How Adsense detects fraudulous clicks

**headspin** · #1 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 08:42 AM

The clicker's IP address matches the one on your adsense account.
It's a no-brainer. Don't click on your own ads.
Suspiciously high CTR
According to a report I read, anything above 10% will be flagged, but 6% or 7% would probably be a safer limit.
Clickers' IP addresses come from the same geographical area
This is for those who think they can get away with clicking on their ads from their friends' computer, their grandma's computer, and their neighbor's computer. It just ain't gonna work.
Cookies
Most users don't use the same IP address everytime they login. That's why google stores the IP addresses related to a particular user in a cookie. If you thought using a proxy clicker bot was gonna make you an adsense millionnaire, don't quit your day job.
Short-stay pattern
Usually, visitors on your site take a few seconds to check out your content, and then maybe they'll click on your links. Google doesn't like it the other way around, i.e. if they only stay a few seconds just to click on links.
One-site pattern
Google compares different users' activities on different sites. It will ask: why is this user clicking on ads on site X and not on any other site?
Direct-access pattern
Google doesn't like it when one category of users clicks on your ads more than another. In particular, they don't like it when users who access your site directly (i.e. no referrer) click on your ads but no one else does. So much for click exchange forums.
Big Brother
Google doesn't just own adsense. They also own gmail, google earth, and a host of other applications. They WILL track your IP accross these applications so don't think that just because you don't use an IP to login to adsense you can use it to click on your ads.
The invisible website
If your website doesn't rank highly on google's search engine, they may get suspicious if you get an insane amount of traffic and clicks. The traffic won't get you banned, but all those clicks better be legit.
Begging the click
Don't write stuff like "please visit our sponsors" on your webpage. You have to be a moron to think that Google can own a search engine and not find out about this sort of thing.
Conversions
I'm not sure how they verify this one, but it's obvious: if your clicks don't convert, it don't look good.

**battman323** · #2 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 02:03 PM

That's a great post. Every n00b to Adsense needs to read this because they always think they can click themselves to a million dollars.

seenthelight · #3 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 04:43 PM

You are correct. Also, even if a person reformats their hard drive and installs a new operating system, that person can still be tracked through the fingerprints their various pieces of hardware leave. The best defense against getting your AdSense account banned is to just not mess with them.

nessebar · #4 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 06:14 PM

Do NOT click on your own ads...don't tell anyone to click on your ads. Just put your code where you think visitors might click and you will have no problem.

Clicking or telling someone to click on your ads will only get you in BIG time trouble. Google will terminate your account and YOU WILL forfiet any money coming to you!

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.

Don't fuck with google!

**BuzzKill** · #5 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 06:37 PM

Clickers' IP addresses come from the same geographical area
This is for those who think they can get away with clicking on their ads from their friends' computer, their grandma's computer, and their neighbor's computer. It just ain't gonna work.

If the site specific to a region, say a current events website - almost all clicks would be coming from the same region.

The invisible website
If your website doesn't rank highly on google's search engine, they may get suspicious if you get an insane amount of traffic and clicks. The traffic won't get you banned, but all those clicks better be legit.

This doesn't make any sense. Google is far from the only source of traffic.

Suspiciously high CTR
According to a report I read, anything above 10% will be flagged, but 6% or 7% would probably be a safer limit.

Can you please post a link to this report?

Conversions
I'm not sure how they verify this one, but it's obvious: if your clicks don't convert, it don't look good.

Conversions are tracked by the adwords owner placing a code on whatever page they consider to be a conversion. Most often its a thank you page for the completion of an order or sale, leads, or view of a key page.

Google has some strong detection methods but they don't have magic powers. The reps at Google are less than forthcoming but the last three I have spoken too have all pretty much said that the majority of people they cancel are being just stupid, clicking their own ads and trying to disguise them as being part of the site.

There are some points here that are more than likely true, but its speculation.

darkmobius · #6 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 06:51 PM

i don't quite agree on this:
Clickers' IP addresses come from the same geographical area
This is for those who think they can get away with clicking on their ads from their friends' computer, their grandma's computer, and their neighbor's computer. It just ain't gonna work.

what if my friends and familiy members DO like to read my blog and they ARE sometimes interested in those ad links?

**BuzzKill** · #7 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkmobius

i don't quite agree on this:
Clickers' IP addresses come from the same geographical area
This is for those who think they can get away with clicking on their ads from their friends' computer, their grandma's computer, and their neighbor's computer. It just ain't gonna work.

what if my friends and familiy members DO like to read my blog and they ARE sometimes interested in those ad links?

Don't worry about it. What you need to keep an eye on is CTRs that are consistently very high, no conversions, and multiple clicks by the same IP on different ads in the same session. If your friends and family are coming to the site and are interested in the ads, tell them to not click an ad, back out then click the next ad, etc etc. Don't log into your adsense account from their computers.

Its really just best to familiarize yourself with Adsense rules and try to follow them. There are plenty of other ways to scam money if you want. Adsense is going to be around forever, it would be best to just try to get a steady stream of money coming in from them to make up for the money youre going to lose trying to rip off other affiliate programs

darkmobius · #8 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzKill

Don't worry about it. What you need to keep an eye on is CTRs that are consistently very high, no conversions, and multiple clicks by the same IP on different ads in the same session. If your friends and family are coming to the site and are interested in the ads, tell them to not click an ad, back out then click the next ad, etc etc. Don't log into your adsense account from their computers.

Its really just best to familiarize yourself with Adsense rules and try to follow them. There are plenty of other ways to scam money if you want. Adsense is going to be around forever, it would be best to just try to get a steady stream of money coming in from them to make up for the money youre going to lose trying to rip off other affiliate programs

that i can agree on, and i will kill my friends if they tell me one day "oh you should thank me because i helped you alot by clicking all these ads for you"

**headspin** · #9 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 07:37 PM

Please bear in mind that this list is really supposed to warn those who want to deceive google; it's not meant to scare off genuine webmasters who are just using adwords to supplement their income.

With that in mind, I didn't mean Google will automatically ban you if your clicks are all in the same geographical area. It will just raise a red flag that you only have to worry about if you're cheating, that's all.

Also, Google's fraud detection operates on what they know. In addition to that, most PPC cheaters would probably not rely on organic traffic because it takes longer to build. Therefore, regarding BuzzKill's comment on #9, low search rankings with high cpc earnings is a logical red flag, especially if it's combined other suspicious activities.

**tattoo** · #10 (**permalink**) 08-16-2008, 01:41 AM

i have a site with CTR that almost hit 90% recently. i have to figure out a way to lower it. the clicks are all legit. i've been blocking ads that i think have high CTR but to no avail. i don't get these kids. why are they clicking on ads like crazy?

darkmobius · #11 (**permalink**) 08-16-2008, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tattoo

i have a site with CTR that almost hit 90% recently. i have to figure out a way to lower it. the clicks are all legit. i've been blocking ads that i think have high CTR but to no avail. i don't get these kids. why are they clicking on ads like crazy?

i would be happy if i had 1/3 of your CTR

**r-webb-k** · #12 (**permalink**) 08-16-2008, 03:44 AM

huge mistake for who ever posted that shit above because i'v been looking for this now i know for sure i can have a bot created for this here is a little hint a bot that generates fake cookies lol and i know how to get real ip's