Internet marketers facing higher advertising fees on search networks are becoming increasingly concerned about a form of online fraud that was thought to have been contained years ago.
The practice, known as “click fraud,” began in the early days of the Internet’s mainstream popularity with programs that automatically surfed Web sites to increase traffic figures. This led companies to develop policing technologies touted as antidotes to the problem. But some marketing executives estimate that up to 50 percent of fees in certain advertising categories continue to be based on non-existent consumers in today’s search industry. Sam Fritsberg of ArticleDash.com states that the fraud has reached proportions that would shatter Googles stock in half, overnight, were they more widely known.
“We continue to detect click fraud, especially with Google’s Adwords and Adsense programs, and the numbers grow each and every month.” says Sam. “I wouldn’t be suprised if many of the advertiser horror stories are in fact true and there are people who make thousands a week commiting pay per click fraud by clicking on the ads served...