Adsense Account Canceled 6 Days After Someone Click Bombing My Site

[dwzemens]

My Adsense account was canceled today. I received the email about five hours ago. Exactly six days after my *low traffic* site was click bombed and after I told Google about it via their own reporting system.

I've *never* once clicked my own ads, this is a low traffic site (along with several others I have that are all low traffic).

Can it be *that easy* to lose an account?

I've seen the standard responses before like: "Sure, we know you clicked your own ads even though you said you didn't" and "You must have done something wrong".

But I haven't. I call bull**** on this one.

[RustyF]

Where is your site? I've been click bombed and didn't get cancelled.

Perhaps there were other things wrong. Do not respond to Google and ask them to reconsider until you are suer you are otherwise in compliance. If you appeal and don't address the reason you were banned from AdSense Google wont listen to further request.

Take steps to track clickers, Statcounter.com will give you that ability. They have free and paid options.

[dwzemens]

The site that was attached was Recycled Bugs – Volkswagen Parts. I've already removed the Adsense code blocks, which, of course, were not showing ads anymore anyway.

[dwzemens]

Originally Posted by RustyF

Perhaps there were other things wrong. Do not respond to Google and ask them to reconsider until you are suer you are otherwise in compliance. If you appeal and don't address the reason you were banned from AdSense Google wont listen to further request.

Good suggestion, but as usual Google refused to note what the problem was. I have no idea...

[paulgl]

Google does not ban people for no reason. They also have internal
ways of dealing with certain clicks. Click bombing and click fraud
are two different matters. I've told people many, many times. Why
admit to google your site sucks and is a terrible draw for adsense?
What, you are begging them to cancel your account? That's exactly
what they ban accounts for. Google does not want nor need to hear
from you. But readily admitting that you are a poor risk is just
crazy. You are admitting that you can't control mindless clicking on
your site. If you give a policeman a reason to stop you, don't get
mad when they pull you over. They'll find other stuff too. The other
stuff is probably what got you.

If your sig line is serious, that may be a clue.

Still looking for the perfect micro-niche Adsense site ...............

Paul

[Jason Marshall]

dwzemens

It seems though that google has some childish employees and some enjoy the rush of throwing out accounts.

Saw this thread in the forum you can check it out if all else fails.(not affiliated with this guy at all)

http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...uaranteed.html

[BryanSubmits]

You mentioned in another thread that you reported the issue to Google. As Paulgl noted that was probably not a great idea. You may have drawn attention to your account as being more trouble than it was worth, or perhaps you drew human scrutiny to your site which under investigation did not adhere to one of the guidelines.

Who knows, adsense is finicky.

[RustyF]

I can't tell you for sure why you got banned. Something I have struggled to understand is Trademark rules. But you used someone's name and you're trying to make money from that name. I think that's why you were banned.

Yeah, Google sucks as far as helping you understand their rules. They will ban for Click bombing. They almost address its unfairness but say the responsibility is still up to you.

Some things I would do is remove all references to Volkswagon. I don't know THINK bug can bet trade marked.

I think there is a bit of an over reaction concerning Trademarks, I really think we should be able to talk about a company. You can but that gets into the grey fair use doctrine.

I would make a the privacy policy more prominent not buried under site info. Seeing that, I know you made an honest effort though.

I wouldn't try to get that site approved in an appeal. If you file an appeal, I would setup a new site, even on Blogger and write about life, write about anything safe. Post a lot of articles first.

I would also find the Google Adsense forum and tell people you were banned and asked for help. Expect a lot of people to bash on you. Since it is Google site they like to be pro Adsense as if it will get them brownie points. But there are some people there with a lot of knowledge. Ask nice, be sorry and it will go a long way.

Honestly, you're probably screwed. Your Adsense days are probably over unless you get an account in another name, perhaps a corp? Not sure if that is allowed but it likely is.

What the commenter meant by your taglines is AdSense's made for AdSense (MFA) rule. you probably feel victim to that too. Google hates that.

Finally, it looks like you just took content from other sites. At least in the article I read. You wont get traffic by doing that and it will get you banned.

The clickbomb just brought that to light. Trademark and what looks like no original content was your demise. Google is on a major campaign against auto bloggers right now. Especially those that publish full articles from other sites with little or no original content.

Honestly, I think you're situation is hopeless.

[dwzemens]

Thanks for the useful reply and info Rusty.

[inter123]

I am really sorry to hear about this situation.

In addition to trademark issues, the site is a little misleading. "Volkswagen Autoparts Supersource" and "Parts & Accessories For All Volkswagens" gives the impression it is an e-commerce store.

But in this "store", Adsense was probabaly quite prominent effectively acting as a bridge page to legitimate stores.

Also, the graphic banner states "Visit Our Store" and the link goes straight to Amazon and it is not like you own Amazon.

If you can get traffic to it, it might be an idea to put a big banner in the top middle and get the traffic going to Amazon.

The only option with Adsense is to open another account under a business name and go from there. You could appeal but it is unlikely anything will happen.

[GeorgR.]

Originally Posted by BryanSubmits

You mentioned in another thread that you reported the issue to Google. As Paulgl noted that was probably not a great idea. You may have drawn attention to your account as being more trouble than it was worth, or perhaps you drew human scrutiny to your site which under investigation did not adhere to one of the guidelines.

Who knows, adsense is finicky.

I was clickbombed a few days ago, needless to say i reported it to Google.

