Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is one of the most effective ways to drive traffic and generate leads. However, fake clicks, called click Fraud, silently drain your ad budget, skew your analytics, and reduce your return on investment (ROI).
But what exactly are fake clicks?
Fake clicks occur when bots, competitors, or click farms click on your ads without real intent to engage with your business. These invalid clicks increase costs but don't translate into conversions, making your marketing efforts less effective.
Shocking Statistics on Click Fraud:
✅ 14% of all PPC clicks are fraudulent – affecting businesses of all sizes.
✅ $44 billion in ad spend will be lost to fraudulent clicks by 2025.
✅ Google and Facebook refund some invalid clicks, but billions go undetected.
Imagine this:
1. You invest $10,000 in PPC ads.
2. 20% of clicks come from bots or fraudulent sources.
3. That's $2,000 down the drain without generating actual leads!
Not only do fake clicks waste your ad budget, but they also:
❌ Distort campaign analytics, making optimization difficult.
❌ Lower your Quality Score, leading to higher CPC (Cost Per Click).
❌ Reduce conversion rates, impacting business growth.
To combat this problem, we've compiled 15 battle-tested strategies to help you identify, prevent, and stop fake clicks in your PPC campaigns. This guide will cover:
✅ Advanced tactics like IP blocking, geo-targeting, and click fraud detection tools.
✅ Data-driven methods to analyze suspicious traffic patterns.
✅ Practical steps to protect your ad budget and maximize conversions.
By the end of this guide, you'll know precisely how to safeguard your PPC campaigns and ensure that every click brings real business value!
Fake clicks often come from repetitive IP addresses—whether they belong to bots, competitors, or click farms. These sources repeatedly click on your ads, draining your budget without generating leads.
How Suspicious IP Addresses Affect Your PPC Campaign:
✅ Repeated clicks from the same source: Anomalous traffic spikes can indicate Fraud.
✅ Competitor sabotage: Rival businesses may click your ads to exhaust your budget.
✅ Bots and automated scripts: Programmed to generate fake engagement and skew analytics.
Solution: Blocking suspicious IP addresses ensures only real users see your ads, leading to higher ROI and improved conversion rates.
Step 1: Use Google Ads & Analytics to Spot Unusual Activity
1. Open Google Ads → Click Tools & Settings → Select Reports.
2. Under Predefined Reports, go to Basic > IP Address.
3. Look for IP addresses with an unusually high click-through rate (CTR) but low conversion rates.
1. In Google Analytics, navigate to Audience > Technology > Network.
2. Filter by Service Provider & Hostname to spot click farms.
3. Cross-check with suspicious locations known for ad fraud.
For more advanced detection, use fraud prevention software like:
✔ ClickCease – Detects bot-driven clicks automatically.
✔ Fraudlogix – Monitors real-time PPC fraud.
✔ PPC Protect – AI-driven fake click prevention.
Once you've identified fraudulent IP addresses, follow these steps to block them in Google Ads:
Step 1: Go to Google Ads Dashboard
Step 2: Click on Settings > Campaigns > Additional Settings
Step 3: Scroll to IP Exclusions
Step 4: Enter the IP addresses to be blocked
Step 5: Click Save
Tip: Keep a running list of suspicious IPs and update it regularly to keep fraudsters away.
✅ Monitor & update regularly – Fraudsters switch IPs; review data weekly.
✅ Exclude regions with high fraud rates – Some countries have more click farms.
✅ Combine IP blocking with other methods – Alone, it's not a foolproof solution.
Pro Tip: If you see any suspicious IPs from a single geographic region, consider geo-blocking that area (covered in Strategy #4).
Even if you manually block suspicious IPs, fraudsters keep evolving. Bots and click farms use VPNs, rotating IP addresses, and sophisticated automation to bypass simple blocking methods.
That's where Fake Click Detection Tools come in. These tools use AI, machine learning, and behavioural analysis to detect fraudulent clicks in real-time, saving you from:
✅ Bots & automated scripts – Fake clicks generated at scale
✅ Competitor sabotage – Repeated clicks from rivals draining your budget
✅ Click farms – Low-cost workers clicking ads from multiple devices
✅ Accidental clicks – Users mistakenly clicking on your ad without interest
Using AI-driven fraud prevention software can reduce fake clicks by up to 90%.
These tools analyze click behaviour patterns in real-time and block fake clicks before they cost you money.
They use multiple detection methods, including:
1. IP & Device Fingerprinting – Detecting repeated clicks from the same sources
2. Mouse Movement & Scroll Behavior – Bots don't behave like real users
3. Click Timing Analysis – Unnatural click intervals signal automation
4. Geo-Tracking & VPN Detection – Identifying high-risk regions and proxy servers
The best tools even request refunds from ad platforms for invalid clicks.
