Does G warn first, or just BAN?

how harsh is Google?

[Tearabite]

Like everyone else, i'm terrified of the wrath of 'G'..

i'm curious if Google sees some minor infraction, do they issue warnings, or just an automatic BAN?

[europeforvisitors]

The answer probably depends on what you consider "minor," and on whether the site will pass the "sniff test" in a manual review.

[Zygoot]

Some people first receive a warning, others get banned immediately.

I think it depends on a couple of factors, like the degree of the violation(s), the mood of the Google employee ;), ...

[hunderdown]

Some people have reported being warned about a problem on one site or a section of a site.

The best thing to do if you are worried is reread the TOS and then carefully review the way you set up your site(s) and use AdSense on them.

[humblebeginnings]

Since I see so many blatant Adsense TOS violations that just go on for many months I guess Google don't warn or ban you for "minor" violations that easily.
But indeed, it all depends on what you consider a "minor" violation. I guess there are violations in different degrees:

A) Making blackhat seo powered scraper mfa gambling and pron sites. (very, very bad)

B) Clicking your own ads or setting up a scheme to get artificial clicks otherwise (very bad)

C) Displaying to many adblocks or altering the Adsense code in order to give your ads an other font (just bad, I guess)

I think G doesn't warn you if you're category A or B, but if you're category C you might have a chance...

[gradoj]

I clicked on some Public Service Announcements a couple of days ago on a new page on my site. Didn't even really think about it.

No warning at all. Just got banned today.

[hunderdown]

gradoj, you might have been banned for another reason--did they specifically mention "invalid clicks on a public service announcement"?

[gradoj]

"It has come to our attention that invalid clicks have been generated on the Google ads on your site(s). We have therefore disabled your Google AdSense account. Please understand that this step was taken in an effort to protect the interest of the AdWords advertisers.

A publisher's site may not have invalid clicks on any ad(s), including but not limited to clicks generated by:

- a publisher on his own web pages
- a publisher encouraging others to click on his ads
- automated clicking programs or any other deceptive software
- a publisher altering any portion of the ad code or changing the layout, behavior, targeting, or delivery of ads for any reason

Practices such as these are in violation of the Google AdSense Terms and Conditions and program polices, which can be viewed at:

[google.com...]
[google.com...]

Publishers disabled for invalid click activity are not allowed further participation in AdSense and do not receive any further payment. The earnings on your account will be properly returned to the affected
advertisers.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team"

I haven't done anything either than click those PSA's. Stupid move but I honestly didn't really think about it. After I got the email I really had to think about what I did wrong.

[hunderdown]

That's the standard email, which you should remove before the mods do it for you--paraphrasing from an email is OK, but not quoting.

I wouldn't assume from that that it was your clicks that did it. Invalid clicks don't just mean clicks you made.

On the other hand, if there were very few clicks on your site, and you made some, that might have been enough for them to check your site and see a problem, or assume that you were getting ready to start clicking paying ads, or.....

[humblebeginnings]

Gradoj,

Wow, if clicking the PSA's is really all you have done wrong, this was very tough from Google!
If I were you I would write them and apologize, I guess there is nothing to lose now;-(
But are you really sure there is no other reason for banning you?

Best of luck!

[gradoj]

I have done nothing either than clicking those PSAs. Positive. I have already sent an apologetic email but not keeping my hopes up. I was only earning very little money anyways.

I can't edit my previous post quoting the email. Time limit is up.