How to Integrate Session Replay with Your Fraud Detection System

To integrate session replay with your existing fraud detection system, connect the replay tool's API or webhook to your fraud engine. When the replay tool flags a session as suspicious, it sends the session ID and a replay link to your fraud system. Your analysts then open the replay directly from the alert, see exactly what happened, and decide faster.

This guide walks through the integration step by step, including prerequisites, common pitfalls, and how to verify the setup works.

Prerequisites

Before you start, confirm you have:

• A session replay tool that exposes an API or webhook (most do).
• Access to your fraud detection system's alert ingestion endpoint (REST API, webhook receiver, or a queue like SQS).
• A way to map session IDs to user or transaction IDs in your fraud system.
• Permissions to create API keys and configure webhooks.

Step 1: Identify the session replay events you want to send

Decide which replay events should trigger a fraud alert. Common ones include:

• Rage clicks or rapid repeated clicks on the same element.
• Ghost clicks (clicks without a preceding mouse movement).
• Unnatural mouse paths (perfectly straight lines or grid-aligned movement).
• Superhuman input speed (interactions under 1ms).
• No scrolling or clicking for the entire session.
• Session durations that are too short, too long, or unnaturally uniform.

These signals match the behavioral patterns BotRefund uses to detect bot clicks, as described in its detection documentation.

Step 2: Configure the replay tool's webhook or API export

In your session replay tool, find the webhook or API settings. Create a new webhook that sends a JSON payload whenever a session meets your chosen criteria. The payload should include at minimum:

• Session ID
• Timestamp
• Reason for flagging (e.g., "ghost click detected")
• Replay URL (a direct link to the recorded session)

If your tool only supports API polling, set up a scheduled job to pull flagged sessions and push them to your fraud system.

Step 3: Map session IDs to your fraud system's identifiers

Your fraud system likely works with user IDs, order IDs, or device fingerprints. You need a mapping table or a lookup function that connects a session ID to the relevant entity. This can be done via:

• A shared database where both tools write session metadata.
• An internal API that resolves session IDs to user IDs.
• A client-side integration that passes a custom user ID into the replay tool's session attributes.

Without this mapping, your analysts will receive alerts they can't act on.

Step 4: Push flagged sessions into your fraud engine

Use the replay tool's webhook to POST the session data to your fraud system's alert endpoint. If your fraud system doesn't have a public API, use a middleware layer (like Zapier, a serverless function, or a message queue) to transform and forward the payload.

Make sure the payload includes the replay URL. This is the key benefit: analysts can click straight from the alert to the visual evidence.

Step 5: Enrich alerts with replay links and context

When the fraud system receives the session data, it should create an alert that includes:

• The replay URL
• The specific behavioral signals that triggered the flag
• Any existing fraud scores or risk indicators for that user
• Links to related orders, accounts, or transactions

This enrichment turns a raw signal into an actionable case.

Step 6: Test the integration with a known suspicious session

Create a test session that triggers one of your chosen signals (for example, use a bot script that clicks without moving the mouse). Confirm that:

• The webhook fires and the payload arrives in your fraud system.
• The alert appears with the correct session ID and replay link.
• Clicking the replay link opens the recorded session.
• The mapping to your user/order ID works.

If any step fails, check the webhook logs and the fraud system's API documentation.

What session replay adds to fraud detection

Session replay gives you visual proof. A fraud score or a rule-based flag tells you something is wrong, but a replay shows you exactly what happened. This is especially useful for:

• Distinguishing bots from frustrated real users.
• Reviewing edge cases where automated rules are ambiguous.
• Building evidence for refund disputes with ad platforms.

BotRefund's detection signals—ghost clicks, honeypot interactions, robotic mouse movements, and superhuman input speed—are exactly the kind of behaviors that session replay can capture and feed into your fraud system.

Key facts about bot detection and refunds

Limitations and when this integration doesn't apply

Session replay integration is not a silver bullet. It works best when you already have a fraud detection system that can consume external signals. If your fraud system is a simple rules engine with no API, you'll need middleware. Also, session replay data can be noisy—not every flagged session is fraud. You'll need to tune thresholds to avoid alert fatigue.

This integration also doesn't replace dedicated bot detection tools. Session replay captures what happens on your site, but it may miss server-side fraud or bot traffic that never renders a page. For ad click fraud specifically, BotRefund's behavioral analysis and refund negotiation process is designed to handle the full cycle.

Terminology you'll encounter

• Session replay: A recorded video-like playback of a user's interactions on your site.
• Webhook: An HTTP callback that sends data to another system when an event occurs.
• Ghost click: A click that happens without a preceding mouse movement, often a sign of automation.
• Honeypot: A hidden page element that only bots interact with.
• Invalid traffic: Clicks or impressions that are not from genuine human interest.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the integration take?

Most session replay tools have webhook support, so a basic integration can be done in a few hours. If you need custom mapping or middleware, plan for a day or two.

What if my fraud system doesn't have an API?

Use a middleware tool like Zapier or a serverless function to receive the webhook and forward it to your fraud system's email or database. You'll lose some automation, but you can still get alerts.

Will this catch all fraud?

No. Session replay only sees client-side behavior. Server-side fraud, API abuse, and bot traffic that doesn't load your JavaScript won't be captured. Combine it with server-side monitoring and dedicated bot detection.

How do I avoid alert fatigue?

Start with the most specific signals (ghost clicks, superhuman speed) and add broader signals only after you've tuned thresholds. Use a severity score so analysts can prioritize.

Can I use this for ad refund disputes?

Yes. If your session replay captures bot-like behavior, you can export that evidence to support a refund claim with Google or Meta. BotRefund's refund evidence dossier is designed for exactly this purpose.