What is that supposed to mean "Not a great idea to report to google, you are just drawing attention" ?

You make it sound like he's some criminal better off hiding his "dark business" or something. He obviously is not at fault if someone clicks his ads....and he shouldnt get fricking BANNED for this. While his site is not a state-of-the art authority site, i have seen much worse and crapper adsense sites than that one...

[iAmNameLess]

Can someone explain to me the reason why someone would want to click bomb you?

[jonat2005]

Originally Posted by iAmNameLess

Can someone explain to me the reason why someone would want to click bomb you?

Can be someone who is jealous at what you are doing to earn money?

[uniquearticlewriters]

maybe he/she doesnt want u to make money online, or he/she is wants you to make money i think.

[dwzemens]

Originally Posted by iAmNameLess

Can someone explain to me the reason why someone would want to click bomb you?

Don't know.

What I do know is this low traffic site didn't get 58 clicks in a *year* and last week it got 58 in a *day* - on about ten *page views*.

Somebody was up to something - so I reported it, and six days later my account was closed.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by RustyF

I would make a the privacy policy more prominent not buried under site info. Seeing that, I know you made an honest effort though.

[edit]

Never mind I found your Privacy Policy buried, on the VW site.

If I had tio dig & look for the Privacy Policy, I bet G said I don't see one at all.

[dwzemens]

The full and standard privacy policy lingo was in place on the site from day #1 under the page "Site Info".

[yukon]

Originally Posted by dwzemens

The full and standard privacy policy lingo was in place on the site from day #1 under the page "Site Info".

The only way I found your Privacy Policy was a site: search in Google for your VW domain. I doubt Google will take the time to dig.

You should have had the anchor-text "Privacy Policy" visible on all pages, it's not complicated.

I've never had a problem with Adsense, I create a unique page only for the Privacy Policy (Page Title + URL = Privacy Policy).

The Privacy Policy is very visible in the footer of every single page on all my sites, no matter If the page displays an Adsense block or not.

[dwzemens]

Originally Posted by yukon

The only way I found your Privacy Policy was a site: search in Google for your VW domain. I doubt Google will take the time to dig.

You should have had the anchor-text "Privacy Policy" visible on all pages, it's not complicated.

I've never had a problem with Adsense, I create a unique page only for the Privacy Policy (Page Title + URL = Privacy Policy).

The Privacy Policy is very visible in the footer of every single page on all my sites, no matter If the page displays an Adsense block or not.

Water under the bridge now, I guess. My bad.

[WmStout]

Yes, Google is a finicky bunch. Will usually not give you a hint as to why either.

My guess is you drew attention to a lower-quality site that these days they are trying hard to get rid of (farmers update)

Better content is still the best way to go.

[dwzemens]

I think the point is that *most* people looking to have a new account "created" are doing so because their previous account was banned by Google.

Since Google never advises why they cancel an account, very few people can ever determine what the problem is with their website.

It was patently obvious to me that a new account created with the same name an address of a previously banned account was *certainly* going to be banned again. If not immediately, the ban would undoubtedly come after entering the requisite Tax ID # or bank account routing number.

So I was not the least bit surprised that it happened. I am not suggesting that this vendor did not give me what was advertised. He did. I had a new Adsense account in two days.

I was pretty sure Google could figure out the obvious: same owner, new account, banned again.

My situation is not unique. In fact, it's the norm.

[erazer]

Hi dwzemens,

I don't understand why you applied with the same tax ID number when your gut told you you shouldn't. Hopefully you have tried again with a company account or with someone else's name/address/ss# (spouse/child/parent etc).

It looks like I may have been clickbombed a few days ago on a "mini" site and I immediately removed the adsense but decided not to involve Google. It is a low-traffic, low-earning site and I may never put adsense on it again. Maybe turn it into an Amazon site.

BTW, I see your site is still up with Adsense on it. Can you tell us what's up?

[JohnnyC123]

I've not received an Adsense payment yet but i'm worried how stringent they are on this, I once had a friend of a family friend click my ads... Sooo I guess you do have to wonder?

Sucks that you got click bombed, I hope you can get your account back.

Regards,
John

Originally Posted by dwzemens

My Adsense account was canceled today. I received the email about five hours ago. Exactly six days after my *low traffic* site was click bombed and after I told Google about it via their own reporting system.

I've *never* once clicked my own ads, this is a low traffic site (along with several others I have that are all low traffic).

Can it be *that easy* to lose an account?

I've seen the standard responses before like: "Sure, we know you clicked your own ads even though you said you didn't" and "You must have done something wrong".

But I haven't. I call bull**** on this one.

[morc3x]

I hope it's not that easy to get someones account disabled. This is a scary thought.

[derekwong28]

Originally Posted by morc3x

I hope it's not that easy to get someones account disabled. This is a scary thought.

It is and that is why you should never tell your friends and family what your site are, less they they think of "helping you" by clicking on the ads. Google have been reported as telling people that their account won't be re-instated even though they are probably innocent. The reason being that their sites will pose a continuing risk.

That is why it is never a good idea to put all your eggs in the Adsense basket. I was falsely accused of fraud clicks a few years ago but managed to have my account re-instated on appeal. The site involved was probably a Sony PSP forum that had a traffic spike that day. I still do not know the reason, but it is possible there was a game launch for the PSP on that day. After that episode, I decided to pull away from using Adsense. My account was finally banned for using low quality sites but I was not making much then.