Shopping App Suspended for Secretly Manipulating Commission Deals

Phia, a shopping-extension startup founded in part by Phoebe Gates, has been suspended by Impact.com, a major marketplace partner, after Bloomberg exposed fraudulent practices in July 2026. The app was secretly opening hidden browser windows during checkout to claim commission credit meant for other companies. Phia says it fixed the problem; Bloomberg confirmed it stopped. The startup has raised $43.5 million.