I’ve started using Google AdSense to fill up blank areas on my sites as well as to make a few $$$ to cover hosting and other charges. Here is an interesting email from Google.

“It has come to our attention that invalid clicks have been generated on your Google ads, posing a financial risk to our AdWords advertisers. Please note that any activity that may artificially inflate an advertiser’s costs or a publisher’s earnings is strictly prohibited by our program policies.

We understand that you may want more information about the activity we detected. However, because we have a need to protect our proprietary detection systems, we’re unable to provide our publishers with any details about their account activity, including any web pages or users that may have been involved. Thank you for your understanding.”

So basically, Google’s top secret “proprietary detection system” will detect problems and you just have to trust them. No proof of the problem and no way for you to know how to fix the issue. In the mean while, you have sent a lead to the advertiser and Google has charged them. They go on to say…

“Please note that because we credit advertisers for any invalid activity we detect, we may adjust your account earnings for any days during which invalid clicks occurred.”

Not what I would expect from Google. Looks like their AdSense is not that great after all! Guess I should look for a site offering a more “open-source” detection system.