"Click fraud is the latest problem plaguing the Internet, alongside spam, identity theft and online-auction fraud. Some believe about 20% of clicks are from people not necessarily interested in the product advertised, and therefore in the industry's view, fraudulent; others say the problem is less severe. What's clear is that if left unchecked, click fraud could damage the credibility of Google, Yahoo and the search-ad industry that spurred their meteoric growth.

Click fraud is "the biggest threat to the Internet economy," Google's chief financial officer, George Reyes, said during a December investors conference. "Something has to be done about this really, really quickly, because potentially it threatens our business model." In regulatory filings last month, search concern Ask Jeeves Inc., which recently agreed to be acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp for $1.95 billion, said search-ad revenue might decline "if advertisers come to perceive click-fraud as a widespread and pervasive problem."

I agree, it is wrong. and damn annoying that some are spoiling it for others.

Originally Posted by Paul_KY

"Click fraud is the latest problem plaguing the Internet, alongside spam, identity theft and online-auction fraud. Some believe about 20% of clicks are from people not necessarily interested in the product advertised, and therefore in the industry's view, fraudulent; others say the problem is less severe. What's clear is that if left unchecked, click fraud could damage the credibility of Google, Yahoo and the search-ad industry that spurred their meteoric growth.

Click fraud is "the biggest threat to the Internet economy," Google's chief financial officer, George Reyes, said during a December investors conference. "Something has to be done about this really, really quickly, because potentially it threatens our business model." In regulatory filings last month, search concern Ask Jeeves Inc., which recently agreed to be acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp for $1.95 billion, said search-ad revenue might decline "if advertisers come to perceive click-fraud as a widespread and pervasive problem."

You are spot on Paul,
Click fraud is a recuring theme in online advertising, lets hope an effective deterent can be put in place to combat it. I can think of any effective one though

http://www.lostclicks.com

I am really curious what can be done, I have think at this problem several times but I did't come to an end. Anyway who can stop a guy that take a list of proxy servers and build a php script that generate clicks from this proxy?

Ovi

Right, Ovi! If 99% of Google's advertisers understood what you just posted, and its ramifications, Google would be a penny stock right now.

Good posts Paul...agreed 100%. Fraud clicks make it worse for everyone.