How to prevent fraudulent clicks?

account suspended due to fraudulent clicks

[TechMan]

One of my friends account was suspended yesterday because Google detected fraudulent clicks. It happened because a couple of co workers in his office deliberately clicked on adsense several times and because he shares the IP with them (whole office on one public IP) Google saw it fraudulent and suspended the account.

How do we prevent it? I mean if some one is deliberately trying to do this even though we are not at fault how do we deal with it? Any plugin sort of that will block excessive clicks?

And shouldn't Google be doing this? I mean if they can detect fraudulent clicks then why not delete/ignore them rather than suspending account?

Thanks

[spaceylacie]

Google doesn't count clicks from a publishers IP address. They do ignore them to an extent, but a bunch from different people on different computers probably would raise a major red flag.

[TechMan]

Hmm...are you sure about that?
Because the account was suspended next day after co-workers clicked on adsense excessively

[MyNewPC]

That's why you should never discuss AdSense with anyone.

People don't repeatedly click on AdSense ads unless they know what the ramifications are.

[jetteroheller]

At home:

The notebooks of my wife and my children
have a special agent string.

My SSI delivers no AdSense ads when they surf

At one of my clients:

His company works in the same type of business where some of my magazines report about

He has a fixed IP.

My SSI delivers no AdSense ads when he surfs

Otherwise, he would click on all his competitors showing up in AdSense ads beside my report about products of his company.

[TechMan]

But shouldn't be Google doing something about it because it's a growing problem now? I mean they do not even show proof I guess as to how many clicks were fraudulent and from which location, IP!?

They can't just suspend account with out showing proof...or is it in their TOS!?

With all the resources they have...they can easily devise a system to automatically ignore invalid/fraudulent clicks rather than suspending account with out proof.

[Hobbs]

Google has an interest in keeping you stressed and wondering, it forces you to maintain unusual extreme precautions to their advantage.

Google has an interest in erring on the side of advertisers not publishers.

Google has an interest in not giving publishers a forgiving leeway for click fraud, give an inch and a mile is expected.

Google has the secrecy, TOS and technology that makes all the above possible.

In short: FUD works well.

[koan]

They can't just suspend account with out showing proof

Why not? This is not a judiciary proceeding, this is the termination of a business relationship at their discretion, according to terms that you agreed with (whether or not you have read it is your business, not theirs).

And as BrandNewDay mentioned, having a quality, informative site or some MFA site will probably make a big difference when they decide what to do.

[TechMan]

@BrandNewDay

I didn't remember what site is in my profile until I saw it now. But there are no adsense on it.

[BrandNewDay]

I didn't remember what site is in my profile until I saw it now. But there are no adsense on it.

Hi Techman,

I know there is no Adsense on that site. Justed wanted to point out that it's the kind of site (only search results and ads) that Google is likely to ban from the Adsense program. If your friend has a site like that (I am not saying he has) there could be other/more reasons for Google to ban his account. However, the ban occurring right after (either insane or revengeful) coworkers were clicking all over the site should be more than a coincidence.

Whatever the reason of the ban, Google included in their TOS an option to ban any site or account whenever they feel like it.
The injustice of that has been discussed here many times.
I don't think Google cares one bit about that.

[edited by: BrandNewDay at 10:15 am (utc) on May 23, 2008]

[himalayaswater]

Google is 800 pound gorilla. They make the rules. Unfortunately, there is no competition to their business. I don't expect to change this any time soon.

[farmboy]

One of my friends account was suspended yesterday because Google detected fraudulent clicks.

...And shouldn't Google be doing this? I mean if they can detect fraudulent clicks then why not delete/ignore them rather than suspending account?

Google is doing something about fraudulent clicks and it is exactly what you suggest - they delete/ignore the clicks, reverse the earnings on the publisher's stats and return the money to the advertiser. It may have happened to a lot of us on a small scale and we never knew it happened.

They don't suspend the accounts of publishers just because a few fraudulents clicks were generated.

They do suspend the accounts of publishers if they believe the publisher was somehow involved in the fraud. Based on what you wrote, it sounds like that is what happened in this instance.

Try reading the threads here that provide advice on what to do if AdSense suspends/bans your account. I wouldn't go at them with a cocky "it's their fault" attitude. You might want to give it a few days until the holiday weekend is over and then approach them when you're less frustrated/upset.

FarmBoy

[farmboy]

It's amazing how many of the "I've been banned/suspended" threads start off with "My friend's account was..." It's nice that so many people are willing to take their time and post on behalf of a friend.

I suggest we start an AdSense Friends Circle. It would be comforting to know that if I'm ever banned, someone here would be standing by to start a thread about it on my behalf.

Anyone want to be my AdSense Friend?

FarmBoy

[zoltan]

FarmBoy, I will be your friend... Just let me know when your account is suspended, so I can start a thread. However, I don't think this will happen too soon.

[DamonHD]

BrandNewDay: it's worse than 'just ads' etc. The second page I looked at was for SPAMming (sorry, 'bulk emailing') software.

If I was G and saw that site I'd consider canning (or at least suspending) any sites 'related' in any obvious way.

Goodness.

Rgds

Damon

[netmeg]

That's a Namedrive Parked Domain, not a site. You can't put AdSense on it; all they'll let you do is specify a theme and a keyword. It serves up Google ads, but not AdSense per se.