Search ad fraud was once thought to be hard to commit. But bad guys with networks of bots and servers have fully automated the process and can rip off millions of dollars from advertisers. No one is immune.

1. Search Partner
Network Click Fraud
Dr. Augustine Fou
http://linkd.in/augustinefou
acfou @mktsci .com
January 2014
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Augustine Fou

2. Sample Bad Guy 1
http://search.foxtab.com
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Augustine Fou

3. Search Ads
http://search.foxtab.com/results.
php?q=timex+watch&category=
web&start=1
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Augustine Fou

4. Redirect Link for Ad
http://ccs.infospace.com/ClickHandler.ashx?d
u=www.timex.com&ru=http%3a%2f%2fwww
.timex.com%2f&ld=20140123&ap=1&app=1
&c=funv14.1&s=funv14&coi=771&cop=mai
ntitle&euip=66.108.114.20&npp=1&p=0&pp=
0&pvaid=9e6f5a2dbb93448bbfc7f6e98902b8
e8&ep=1&mid=9&en=wR2%2bp8KG8juYh
Ksai6%2bvkBIvj6l0WwVC%2fucmBsNJW%
2bY%3d&hash=A558EF8CE4233922C53DB
AC281AE93BC
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Augustine Fou

5. Destination Page
http://timex.com
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Augustine Fou

6. Sample Bad Guy 2
http://63.209.69.107/popular. php
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Augustine Fou

7. Search Ads
http://63.209.69.107/see.php?affid=
err1&subid=1&p=2&r=0&q=Affor
dable%20Health%20Care
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Augustine Fou

8. Redirect Link for Ad
http://toppagefinder.com/adsclicktrack/click/newjump1.do?affiliate=60469
&subid=1&terms=affordable%20health%20ca
re&ai=OlxJZnWPK-0c4LvHQZX3re-YNjtC5DYoOzmcGZg1pgKxYUQ2QUl16I1
Ao48K6BhqwzQWKicy_zKn12Z6FtXvN7T4V1ecdut0UyZSBlhLqqY3Dk8vc6Tq
idCHbsFfIKC0vHhnkPTl78H2_Mw9U66WN
urJdCD_JQCONFwK7Qdj0sI0jBN1xC7osslz
XpNdr7Rv2ZDBPW5_hjuyXvl7Om5joKjfU
M4bxuxGeiJWasaQZWxA-j00HOh3ENrcJU51GgdLnkBZudmuJUGcYcf
YlqkQbzb8Fj9jpDeKqTB341XxqVqOVQw8
gH89tenGm1f9plTIOjACGDHL9SMrokV2CdWl8BXx
puUhOA_PvZSNQjG9GOtbckoGpfKx2FlJp
G0n
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Augustine Fou

9. Destination Page
http://www.allfinanci
alonline.com/auto/co
mpetitiverates/?utm_source=ad
vertise&utm_medium
=cpc&utm_term=affo
rdable+health+care&
utm_content=604691&utm_campaign=Al
lFinanaicalOnline_E
RON
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Augustine Fou

10. Related Articles
Digital Ad Fraud Briefing
By: Augustine Fou December 2013
Fake YouTube Videos
By: Augustine Fou, December 2013
How Display Fraud Works
By: Augustine Fou, May 2013
Fake Linkedin Profiles
By: Augustine Fou, December 2013
How Click Fraud Works
By: Augustine Fou, November 2013
Fake Facebook Profiles
By: Augustine Fou, Dec 2013
The Magnitude of Digital Ad Fraud
By: Augustine Fou, November 2013
Fake Twitter Accounts
By: Augustine Fou, August 2013
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Augustine Fou

11. Dr. Augustine Fou – Digital Forensics
“I advise clients on optimizing
advertising across all channels. Using
insights and fast-feedback loops from
digital, we can not only target brand ads
better, but we can detect and mitigate ad
fraud and waste.”
FORMER CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER, HCG (OMNICOM)
MCKINSEY CONSULTANT
CLIENT SIDE / AGENCY SIDE EXPERIENCE
PROFESSOR AND COLUMNIST
ENTREPRENEUR / SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
PHD MATERIALS SCIENCE (MIT '95) AT AGE 23
ClickZ Articles: http://bit.ly/augustine-fou-clickz
Slideshares: http://bit.ly/augustine-fou-slideshares
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/augustinefou
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@acfou
Augustine Fou

12. APPENDIX
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Augustine Fou

13. Algo-generated Sites
NO HUMAN TRAFFIC
ALL BOTS
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Augustine Fou

14. Dozens of Identical Sites
Source: more screen captures
http://picturesandbox.com/screengrab/grouped.php
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Augustine Fou