1. ClickCease (Best for Google Ads & Microsoft Ads)
✔ AI-powered fraud detection
✔ Blocks bot clicks & competitor sabotage
✔ Automates IP exclusions
2. Fraud Blocker (Best for small businesses)
✔ Simple interface with real-time fraud reports
✔ Budget-friendly option for SMBs
✔ Works with Google & Facebook Ads
3. PPC Shield (Best for eCommerce & agencies)
✔ Monitors ad clicks across multiple accounts
✔ Automated refund requests from ad platforms
✔ Behavioral analysis to detect click farms
4. Lunio (Best for AI-driven fraud protection)
✔ Prevents fake clicks across multiple ad networks
✔ Advanced analytics for traffic quality insights
✔ No impact on page speed
5. CHEQ Click Fraud Prevention (Best for large-scale PPC campaigns)
✔ Enterprise-grade fraud prevention
✔ AI-powered bot detection
✔ Works with Google, Meta, LinkedIn & Twitter Ads
Pro Tip: Many of these tools offer free trials—test them before committing!
Step-by-Step Setup Guide (For ClickCease & Similar Tools)
Step 1: Sign up for a fraud prevention tool (e.g., ClickCease).
Step 2: Connect your Google Ads account via API.
Step 3: Configure rules for click blocking based on suspicious activity.
Step 4: Review fraud reports weekly to refine settings.
Step 5: Let the tool automate IP blocking & request refunds from Google.
✅ Yes, but it's not 100% effective.
Google's Invalid Clicks Filter automatically removes fake clicks, but many sophisticated fraud tactics still slip through.
That's why third-party click fraud detection tools are critical for businesses investing heavily in PPC ads
One of the biggest reasons for fake clicks is poor ad targeting. If your ads are shown to irrelevant or broad audiences, you increase the chances of:
Competitors clicking your ads to drain your budget
Bots and click farms generating fake engagement
Users accidentally clicking without real intent to convert
Optimizing your targeting ensures that only relevant, high-intent users see your ads—minimizing wasteful spending.
If your targeting is too broad, click Fraud becomes more likely. Instead, focus on:
✅ Age & Gender Filters – Exclude groups unlikely to engage with your business.
✅ Income Targeting – Essential for premium services or high-ticket items.
✅ Interests & Behavior – Target users actively searching for products like yours.
Example: If you run a high-end fashion brand, exclude low-income brackets to avoid irrelevant clicks from users unlikely to purchase.
Fraudulent clicks often come from mobile devices in low-cost regions.
How to adjust device targeting:
1. Go to Google Ads Dashboard > Settings > Devices
2. Identify devices with high clicks but low conversion rates
3. Reduce bids on high-risk devices (e.g., mobile, if Fraud is detected)
Pro Tip: Many click farms use Android devices. If you notice suspicious patterns, consider lowering bids on Android traffic.
Click farms operate from specific locations known for ad fraud.
Steps to enable geo-targeting:
1. Go to Google Ads Dashboard > Settings > Locations
2. Review click-to-conversion ratios by location
3. Exclude or lower bids for regions with high fraud rates
Fraud-prone locations include:
❌ Bangladesh
❌ Vietnam
❌ Indonesia
❌ Nigeria
❌ Pakistan
Pro Tip: If you only serve customers in a specific country, block all other locations to eliminate fraudulent clicks from abroad.
Retargeting Campaigns
1. Instead of targeting new visitors, show ads only to users who have interacted with your brand.
2. This ensures real engagement and reduces random, low-intent clicks.
Custom Audiences
1. Create audience lists based on website visits, email lists, and past purchases.
2. Exclude first-time users if they don't match your ideal buyer persona.
Affinity & In-Market Audiences
1. Target users actively searching for products/services like yours.
2. Available in Google Ads & Facebook Ads.
Pro Tip: Use Lookalike Audiences based on your best customers to attract genuine leads.
Fake clicks often come from specific locations and time zones known for ad fraud. Additionally, bots and click farms typically operate outside regular business hours when monitoring is low.
How Geo-Targeting & Ad Scheduling Help:
✅ Blocks high-risk locations that generate fake clicks.
✅ Prevents ad display during suspicious time frames when bots are active.
✅ Ensures ads reach real customers in relevant areas at the right time.
Geo-targeting allows you only to show ads in specific regions while excluding areas known for click fraud.
Step 1: Open Google Ads Dashboard → Click on Campaigns
Step 2: Navigate to Settings → Select Locations
Step 3: Click "Target" and enter the locations you want to reach.
Step 4: Click "Exclude" and add fraud-prone locations.
Step 5: Click Save to apply changes.
Regions with High Click Fraud Rates (Consider Excluding):
❌ Bangladesh
❌ Vietnam
❌ Indonesia
❌ Nigeria
❌ Pakistan
❌ Some Middle Eastern & African regions
Pro Tip: If your business serves only local customers, block all other countries to stop global fraud attempts.
Ad scheduling (dayparting) ensures your ads run only when real customers are most active, not during bot-heavy late-night hours.
Step 1: Go to Google Ads Dashboard > Campaigns > Ad Schedule
Step 2: Click "Create a Custom Schedule"
Step 3: Select specific days & times when your audience is active.
Step 4: Disable ads during non-business hours (e.g., midnight to 5 AM)
Step 5: Click Save to apply changes.
Best Practices for Ad Scheduling:
✔ Run ads only during business hours if targeting local customers.
✔ Avoid early morning hours (1 AM – 6 AM) when bots are most active.
✔ Use historical data to find peak performance times.
Pro Tip: Monitor Google Analytics for suspicious activity during off-hours and adjust schedules accordingly.
Fake clicks can inflate your ad metrics but don't lead to actual conversions. If you're not tracking conversions properly, you might keep paying for useless traffic without realizing it.
