So many idiots out there.

[ZuraX]

As some of you know I run a PPC Search site. The site is set to only credit affiliates X amount of clicks from the same IP in 24 hours. It reports to me every search and click made and if also has a report for ips that are making too many clicks and what affiliate link they used.

I have yet another person from China who was caught "cheating".

His accouts report looks like this:

Clicks: IPs:
High paying keyword #1 123.123.321.321
High paying keyword #2 123.123.321.321
High paying keyword #3 123.123.321.321
High paying keyword #4 123.123.321.321
High paying keyword #5 567.567.765.765
High paying keyword #6 567.567.765.765
High paying keyword #7 567.567.765.765
etc...
Like it was a script grabbing an open proxy and doing 2 to 4 clicks.

I "locked" the account so it no longer made cash from the clicks and he emailed me that night asking why. I replied that he was caught cheating. He replied back that he was not and then tried the link in his account to have me approve it again.

I ignored that request so again today he emails asking why. This is happening more and more lately. Why do so many from China, India, and Russia think they can run cheat scripts and should be paid for it? Dont they see doing this ruins stuff for all of us?

I have lost a few XML feed partners because of this. I try to catch them ASAP but some Partners dont care.

Now I know not everyone from China, India, and Russia do this but thats mostly the ones that I have had.

Its getting to the point I am ready to SSH into root and start blocking the ISPs that are in these 3 countries from even getting to the server.

 

[Mark]

It is Definitely a problem out there .... I'm sad to say - It really is to involved to operate from the PPC venue to me any longer.

 

[slantednet]

Not that this is the case, but let's play devils advocate.

You have a site, serving google PPC ads.

I don't like you.

I run a script, that goes through a list of about 100 open proxy's and bombards your site with clicks on the highest keywords.

Google notices this activity and locks YOUR account, freezing your legitimate funds.

You lose.

I win.

Now apply that *possibility* to this guy.

You have no proof whether he's legit or not, you have no idea who's making those clicks, you just know the clicks are coming from his affid.

Here's another scenario, same kinda thing...

You run a site.

A very nice and profitable sales site.

I don't like you.

I start sending spam, XXX,XXX's of spams, utilizing open relays, like normal spammers, and in the spam, PROMOTE your site and product.

Email is not traceable back to you, but people AUTOMATICALLY think that you sent it because it's your product that's being promoted.

You get branded a spammer and are outcasted by those in the know, people will comment about your spam all over the net, angry comments, and anyone googling for reviews on your product will find out you're a loser who spams.

You lose.

I win.

So, with that said, why not just 'ignore' all his clicks that come from the same location, multiple times? When he asks why he's got XXX clicks but is only getting paid for XX hits, tell him. Or alternatively, get a list of open proxy's (alot out there) and ban/don't count hits from those IP's...

I'm just curious, not trying to tell you how to run your business.

Mike

 

[ZuraX]

Its not that easy. The script DOES check a list of proxies but there are new ones made every day.

If it was easy I would just block these bad IPs. Thing is if the list gets too big thats going to slow things way down plus I have to do as my Partner feeds require.

 

[chodhry]

Damn! these few rotten eggs. My cable providers ip is banned from DNF. I hav ebeen telling them but every now and then I get th esam emessage that your ip has been blocked and contact support. I wish I could identify these fcuking basts and kill them in the middle of the road.

Not that this is the case, but let's play devils advocate.

You have a site, serving google PPC ads.

I don't like you.

I run a script, that goes through a list of about 100 open proxy's and bombards your site with clicks on the highest keywords.

Google notices this activity and locks YOUR account, freezing your legitimate funds.

You lose.

I win.

Now apply that *possibility* to this guy.

You have no proof whether he's legit or not, you have no idea who's making those clicks, you just know the clicks are coming from his affid.

Here's another scenario, same kinda thing...

You run a site.

A very nice and profitable sales site.

I don't like you.

I start sending spam, XXX,XXX's of spams, utilizing open relays, like normal spammers, and in the spam, PROMOTE your site and product.

Email is not traceable back to you, but people AUTOMATICALLY think that you sent it because it's your product that's being promoted.

You get branded a spammer and are outcasted by those in the know, people will comment about your spam all over the net, angry comments, and anyone googling for reviews on your product will find out you're a loser who spams.

You lose.

I win.

So, with that said, why not just 'ignore' all his clicks that come from the same location, multiple times? When he asks why he's got XXX clicks but is only getting paid for XX hits, tell him. Or alternatively, get a list of open proxy's (alot out there) and ban/don't count hits from those IP's...

I'm just curious, not trying to tell you how to run your business.

Mike

And I been trying to explain Adam that you cant ban ip of an ISP due to some scammers he can still access your site from a dial up account so better way is to identify and bann the user account instead of banning ip. That will create problems for legit users as well.