investors, including celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber, leading to a total valuation of $185 million.
該公司於 2025 年 4 月由 Phoebe Gates 與 Sophia Kianni 共同創立。公司透過其平台產生的銷售佣金獲利。推出後，該初創公司快速成長，截至 2025 年 9 月下載量已突破 50 萬次。此外，該公司從投資者處籌集了超過 4,000 萬美元，投資者包括 Kim Kardashian 與 Hailey Bieber 等名人，使其總估值達到 1.85 億美元。
However, an investigation by Bloomberg, Capital One Shopping, and researcher Ben Edelman discovered that Phia used 'cookie stuffing,' which is a type of fraud. They alleged that the software's code, added in December, opened hidden tabs to insert referral codes during checkout. Consequently, Phia was able to claim credit for sales that it did not actually start. Because this activity broke the rules of digital platforms, the affiliate network Impact.com suspended Phia's account.
然而，Bloomberg、Capital One Shopping 及研究員 Ben Edelman 的調查發現，Phia 使用了稱為「Cookie Stuffing」的欺詐手段。他們指稱，該軟體在 12 月加入的代碼會在結帳時開啟隱藏分頁以插入推薦碼。因此，Phia 能夠在未實際促成銷售的情況下領取佣金。由於此行為違反了數位平台的規則，聯盟行銷網路 Impact.com 已暫停 Phia 的帳號。
In response, Phia representatives admitted that some users experienced these errors due to a specific version of their code. The company emphasized that the problem was fixed immediately after they were notified. Later, an independent check in July confirmed that the extension no longer makes automatic referral claims. Although the company claims it follows all standards through regular audits, it is still unclear if retail partners will trust them in the long term.
對此，Phia 代表承認，由於特定版本的代碼問題，部分使用者確實遇到了這些錯誤。公司強調，在收到通知後已立即修正該問題。隨後在 7 月進行的獨立檢查確認，該擴充功能不再自動進行推薦申請。儘管公司聲稱透過定期審核遵守所有標準，但零售合作夥伴長期是否會信任他們仍不確定。
Conclusion
Phia has fixed the technical errors in its referral process following an investigation into its marketing practices.
在對其行銷手法進行調查後，Phia 已修正了推薦流程中的技術錯誤。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 Moving Beyond 'And' & 'But'
To move from A2 to B2, you must stop using basic connectors and start using Logical Bridges. These words don't just connect sentences; they tell the reader how the ideas relate.
🔗 The 'Cause and Effect' Bridge
In the text, we see: "Consequently, Phia was able to claim credit..."
- A2 Level: "So Phia got the money."
- B2 Level: "Consequently, [Result]."
- Why it works: Consequently signals a formal, direct result of a specific action. Use this in essays or business emails to sound professional.
📈 The 'Adding Value' Bridge
Look at this sentence: "Furthermore, it raised more than $40 million..."
- A2 Level: "And it got $40 million."
- B2 Level: "Furthermore, [Additional Important Point]."
- The Logic: Furthermore is for when the second point is even more impressive or important than the first. It builds a 'ladder' of information.
🔄 The 'Contrast' Bridge
Check the transition: "Although the company claims it follows all standards... it is still unclear..."
- A2 Level: "The company says it is okay, but we don't know."
- B2 Level: "Although [Fact A], [Contradicting Fact B]."
- Pro Tip: Although allows you to put two opposing ideas in one single, sophisticated sentence. This is a hallmark of B2 fluency.
💡 Quick Reference Summary
| A2 Word | B2 Upgrade | Use when... |
|---|---|---|
| So | Consequently | Explaining a formal result |
| And | Furthermore | Adding a strong extra point |
| But | Although | Showing a surprising contrast |