When does google cancel fraudulent adsense account?

[Jack_Bauer]

Just want to know little more about adsense, when does google normally cancel account due to fraudulent clicks?

At any time? or towards the end of the month when they finalize your monthly earned payment? or right before they issue you a payment?

Just curious.

[hyperkik]

Er... Most likely, when they catch you.

[hunderdown]

FWIW, I've noticed over the years that a number of the "I've been banned" threads mentioned that the bannee was just about to receive their first payment.

It would make sense that Google would do an audit before making a payment--there must be thousands of accounts that never earn $100. Not a good use of resource to audit those.

But I think that only happens with the small-time fraudsters. Google does monitor activity constantly and people can be nailed at any time.

[joelgreen]

Not a good use of resource to audit those.

I agree with you it would help to lessen resources in use. But it is not very logical from the point of invalid clicks. What if somebody has invalid clicks for $50, and would only reach 100 in 3 months? Doubt Google would wait those 3 months holding advertisers money (money for invalid clicks). Think they should be running process at least once per month.

[Lagamorph]

I agree with you it would help to lessen resources in use. But it is not very logical from the point of invalid clicks. What if somebody has invalid clicks for $50, and would only reach 100 in 3 months? Doubt Google would wait those 3 months holding advertisers money (money for invalid clicks). Think they should be running process at least once per month.

A few guesses on the subject...

I think the majority of accounts never get a check, kinda like most actors never get in a movie, so checking monthly could be an enormous resource drain. I'd also suspect that any one running click fraud will run it to the point of getting a check rather quickly.

If all that's right, statistically any account that doesn't make $100 should be likely to be somewhat legit or only minimally corrupt.

[Jack_Bauer]

I think the majority of accounts never get a check

I had adsense account since August 2005, and hopefully next week my first check will come through. So, I know asking questions about fraudulent clicks and getting paid next week sounds like I am upto something shady... but I never paid attention to the whole adsense thing until my first payment.

:)

[edited by: Jack_Bauer at 3:07 am (utc) on Jan. 19, 2007]