How Conversion Tracking Helps:
✅ Identifies suspicious traffic by detecting clicks with no follow-up action.
✅ Shows your PPC spend's actual value by tracking customer interactions.
✅ Helps filter out fraudsters by flagging sources with high click rates but zero conversions.
Key Insight: A campaign with a high CTR but no conversions is a red flag for fake clicks!
Google Ads allows you to track meaningful actions like:
✔ Purchases
✔ Form submissions
✔ Calls from ads
✔ Newsletter sign-ups
✔ Downloads (E-books, PDFs, etc.)
Step 1: Go to Google Ads Dashboard → Click Tools & Settings
Step 2: Under Measurement, select Conversions
Step 3: Click + New Conversion Action
Step 4: Choose the type of conversion to track (e.g., website, call, app, etc.)
Step 5: Set up conversion goals and add the conversion tracking tag to your website
Step 6: Test the conversion tracking to ensure it's capturing real data
UTM parameters help you track where clicks are coming from and which traffic sources convert.
How to Use UTM Tracking:
✔ Add UTM parameters to your ad URLs using Google Campaign URL Builder
✔ Analyze UTM data in Google Analytics to detect suspicious traffic patterns
✔ Identify fraud-prone channels and adjust targeting accordingly
Pro Tip: If a traffic source sends thousands of clicks but no conversions, exclude it from your campaign to prevent budget waste.
Key Metrics to Watch for Click Fraud:
Metric Red Flag for Fake Clicks
Click-Through Rate (CTR) Unusually high CTR but low conversion rate
⏳ Bounce Rate Visitors leaving within seconds after clicking
Geographic Traffic Clicks from unusual locations outside your target area
Call Tracking Metrics Many ad clicks but no inbound calls
Pro Tip: Use Google Analytics Audience Report to analyze visitor behaviour—bots behave differently from real users!
Negative keywords help you exclude irrelevant searches from triggering your ads. Without proper filtering, your ads might appear for:
❌ Irrelevant searches – Users looking for something unrelated to your business.
❌ Competitor brand names – Clicks from people without intent to buy from you.
❌ Spammy queries – Search terms that attract bots and click farms.
Using negative keywords effectively can reduce fake clicks and improve ROI by up to 30%.
How to identify bad keywords in Google Ads:
1. Go to Google Ads → Keywords → Search Terms Report
2. Look for search queries triggering your irrelevant ads
3. Add them to your Negative Keywords list
Example: A luxury hotel might want to exclude terms like:
❌ "cheap hotels"
❌ "Free hotel stays"
❌ "budget accommodation"
Google Ads allows three types of negative keywords to refine ad visibility:
Exact Match (-[keyword])
1. Ads won't show for the exact term but may appear for close variants.
2. Example: -[cheap running shoes] prevents ads for "cheap running shoes" but allows "affordable running shoes."
Phrase Match (-"keyword")
1. Prevents ads from appearing for phrases that contain the keyword.
2. Example: -"best free software" blocks queries like "best free software downloads."
Broad Match (-keyword)
1. Blocks ads from showing for searches containing any variation of the term.
2. Example: -free prevent ads for "free trials," "free giveaways," etc.
Pro Tip: Use broad match negatives for high-risk keywords but refine with phrase and exact match negatives for precision.
Competitors may click on your ads to waste your budget!
✅ How to block competitor clicks?
1. Add competitor brand names as negative keywords.
2. Example: If your brand is Nike, exclude:
3. ❌ "Adidas shoes"
4. ❌ "Reebok running shoes"
Block Clickbait & Bot-Triggers
1. Bots and spam clicks often come from informational queries rather than purchase intent.
2. Consider blocking words like:
3. ❌ "free"
4. ❌ "torrent"
5. ❌ "Download"
6. ❌ "trial"
1. Google Search Terms Report – Find irrelevant queries directly from your PPC data.
2. SEMrush & Ahrefs – Discover low-converting and spammy keywords.
3. Ubersuggest & AnswerThePublic – Find common user search intent to optimize exclusions.
Pro Tip: Review & update your negative keyword list every two weeks to keep up with new fraud patterns.
Fake clicks often go unnoticed until you analyze your PPC data. Regularly reviewing your analytics helps you:
✅ Spot unusual spikes in clicks with no corresponding conversions.
✅ Identify fraudulent traffic sources (bots, click farms, or competitors).
✅ Improve ad performance by removing fake traffic before it drains your budget.
Google Analytics & Google Ads offer powerful tools to detect invalid clicks in real-time.
A high CTR with few conversions is a major red flag for click fraud.
If an ad has a 10% CTR but a 0.5% conversion rate, bots may be clicking your ads.
Where to find this in Google Ads?
1. Open Google Ads → Campaigns → CTR & Conversion Data.
2. Compare CTR vs. Conversions – a mismatch may indicate fake clicks.
Fake clicks leave your website almost instantly.
A high bounce rate (90%+) and very low time on site (less than 3 seconds) signal bot traffic.
Where to check this in Google Analytics?
1. Navigate to Google Analytics → Audience > Behavior > Engagement.
2. If bounce rates suddenly increase, investigate further.
Pro Tip: Normal bounce rates should be around 40-60%—higher rates could indicate fake clicks.
