Competitor clicking your ad and placing fake orders: how to detect it and respond
Bruno Costa · 2026-10-07
Fraud prevention
Detecting and responding to fraudulent clicks on your ads is essential to keeping your campaigns healthy. Here are some important points to consider:
Ip and time patterns
- Monitor IPs: Use analytics tools to check where your clicks are coming from. If you notice a pattern of IPs that keep showing up, especially at unusual times, it could indicate fraudulent clicks.
- Time analysis: Compare the times when clicks happen. If most of the clicks come from the same IP at odd hours, like in the middle of the night, it could be an attempt to manipulate your results.
Exclusion list
- Create exclusion lists: If you identify suspicious IPs, it’s essential to exclude them from your campaigns. Both Google Ads and Meta Ads let you exclude specific IPs, which can significantly reduce the impact of fraudulent clicks.
Form with validation
- Add validation: Use forms with validation to make sure the lead is legitimate. For example, ask for additional information a competitor wouldn’t have, like a phone number only real customers would have access to.
Report it
- Report suspicious behavior: If you identify a clear pattern of fraud, report it to the ad platform. Both Meta and Google have ways to report fraudulent clicks, which could lead to lower costs and better protection for your account.
When to ignore it
- Focus on real metrics: Ignoring a few suspicious clicks can be a valid strategy if your overall conversion rate isn’t being affected. If you notice sales increasing but also see a few suspicious clicks, it may be more productive to focus on optimizing conversions instead of getting bogged down in the details.
By closely monitoring IP patterns, excluding suspicious ones, adding validation, and reporting fraudulent behavior, you can protect your campaigns and make sure your ad budget is being used as effectively as possible.
What numbers have you been seeing in your campaigns that point to suspicious clicks?