5 common click fraud myths — busted!
Myth 1: Google already stops click fraud
Probably the number one response from anyone who hasn't advertised on Google Ads, when asked about click fraud:
Surely a company with a market capitalization of USD $2 trillion doesn't allow any kind of dodgy business to happen within their ad network?
Well, of course they don't encourage it. And they clearly take steps and put significant resources into stamping it out. But it takes more than just money to stop it.
In our article “Google stops all click fraud” [True or false?], we'll explore the measures that Google take and examine how it's simply not true that Google stops all fraud.
Myth 2: Stopping click fraud is all about the IP address
10 years ago, this definitely wasn't a myth. It was, well, true. But in recent times, the approach to click fraud has changed.
This is partly because of how IP addresses have become much more likely to change. But also, more effective strategies have been developed, that used alongside IP blocking can work as part of a multi-layered approach.
For more, head over to Does blocking an IP address help with click fraud? to learn about why IP exclusion is no longer the panacea it once was, and what leading companies are doing instead.
Myth 3: Click fraud is just not “a thing”
Another myth is that click fraud just doesn't happen. Again, if you've spent any money on CPC (pay-per-click) ads in the last few years, you'll KNOW there's a problem.
But if you're unfamiliar with the subject, it's understandable that you may doubt the problem itself.
We've put together 6 reasons you'd better believe it. These include:
- Google acknowledging that it's real
- Evidence of bots, click farms, and ad fraud networks by prosecutions by the US government
- Strong anecdotal evidence from social media platforms such as Reddit
Myth 4: I already get refunded for invalid clicks
It's true that Google Ads does try to defend against click fraud, and sometimes retrospectively refund some invalid clicks.
But, our piece How to ask Google to refund invalid clicks, explains how to use Google's own Click Quality Form to request a refund for clicks that it doesn't catch.
We'll also dive into the reasons why such a big company as Google actually inherently struggles to catch all the malicious clicks.
Myth 5: CPL campaigns aren’t affected by fraud
Click fraud is most commonly discussed through the lens of cost-per-click (or CPC). Many folks think that CPL (cost-per-lead) campaigns cannot be affected by click fraud.
Whilst the risks are reduced and somewhat contained, even campaigns that you pay for purely on conversion aren't immune from fraud.
In our final piece, Why CPL (cost-per-lead) is not immune to click fraud, we'll learn exactly what CPL is, and find out how fraud can also affect these types of ad campaigns too.
Further reading
Once the myths have been debunked, learn more about the real dangers of click fraud, and take a look at Hitprobe's advanced protection to stop it affecting your ad campaigns.
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