I sent Google proof of a bot farm. They called it "normal user behavior."
4 hours ago
- The author spent $220 on Google app ads and found 60% of installs were bots.
- Google AdMob suspended the author's account for 'self-clicking' after only 255 ads and 15 clicks.
- The clicks were caused by a Google bug where full-screen ads on iOS had no close button, leading to accidental taps.
- At least two devices had a 100% click-through rate due to the bug, and the author estimates 5-15 of 15 clicks were accidental.
- Before suspension, earnings were $3.77 CAD (less than $2.75 USD).
- Google confirmed the bug but asked the author to help debug it, despite being a huge company.
- The author couldn't debug because the account was suspended, and the appeal process was confusing and ineffective.
- Google's review of the bot farm evidence found 'no evidence of invalid traffic', claiming it was 'normal user behavior'.
- The bot farm installs had no clicks, exploiting Google's focus on click fraud rather than install fraud.
- The author concludes that fraud is evolving, and smaller users must protect themselves.
- The author is not declaring war on Google, but wants a real person to review the case.