Fake clicks often come from specific sources, such as:
❌ Ad placements with extremely high click volume but no conversions.
❌ Referrals from unknown or low-quality websites.
❌ Clicks from regions you don't target.
Where to check this in Google Analytics?
1. Go to Acquisition > All Traffic > Source/Medium.
2. Look for spammy traffic sources sending a lot of clicks but zero conversions.
Pro Tip: If you see unusual traffic spikes from unfamiliar domains, block them in Google Ads placement exclusions.
Competitors or bots may click your ads multiple times from the same IP.
You can track IP addresses in Google Ads Reports and Google Analytics.
How do you check repeated clicks from the same IP?
1. Use Google Ads IP Report (Tools > Reports > IP Address).
2. If an IP clicks repeatedly without converting, block it in Google Ads.
Pro Tip: Set up fraud detection alerts using ClickCease or PPC Shield to automate IP tracking.
Google Analytics – Monitors bounce rates, traffic sources & user behaviour.
Google Ads Reports – Tracks click trends and IP activity.
ClickCease / Lunio – Automated fraud detection & blocking.
Hotjar / Microsoft Clarity – Tracks actual user behaviour (heatmaps & session recordings).
Pro Tip: Combining Google Analytics with fraud prevention tools provides a complete defence against fake clicks.
Fake clicks often come from low-quality or fraudulent websites where your ads are displayed. These placements can include:
❌ Click farms – Websites designed to generate fake ad clicks.
❌ Low-quality display network sites – Sites with excessive ads and no actual content.
❌ Bot-heavy placements – Sites with abnormal click behaviour but no engagement.
By regularly reviewing ad placements, you can exclude these fraud-heavy websites and improve your ad performance.
Google Ads automatically places display ads on various websites, but not all are safe.
Where to find placement data?
1. Open Google Ads Dashboard → Click Reports
2. Navigate to Predefined Reports > Display/Video > Placements
3. Sort placements by high clicks but low conversions
4. Identify suspicious websites with excessive clicks but no engagement
If a site is generating high clicks but low conversions, it may be fraudulent!
Steps to exclude bad placements:
Step 1: Go to Google Ads > Campaigns > Settings
Step 2: Click Content Exclusions
Step 3: Add spammy websites to your block list
Step 4: Click Save & Monitor Results
Pro Tip: Exclude sites with excessive ads, spammy content, or known for fraudulent activity.
Instead of manually reviewing placements, use AI-powered ad fraud tools to detect and block fraud-heavy websites.
✔ Best Tools for Automatic Placement Review:
1. ClickCease – Detects click Fraud & excludes terrible placements.
2. Lunio – AI-driven fraud prevention for display ads.
3. Optmyzr – Automates Google Ads placement reviews.
Pro Tip: Set up automated alerts for suspicious placements so you can take action quickly!
Instead of allowing Google to decide where your ads appear, use managed placements to control where your display ads are shown.
Steps to Set Up Managed Placements:
1. Go to Google Ads → Campaign Settings
2. Select Placements > Managed Placements
3. Add trusted websites relevant to your audience
4. Save & monitor ad performance regularly
Pro Tip: Using managed placements reduces exposure to fraud-prone sites and improves conversion rates.
Bots and automated scripts account for many fake clicks on PPC campaigns. While they can click on ads, they struggle to complete human validation steps like CAPTCHAs.
✅ Stops bots from engaging further after clicking ads.
✅ Prevents fake form submissions & lead generation fraud.
✅ Ensures only real users interact with your landing pages.
Adding CAPTCHA validation to your landing page can reduce bot-driven fake leads by up to 80%!
If your PPC ads lead to a form, CAPTCHA ensures only real humans submit inquiries.
How to add CAPTCHA to your forms?
1. Use Google reCAPTCHA v3 (invisible, doesn't disrupt user experience).
2. Add hCaptcha for a privacy-friendly alternative.
3. Enable CAPTCHA in WordPress, Shopify, or your form builder (e.g., Typeform, Jotform).
Pro Tip: Avoid using image-based CAPTCHAs as they can frustrate real users. Google reCAPTCHA v3 works silently in the background without user interaction.
Honeypot fields are hidden form fields that bots unknowingly fill out, allowing you to block fake leads.
How to add a honeypot field?
1. Add an invisible form field using CSS (display: none).
2. Real users won't see or fill this field.
3. Bots will auto-fill it, allowing you to detect & block them.
Pro Tip: Honeypot fields work seamlessly with Google Forms, WordPress, and custom-coded landing pages.
To filter out fraudulent clicks on CTA buttons, use two-step validation:
Example: Instead of a "Get a Free Quote" button leading directly to a form…
✅ Step 1: Show a simple confirmation step before allowing form access.
✅ Step 2: Request email or phone validation for further engagement.
Pro Tip: This method reduces accidental clicks and filters out automated traffic before it reaches your sales team.
Fake clicks can also happen on Click-to-Call PPC Ads, where bots initiate calls to drive up costs.
How to prevent bot calls?
1. Use Google reCAPTCHA on call request forms.
2. Set up an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system to filter actual inquiries.
3. Enable call tracking to analyze caller behaviour and detect fake interactions.
Pro Tip: Call tracking tools like CallRail and Google Call Tracking help identify fake calls based on duration, frequency, and caller location.
