subject: Managing Click Fraud [print this page] There are packages available to track Click Fraud, one to try is AdWatcher. This is an excellent tool but the disadvantages are the time taken to set it up. Each destination URL (landing page) for every advert, must be entered to the AdWatcher to their system, and they will give you an alternative URL that must be entered to Google. Note this does NOT affect your quality score, or Google's ability to detect the landing page.
Having fully tested AdWatcher, it can be noted that for one client's campaigns, one particular competitor seemed to have nothing better to do than sit for hours each night typing in difficult keyword permutations and clicking the adverts. What is excellent news is that Google did not charge for a single one of these clicks. Their automated systems had in fact ALREADY identified this was a fraudulent IP address, and filtered every single click out.
Another advantage of using AdWatcher is the ability to redirect those who click more than a set number of times (try choosing 3 times in 48 hours) to a fraud tracking page. This explains that they are costing you money and if they are a genuine customer, could they please bookmark the page instead.
Overall, it can be noted that Google's tools are in fact detecting and preventing Click Fraud.
Please note that there are other categories of Click Fraud that tend to affect larger competitors, with automated systems clicking adverts across the world. This is not usually an issue for the Small Business owner.
