What do Google's terms and conditions say about fake clicks / non-human clicks?

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Google call fake or non-human clicks?

  Google prohibits clicks that do not arise from genuine user interest and describes them as invalid clicks. Google screens invalid clicks through its own systems and may issue refunds months later, while also permitting third-party tools to screen and block them where necessary.

• Does Google allow third-party click fraud tools?

  Yes. Google's terms permit advertisers to use third-party tools to screen and block invalid clicks where necessary. Google performs its own invalid click detection and may credit accounts later, but third-party protection adds proactive blocking before daily ad budgets are wasted.

• Is ClickPatrol a Google certified click tracker?

  Yes. Google has listed ClickPatrol as a certified click tracker for tracking and detecting invalid clicks on its official partner list. The certification appears alongside Google's own built-in invalid traffic filtering and screening systems for advertisers who need third-party detection.

• When does Google issue invalid click refunds?

  Google screens invalid clicks automatically and may issue account credits or refunds months after the clicks occur. This reactive process does not replace real-time blocking, since fraudulent clicks can drain daily budgets long before Google completes its review and credit cycle.

• Does Google block all invalid clicks automatically?

  No. Google screens invalid clicks and offers refunds months later, but not every fraudulent click is caught before it charges your account. Google's terms acknowledge that advertisers may use third-party tools to screen and block non-human clicks that Google's filters miss.