✔ Google reCAPTCHA v3 – Invisible bot detection without annoying users.
✔ hCaptcha – Alternative to reCAPTCHA with better privacy protection.
✔ Cloudflare Bot Management – Stops bot traffic before it reaches your landing page.
✔ Akismet (for WordPress) – Detects spammy form submissions & comments.
Even with automation and fraud detection tools, human oversight remains crucial. Your marketing and PPC team must be trained to identify fake click patterns, analyze ad performance data, and take proactive measures to prevent Fraud.
✅ Stops unnecessary ad spending on fraudulent traffic.
✅ Ensures smarter bidding decisions & targeting adjustments.
✅ Empower teams to take immediate action on suspicious activity.
A well-informed team can reduce PPC fraud losses by up to 40%!
Many marketers don't know how common click fraud is or what signs to look for.
Key topics to cover in training sessions:
1. What is click Fraud, and how does it impact PPC campaigns?
2. How do bots, competitors, and click farms operate?
3. Which industries are most affected by click Fraud?
4. How do Google Ads detect and refund fake clicks?
Pro Tip: Assign a team member to monitor fraudulent click activity regularly.
Marketing teams should know how to spot click Fraud using analytics.
Metrics that signal suspicious clicks:
✔ High CTR, Low Conversion Rates – Bots clicking but not buying.
✔ Short Session Durations – Users leave within seconds of clicking.
✔ Unusual Traffic Spikes – Abrupt increases in clicks from specific regions.
✔ Repeated Clicks from the Same IP – Possible competitor click Fraud.
Pro Tip: Use Google Analytics & Google Ads Reports to track these anomalies.
Who in your team should handle click fraud detection?
Paid Ads Specialist – Monitors CTR, CPC, and conversion rates.
Data Analyst – Detects patterns of fraudulent traffic.
Account Manager – Communicates with Google to dispute fraudulent charges.
Actionable Steps:
✅ Schedule weekly PPC fraud reviews in Google Ads.
✅ Assign a fraud detection specialist to monitor trends.
✅ Train customer support teams to recognize fake leads.
Fraud detection should be a team effort. Encourage employees to report suspicious activity in PPC campaigns.
Set up an internal fraud reporting process:
✔ Create a click fraud detection checklist for weekly audits.
✔ Use Slack, Trello, or Asana to track PPC fraud reports.
✔ Share real-time fraud alerts via team emails.
Pro Tip: If fake clicks exceed 10% of total clicks, escalate to Google Ads support for a refund.
✔ Google Skillshop (Free Google Ads Training) – Covers PPC fraud basics.
✔ ClickCease Blog & Webinars – Offers insights into bot traffic & ad fraud prevention.
✔ HubSpot PPC Fraud Guide – Explains how click fraud works in digital advertising.
✔ PPC Protect Academy – Provides in-depth training on identifying fraudulent clicks.
Pro Tip: Schedule quarterly fraud prevention training to update your team on new PPC fraud tactics.
Not all ad networks offer the same level of fraud protection. Some low-quality networks don't have the tools or motivation to detect fake clicks, leading to:
❌ Higher exposure to click Fraud from bots and click farms.
❌ Increased CPC due to fake competition on bidding platforms.
❌ Lower return on ad spend (ROAS) as fraudulent clicks drain your budget.
✅ Premium ad networks invest in AI-driven fraud detection, ensuring higher-quality traffic and authentic engagement.
Studies show that working with trusted ad networks can reduce fake clicks by up to 70%.
Not all ad networks actively fight click Fraud—choose those with advanced fraud detection.
Best Ad Networks with Strong Fraud Protection:
✔ Google Ads – Uses machine learning to detect invalid clicks automatically.
✔ Microsoft Ads (Bing) – Offers advanced click fraud filtering.
✔ Facebook Ads (Meta) – Uses AI to block bot traffic and fake engagement.
✔ LinkedIn Ads – Focuses on professional audiences, reducing bot exposure.
Pro Tip: Stay away from less regulated ad networks that don't offer transparency in click tracking.
Red Flags of Fraud-Prone Ad Networks:
❌ No clear policy on invalid click refunds.
❌ Lack of real-time fraud detection tools.
❌ Unusual spikes in clicks but no conversion tracking options.
Examples of Networks Prone to Higher Fraud Rates:
1. Low-cost third-party ad exchanges with little oversight.
2. Pop-up and pop-under ad networks (e.g., PropellerAds, PopAds).
3. Ad platforms offering 'guaranteed clicks' or 'traffic packages.'
Pro Tip: Always test ad networks with a small budget before scaling up campaigns.
Before choosing an ad network, ensure they actively fight click Fraud.
Key Questions to Ask:
✔ Do you have an automated fraud detection system?
✔ How do you handle refunds for invalid clicks?
✔ Can I exclude traffic from specific regions or publishers?
✔ What transparency do I have in placement reports?
Pro Tip: If an ad network cannot provide a clear answer on fraud prevention, avoid it.
Google Ads partners with premium third-party networks that meet quality standards.
How to enable only Google-certified ad networks?
