--- title: Google Blasts Inflated Click Fraud Studies description: ClickFacts, Click Forensics and AdWatcher are all feeling the heat this afternoon as Google fights... image: https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-22-2023-11-47-50-7241-PM-Apr-10-2023-12-58-39-2666-PM-Apr-25-2023-02-55-24-4202-AM-May-01-2023-08-18-16-8566-PM.png --- [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) [![Website Magazine Logo](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png?width=586&height=145&name=gradient-regular@3x-1.png "Website Magazine Logo")](http://Website%20Services,%20Inc.) - [About](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about) - [FAQs](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/faq) - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise) - [Editorial Staff](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff) - [Resources](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com) - [Newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up) - More - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact) [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) Search - [Latest](https://www.websitemagazine.com) - [Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design) - [Development](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-development) - [SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo) - [Ecommerce](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce) - [Content](https://www.websitemagazine.com/content) - [Marketing](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing) - [Advertising](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising) - [Email](https://www.websitemagazine.com/email) - [Infographics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/infographics) - [View All Topics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/channels) # Google Blasts Inflated Click Fraud Studies ![Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Pete%20Prestipino.jpeg) [by Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising/author/pete-prestipino) 08 Aug, 2006 - - - [mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising/google-blasts-click-fraud-estimates](mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising/google-blasts-click-fraud-estimates) - Link Copied! ![Google Blasts Inflated Click Fraud Studies](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-22-2023-11-47-50-7241-PM-Apr-10-2023-12-58-39-2666-PM-Apr-25-2023-02-55-24-4202-AM-May-01-2023-08-18-16-8566-PM.png) ClickFacts, Click Forensics and AdWatcher are all feeling the heat this afternoon as Google fights back against these firms reports regarding the degree of click fraud. Google is essentially claiming that the studies are either based on guesswork or they are tracking too many "fictitious clicks". The PDF of the report is available on the **[Official Google Blog](https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/our-analysis-of-click-fraud-detection.html)** ([PDF here](https://www.google.com/adwords/ReportonThird-PartyClickFraudAuditing.pdf)) and another post about these "troubling findings is available at the [Inside Adwords Blog](https://adwords.blogspot.com/2006/08/troubling-findings-on-how-some-third.html). Both are interesting reads to get 1) some background on third-party click fraud estimates and methodology problems, 2) valuable findings from Google's internal click fraud auditing team and 3) recommendations for addressing the issues. There are also demonstrations of how fictitious clicks occur in third-party systems and some very detailed case studies. A must read for any one concerned with invalid clicks from pay-per-click advertising.   ![Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Pete%20Prestipino.jpeg) [Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising/author/pete-prestipino) Digital marketing executive with proven experience in all aspects of search engine optimization (SEO), performance-based advertising, consumer-generated/social media, email marketing, lead generation, Web design, usability, and analytics. - 20-year Internet marketing veteran, currently serving as the Digital Marketing Campaign Manager at Antenna Group (formerly Chicago Digital). - Former Editor-In-Chief of Website Magazine, and a regular speaker on Web technology digital marketing strategy - Author of several books on digital marketing Including Web 360: The Fundamentals of Web Success; Affiliate 360: The Fundamentals of Performance Marketing; Domains 360: The Fundamentals of Buying & Selling Domain Names, and SEO 360: The Fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization. - - - [mailto:peter@websitemagazine.com](mailto:peter@websitemagazine.com) #### Popular Post ### [Google's PLAs Get a Boost ![Google's PLAs Get a Boost](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-22-2023-11-41-39-6589-PM-Apr-10-2023-01-09-06-9914-PM-Apr-25-2023-03-04-19-8793-AM-May-01-2023-08-19-35-7865-PM.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising/googles-plas-get-a-boost) ### [Tips to Improve PPC Campaigns and Reduce Cost Per Click ![Tips to Improve PPC Campaigns and Reduce Cost Per Click](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pexels-photo-4482896-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising/tips-to-improve-ppc-campaigns-and-reduce-cost-per-click) ### [Top 50 Ad Networks To Explore ![Top 50 Ad Networks To Explore](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-22-2023-11-51-23-2143-PM-Apr-10-2023-12-58-31-6108-PM-4-2.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising/top-50-ad-networks-to-explore) #### Subscribe to Our Newsletter! 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All Rights Reserved - [Privacy Policy](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/privacy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Pete Prestipino", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising/author/pete-prestipino" }, "dateModified" : "2023-05-01T20:20:10.093Z", "datePublished" : "2006-08-08T05:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Google Blasts Inflated Click Fraud Studies", "image" : [ "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-22-2023-11-47-50-7241-PM-Apr-10-2023-12-58-39-2666-PM-Apr-25-2023-02-55-24-4202-AM-May-01-2023-08-18-16-8566-PM.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising/google-blasts-click-fraud-estimates", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png" }, "name" : "Website Services, Inc." } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "NewsArticle", "author" : [ { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Pete Prestipino" } ], "headline" : "Google Blasts Inflated Click Fraud Studies", "publisher" : { "name" : "Website Magazine", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/" } } ```