Adsense identity theft? Help!

Discussion in 'Guidelines / Compliance' started by rluna559, Jan 11, 2007.

  1. #1
    I currently have 3 sites that I run Adsense on, which are vehicle specific forums. Today I received an email from Adsense stating that I have been displaying ads that violate the terms of service. The site that they state that is in question is adsense-point.de . I don't even own that site, nor even heard about it! And to top it off, it's in German, and I don't speak German at all. Clearly this site IS in violation, but it is not mine.

    I looked at the source code of this said site and looked up the Adsense ca-pub info, and guess what? It was exactly the same as my property info.

    I have all my ads in channels, so I can track every click. Over the last few days, I have noticed that my channel click totals do not match my overall totals, which is very puzzling to me. Now this explains why.

    I did a WHOIS look up on adsense-point.de and could only come up with this:
    [whois.denic.de]
    Domain: adsense-point.de
    Status: connect
    Verio Inc. - Growing Your Business, One Click At A Time

    I have sent an email to Adsense, but this situation has me very worried, I do not want my account suspended.

    Why would someone do this? How can they do it and what benefit can they gain from it?
     
    rluna559, Jan 11, 2007 IP
  2. MrMOJO

    MrMOJO Well-Known Member Affiliate Manager

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    #2
    did they steal your template and just not change your adsense coding when cutting and pasting to their server?

    Either way, Im sure google wont penalize you, no matter how odd that is. Ask them to re-issue you a new adsense account number.
     
    MrMOJO, Jan 11, 2007 IP
  3. pablo

    pablo Well-Known Member

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    #3
    pablo, Jan 11, 2007 IP
  4. ladybiker

    ladybiker Peon

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    #4
    ladybiker, Jan 11, 2007 IP
  5. rluna559

    rluna559 Active Member

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    #5
    This is great, my AdSense account has been disabled without even a reply to my email.
     
    rluna559, Jan 12, 2007 IP
  6. qwestcommunications

    qwestcommunications Notable Member

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    #6
    Sorry to hear it. You should tell them what probably happned and see if they readmit you into the program.
     
    qwestcommunications, Jan 12, 2007 IP
  7. rluna559

    rluna559 Active Member

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    #7
    I checked adsense-point.de again and I noticed that my pub number has been removed from the adsense code and replaced with the word 'muster'. I used Google translator and muster is german for sample.
     
    rluna559, Jan 12, 2007 IP
  8. chris20492002

    chris20492002 Guest

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    #8
    some people are real arseholes and get jealous when people earn $$ so they do stuff like this.

    maby he saw your site and thought wow lets copy it
     
    chris20492002, Jan 14, 2007 IP
  9. CountryBoy

    CountryBoy Prominent Member

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    #9
    This could be an example of 'AdSense Bowling'. Basically, someone takes a dislike to you or your site for some reason and they set about trying to get your AdSense income stream removed. Alarmingly easy to do - just find a page belonging to the target, look at the source code, cut and paste the pub-ID into the ads on a suspect page. I think this is what has happened.
     
    CountryBoy, Jan 14, 2007 IP
  10. chamatkaribaba

    chamatkaribaba Peon

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    #10
    Write a google explaining that you do not own that site and explain them that ur client id has been stolen plus give notice to domain hosting that site which is showing ur ads, I guess they take some action. Best of luck.
     
    chamatkaribaba, Jan 14, 2007 IP
  11. Pietercornelis

    Pietercornelis Guest

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    #11
    This goes to show that Google still has a lot to work on concerning the security of the AdSense program. A way to mask the pub-id would be great...
     
    Pietercornelis, Jan 14, 2007 IP
  12. rluna559

    rluna559 Active Member

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    #12
    Already contacted Google and explained everything, just waiting on the reply. Thanks everyone for all your help and input.
     
    rluna559, Jan 14, 2007 IP
  13. pixeldawn

    pixeldawn Well-Known Member

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    #13
    Wow...really sorry to know something like this happened. Good luck Richard, and please do report back and let us know what happened.
     
    pixeldawn, Jan 14, 2007 IP
  14. rluna559

    rluna559 Active Member

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    #14
    I sent a second appeal to Adsense and finally got a reply.

    First I must point out that Google has terrible customer support. I have lost faith in Google AdSense. I don't understand why my account was not reinstated when I was victim of AdSense Bowling. I didn't even get a personalized email or an email with specific information. All i got is a generic answer. This is truly sad as I liked using Google AdSense over other programs I have tired.

    What could I do? Can anyone recommend an alternative program?
     
    rluna559, Feb 1, 2007 IP
  15. chris20492002

    chris20492002 Guest

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    #15
    explain your situation to google and they should sort it out. but I have heard google just saying no.

    Keep trying to contact google maby you will get through. :?

    google is the best ad program ATM
     
    chris20492002, Feb 1, 2007 IP