1. Go to Google Ads Dashboard > Campaign Settings.
2. Navigate to Networks > Display Network.
3. Check the box for Google Partner Sites Only.
Pro Tip: This prevents ads from appearing on low-quality, fraud-heavy display networks.
✔ Google Ads – An industry leader in fraud prevention.
✔ Microsoft Ads (Bing) – Lower bot exposure due to less competition.
✔ Meta (Facebook & Instagram Ads) – AI-driven ad fraud filtering.
✔ LinkedIn Ads – Focus on professionals, reducing spam clicks.
✔ Amazon Advertising – Trusted for eCommerce with less bot traffic.
Pro Tip: Combine multiple trusted networks instead of relying on a single platform to diversify ad traffic.
Retargeting (also known as remarketing) is a highly effective way to filter out fake clicks and focus your ad spend on actual users who have already shown interest in your business.
How Retargeting Prevents Fake Clicks:
✅ Targets only previous website visitors, reducing exposure to bots.
✅ Focuses on high-intent users, improving conversion rates.
✅ Excludes first-time fake clickers from repeated Fraud.
Businesses that shift to retargeting see up to a 50% drop in fake clicks while increasing conversions.
Instead of targeting random new users, only show ads to users who engaged with your site.
Steps to Set Up Retargeting in Google Ads:
1. Go to Google Ads Dashboard > Tools & Settings > Audience Manager.
2. Click "Create a New Audience"> Select "Website Visitors".
3. Choose high-engagement users (e.g., users who spent more than 30 seconds on-site).
4. Exclude bounced visitors (users who left within a few seconds).
5. Click Save & Apply to Ad Campaigns.
Pro Tip: Retargeting campaigns work best when they focus on users who showed purchase intent (e.g., abandoned cart users and form visitors).
Bots often click your ads once and never return—so filter them out!
How to do it?
1. In Google Ads Audience Settings, create a custom audience.
2. Exclude users who have visited your site only once.
3. Only show ads to repeat visitors or those who completed an action (e.g., form submission, checkout initiation).
Pro Tip: If 80% of fraudulent clicks come from first-time visitors, excluding them can save thousands on wasted ad spend.
Instead of retargeting everyone, focus on users with genuine interest.
Best Retargeting Segments for PPC Ads:
✔ Users who added items to the cart but didn't purchase.
✔ Visitors who viewed key pages (e.g., pricing, testimonials, services).
✔ People who engaged with your brand before (email subscribers, past buyers).
Pro Tip: Google allows you to retarget based on behaviour patterns—use this to your advantage!
Too many ad impressions can lead to unnecessary or fake clicks.
How to enable frequency capping?
1. Go to Google Ads > Campaign Settings > Frequency Capping.
2. Limit ad impressions per user (e.g., max 5 times per week).
3. Adjust based on CTR and conversion performance.
Pro Tip: Overexposing your ads to the same user increases the risk of competitors or bots clicking to drain your budget!
✔ Google Ads Retargeting – Targets engaged users on Google Display & Search.
✔ Facebook Retargeting (Meta Ads) – Focuses on users who interacted with social content.
✔ LinkedIn Retargeting – Ideal for B2B businesses targeting professional audiences.
✔ AdRoll – Multi-channel retargeting across social, search, and web.
Pro Tip: Multiple retargeting platforms ensure you reach real users across different touchpoints.
Click Fraud disrupts your PPC campaign metrics, making it challenging to analyze actual performance. You can quickly identify fake clicks and take corrective action by establishing clear benchmarks.
✅ Spot traffic anomalies before they drain your budget.
✅ Compare actual vs. expected conversion rates to flag suspicious activity.
✅ Improve campaign optimization by setting realistic CTR, CPC, and ROI targets.
Advertisers who track performance benchmarks detect fraudulent activity 3x faster than those who don't!
A sudden spike in CTR with no conversions? Possible fake clicks!
How to set a CTR benchmark?
1. Review historical campaign CTRs (e.g., your average CTR over the last 6 months).
2. Compare against industry standards (e.g., Google Search Ads: 3-5% CTR).
3. If your CTR suddenly jumps above 10% without a proportional conversion rise, it could indicate click Fraud.
Pro Tip: A healthy CTR-to-Conversion ratio should remain consistent—significant gaps suggest fraudulent clicks.
Click Fraud can artificially inflate CPCs by increasing competition on keywords.
How to detect unusual CPC spikes?
1. Compare your current CPC to past campaign averages.
2. Use Google Ads Auction Insights to check if a new competitor is aggressively bidding.
3. If CPC jumps without an actual increase in conversions, bots may be inflating demand.
Pro Tip: Use bid automation to avoid overpaying due to fraudulent competitors.
Bots click your ads but don't engage with your content.
Healthy Engagement Metrics (General Guidelines):
✔ Bounce Rate: 40-60% (Higher than 80% suggests bot clicks).
✔ Session Duration: 30+ seconds for real users (Bots leave in under 5 seconds).
✔ Page Views Per Session: 2-4 pages for engaged users (Bots visit only one page).
Where to Check?
1. Google Analytics → Audience → Behavior Metrics.
2. If you see a bounce rate 90%+ with a session time under 3 seconds, consider blocking traffic sources.
Pro Tip: Install heatmap tools like Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity to visualize real vs. bot behaviour.
