Forum Moderators: martinibuster
<paraphrase>
All proceeds from www.example.com for the month of September will be matched and donated to the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief fund. Please take the time to visit the site and click one of our banners. Please don't hesitate to click everyday all month long. It's simple, easy, and for a good cause. </paraphrase>
If you follow the URL www.example.com you will see the only ad unit they have are Google's at the very bottom of the footer...
Now while I have no trouble with helping the victims, I believe this is an extreme violation of Google AdSense policy, and them being a new none reputable .com the potential for fraud is very high.
I have sent an email to Google Abuse addressing the issue, but would just like to see if anybody else felt insulted at the idea?
[edited by: Jenstar at 3:49 pm (utc) on Sep. 2, 2005]
[edit reason] paraphrased email quote; actual quotes not allowed as per TOS [/edit]
Er - he made it clear what the problem is.
Why not do as Craigslist has done. Post the information so people can donate directly end eliminate the middleman.
That provides a lot more transparency for what happens to your money and probably a lot more results in making sure it's used properly.
Even so if people actually does click all day everyday like they ask...I don't think they'll last long before Google takes notice.
I have sent an email to Google Abuse addressing the issue
Google prefers that you file a TOS violation by clicking on the "ads by Google" link on the violating website. Here is more info
[webmasterworld.com...]
, but would just like to see if anybody else felt insulted at the idea?
Yes, I feel insulted. Stealing money claiming you're going to donate it to the Red Cross. Gimme a break.
Although it is a good idea for us publishers to help such a worthy cause as the Red Cross. Donate til it hurts, just don't donate stolen money.
Steal from the "rich" to give to the "poor".
Not all advertisers are rich. Most of small AdWordsers are the same as you and me.
Two threads about this previously in the AdSense forum:
[webmasterworld.com...]
[webmasterworld.com...]
A good proposal from the first thread is to replace your AdSense ads temporarily with banners for a charity organisation. In that case you know that all donations are genuine and at the time of the tsunami disaster, CTR was extremely high according to Macro's post.
Making money on dead & desperate people? That must be the very last thing a human being can do.
That's exactly what they're doing.
Eager to earn money.. up to which point?
I'm, personally, donating a fixed amount of "EACH" and every single check that I receive to charity organizations. So, do it man.. But not in this way. Do it with your every check, not only after a hurricane.. You'll see that you'll earn more month after month by donating a fixed percent. That's guaranteed. I swear you. If no one sees it, you can believe there's at least one.
They are sending the money the red cross so what's your problem?
Can't get any dumber than that...
I wish I could just meet one of those upright offals for just about five minutes.
Ann
totally agree with teasers, its not only a theft from advertisers, but its not humane also ... how sick someone must be to try profit from that awful disaster... or at least I think so... Well wishes to all people there...
That is exactly why I took the time to report them and open this discussion here. I've been solicited to click Ad's randomly once or twice before for various reasons, but coming from that preticular website it gave me a sick feeling in my stomach.
I've just visited the website and the space where Goggle Ad's used to show up now display's a 403 Forbidden error page that states "You are not authorized to view this page"
Looks like Google got the job done...
Ann
They are sending the money the red cross so what's your problem?
They are not donating THEIR money to the red cross, they are donating SOMEONE ELSES money to the red cross. That is two completely different things.
I would be offended as an advertiser if my money were being fraudulently given to the red cross (with Google profiting from this) - I would rather give the money direct (without google taking their cut).
1) Do you believe them when they say they will donate? If so I want your address and some colored beads :D
2) Loads of small businesse exist with a small advertising budget, and need the clicks they get to be genuine.
Is it possible a competitor could have sent the mass mail?
NO one is stupid enough to do such a thing.
Or maybe there are ...
Not likely at all...
The originating address, and email headers all contained info directly from said domain. Seeing as it is solely a forum with 400 and change members, 4000 odd posts and no other content on the site what so ever, I highly doubt someone would go to the trouble to expertly spoof an email that well.