Fraudulent clicks often come from mobile devices & specific geographic regions.
How to Analyze Device & Location Click Trends?
1. Go to Google Analytics > Audience > Mobile Overview.
2. Check if mobile traffic has unusually high CTRs but no conversions.
3. Navigate to Google Ads > Locations and exclude regions with excessive fraudulent activity.
Pro Tip: If a single country or city drives high clicks but zero conversions, geo-block that location.
✔ Google Analytics – Tracks engagement metrics, bounce rates & session duration.
✔ Google Ads Reports – Monitors CTR, CPC, and keyword performance trends.
✔ ClickCease & Lunio – AI-powered fraud detection with automated exclusions.
✔ Hotjar & Microsoft Clarity – Heatmaps & session recordings for accurate user behaviour tracking.
Pro Tip: Use Google Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio) to create a real-time dashboard for tracking fraud indicators.
Many fake clicks come from bots and automated scripts that instantly engage with ads but don't behave like actual users. Click delay techniques help differentiate real users from bots by adding a slight delay before actions (like a button click or form submission) are registered.
✅ Stops automated bots from instantly clicking and filling forms.
✅ Filters real users who naturally take time to read content.
✅ Improves lead quality by ensuring only engaged users interact.
Click delay techniques are used by leading PPC advertisers to reduce bot-driven interactions by up to 60%!
The idea is simple: Add a slight delay (e.g., 3-5 seconds) before allowing a user to take action—bots typically fail these delays, while humans interact naturally.
Common Actions to Apply Click Delay To:
✔ CTA Buttons (e.g., "Get a Free Quote" or "Download Now")
✔ Form Submissions (Prevents instant bot-generated leads)
✔ Click-to-Call Ads (Stops fraudulent call bots)
Instead of allowing immediate button clicks, introduce a slight delay.
How to Implement:
1. Use JavaScript to turn off the button for 3-5 seconds after the page loads.
2. Enable it only after users scroll, type, or interact with the page.
Example (JavaScript Code to Add Click Delay)
document.getElementById("cta-button").disabled = true;
setTimeout(function() {
document.getElementById("cta-button").disabled = false;
}, 3000); // 3-second delay
✔ Bots tend to click instantly, so this method filters them out while real users don't even notice the delay.
Fake clicks often lead to fake form fills—click delay helps filter bot submissions.
How to Apply Click Delay to Forms:
1. Users must spend at least 5 seconds on a page before allowing form submission.
2. Add a hidden delay field in the form to ensure genuine engagement.
Example (JavaScript for Delayed Form Submission)
document.getElementById("form-submit").disabled = true;
setTimeout(function() {
document.getElementById("form-submit").disabled = false;
}, 5000); // 5-second delay for real user verification
Some bots are programmed to auto-call numbers from PPC ads, leading to wasted call tracking costs.
How to Prevent Auto-Dial Bots?
1. Use JavaScript to add a short delay before dialling starts.
2. Implement CAPTCHA validation before revealing the phone number.
Example (Click Delay for Click-to-Call Ads)
document.getElementById("call-button").addEventListener("click", function(event) {
event.preventDefault(); // Prevent instant call
setTimeout(function() {
window.location.href = "tel:+11234567890"; // Replace with your actual number
}, 3000); // 3-second delay before call
});
✔ This prevents bots from dialling automatically while allowing real users to proceed.
Bots don't scroll like real users—use this to filter out fake clicks.
How to Do It?
✔ Require users to scroll 50% down the page before CTA buttons become active.
✔ Track mouse movement & scrolling behaviour to differentiate real users from bots.
✔ Enable delayed tracking pixels to ensure only engaged users are counted.
Example (Enabling CTA Buttons After Scrolling 50%)
window.addEventListener("scroll", function() {
if (window.scrollY > window.innerHeight / 2) {
document.getElementById("cta-button").disabled = false;
}
});
✔ This ensures users are reading before they click, reducing bot interference.
✔ Google Tag Manager – Adds custom event triggers for delayed clicks.
✔ reCAPTCHA v3 – Works in the background to prevent automated clicks.
✔ ClickCease & PPC Protect – Identifies fraudulent clicks based on timing behaviour.
✔ Hotjar / Microsoft Clarity – Tracks accurate vs. bot scrolling behaviour.
Pro Tip: Combine click delay with fraud detection tools for maximum PPC protection!
Click Fraud has evolved beyond simple bot clicks, requiring a combination of strategies to prevent fake engagement effectively. Relying on just one method (like IP blocking or click delay) isn't enough—a multi-layered approach provides real-time protection against all types of PPC fraud.
✅ Detects and blocks bot traffic before it clicks.
✅ Prevents competitors and click farms from wasting your budget.
✅ Combines multiple security layers to maximize fraud prevention.
PPC advertisers using multi-layer fraud prevention reduce fake clicks by over 80%!
Use multiple filtering techniques to restrict fraud-prone traffic sources.
Steps to Secure Your PPC Campaigns:
✔ Block high-risk IP addresses detected in analytics reports.
✔ Geo-block regions with excessive fraudulent traffic (e.g., click farm locations).
✔ Lower bids or exclude mobile devices if they generate high fake clicks.
Pro Tip: Regularly update your IP block list & geo-targeting settings to keep up with evolving threats.
AI-driven fraud detection continuously monitors your traffic and blocks fake clicks.
Best AI-Based Click Fraud Protection Tools:
✔ ClickCease – Detects and blocks fake clicks in real time.
✔ Lunio – Uses AI to prevent bot traffic & competitor clicks.
✔ PPC Shield – Works specifically for Google Ads & Microsoft Ads.
✔ Fraud Blocker – Automates IP blocking & click pattern analysis.
Pro Tip: Many fraud detection tools offer free trials—test them before committing!
Bots behave differently than real users—analyzing session data helps detect them.
How to Monitor User Behavior to Catch Fake Clicks:
1. Check session durations – Bots often leave within 1-3 seconds.
2. Use heatmaps – Real users scroll & interact, while bots don't.
3. Monitor mouse movements – Human users randomly move cursors, while bots have linear patterns.
Best Behavior Tracking Tools:
✔ Google Analytics (Enhanced Tracking) – Monitors user session times.
✔ Hotjar / Microsoft Clarity – Provides heatmaps & session recordings.
✔ ClickCease – Analyzes unnatural click patterns for fraud detection.
Pro Tip: If an IP generates multiple quick-exit sessions, it's likely fraudulent—block it immediately.
Combining human verification tools with fraud detection improves security.
How to Strengthen PPC Ad Protection:
✔ Add Google reCAPTCHA v3 to prevent bot form fills.
✔ Implement click delay techniques to filter out instant bot clicks.
✔ Require scroll-based engagement before activating CTA buttons.
Pro Tip: A combination of CAPTCHA + click delay + fraud detection provides maximum protection against fake clicks.
Google automatically detects some fake clicks, but you can manually request refunds for undetected Fraud.
How to Request Click Fraud Refunds from Google Ads:
1. Go to Google Ads Dashboard > Click History Report.
2. Download invalid click data from your fraud detection tool.
3. Submit a Click Quality Report Request via Google Ads Support.
Pro Tip: Many fraud detection tools automate refund requests, saving time.
Fake clicks are a silent drain on your PPC budget, and without proper prevention, they can waste ad spend, distort campaign data, and lower conversion rates. By now, you've learned 15 proven and tested strategies that successful advertisers use to detect, block, and prevent fraudulent clicks.
✅ IP Blocking & Geo-Targeting – Exclude high-risk regions and suspicious IP addresses.
✅ Fraud Detection Tools – Use AI-powered platforms like ClickCease & Lunio for automatic fraud prevention.
✅ Ad Targeting & Negative Keywords – Refine audience segmentation to reach only real, high-intent users.
✅ Click Delay & CAPTCHA – Filter out bots by requiring real engagement before conversions.
✅ Multi-Layer Protection – Combine fraud prevention tactics for maximum security and ad budget efficiency.
The best PPC strategy isn't just about generating clicks—it's about ensuring those clicks come from real customers, not fraudsters.
Look for suspicious click patterns such as:
1. High CTR but low conversions
2. Short session durations (1-3 seconds)
3. Clicks from unexpected locations
4. Multiple clicks from the same IP
If you notice these trends, use click fraud detection tools to confirm and block suspicious activity.
Yes, but only for automatically detected invalid clicks. However, Google's system doesn't catch everything. To increase refund chances:
1. Track invalid click data using fraud detection tools.
2. Submit a refund request to Google Ads Support.
Pro Tip: Tools like ClickCease and PPC Shield can help automate refund claims for invalid clicks.
Use these tactics to block competitor click fraud:
✔ Track IP addresses & block suspicious ones in Google Ads.
✔ Exclude competitor brand names as negative keywords.
✔ Use fraud detection software to monitor repeated clicks.
✔ Lower bids on competitor-heavy locations or devices.
Pro Tip: Competitor click fraud is more complex to detect manually—using AI-powered click fraud protection is the best solution.
Yes! If fake clicks increase your bounce rate & lower conversions, your Quality Score may drop, leading to:
❌ Higher CPC (Cost Per Click)
❌ Lower ad visibility
❌ Reduced overall campaign performance
Pro Tip: Prevent this by analyzing session behaviour and blocking fraudulent sources before they affect your ad ranking.
The best tools for detecting and preventing fake clicks include:
✔ ClickCease – AI-powered fraud prevention (Google & Microsoft Ads).
✔ Lunio – Advanced click fraud analytics with real-time blocking.
✔ PPC Shield – Specifically designed for detecting Google Ads click Fraud.
✔ Google Analytics – Helps analyze bounce rates & suspicious traffic.
Pro Tip: Using a fraud detection tool is the best way to automate click fraud prevention and keep your PPC campaigns protected!
Click Fraud is an unavoidable challenge in PPC advertising, but you don't have to lose money. With the right strategies—IP blocking, AI fraud detection, ad targeting, click delay, and multi-layer security—you can eliminate fake clicks and protect your budget.
Now it's time to take action! Audit your campaigns today, implement at least three strategies, and maximize your PPC ROI!
Need help setting up fraud protection? Comment or reach out—we're here to help!
Manager at Public Media Solution
With 7+ years in SEO and marketing, Manish specializes in healthcare marketing, helping hospitals grow through increased traffic and leads. A results-driven professional, he excels in crafting strategies that deliver measurable success.