Marketing Pilgrim's "Legal" Channel

Sponsor Marketing Pilgrim's Legal Channel today! Get in front of some of the most influential readers in the Internet and social media marketing industry. Contact us today!
by
14 Comments

Prominent UK Politician Encourages Google Click Fraud?

posted on April 6, 2010


From what I remember of former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott–it’s been 10 years since I left England–he was a bulldog of a politician, who always liked to pick a fight.

It appears he’s still up to his old tricks and inadvertently learned a new one as well: click fraud!

In what he may have considered to be a innocuous tweet, Prescott suggests Labour Party supporters click on Google AdWords ads paid for by the rival Conservative Party.

The link actually refers to this AdWords ad:

You could argue that all is fair in love and politics–after all, the Conservative Party is pretty brazen to buy the ad in the first place–but click fraud?

Has this happened in the U.S.? I don’t recall seeing anything that suggested something so low. I wonder what–if any–action Google will take over this.


Related Posts

Zemanta
  • http://www.crossingmarketingandit.com Elmer Boutin

    All’s fair in love and war? I can’t think of where I’ve seen such a brazen attempt as mass click fraud in the US, though I’m sure it happens. It’ll be interesting to see what comes of this very public attempt at draining another party’s coffers this way.

    I also wonder if it’s at all effective. I mean, how much would this really cost the Conservatives, anyway?
    .-= Elmer Boutin´s last blog ..John Maxwell Gets It =-.

  • http://www.instockinc.com Kathy Miranda

    Wow. Amazing. He is either completely ignorant – of the fraud and the perpetuity of the internet – or bold as brass.

  • Mark

    What a lesson in ethics and morality Mr Prescott is advocating there I wonder if that’s indicative of the Labour Party in general under ministers-son “full of substance” Brown.

    They’re used to lying Labour anyway

  • http://www.imgreenbook.com wilson

    lol, I think John wasn’t setting his eye on Google neither is he aiming for the adsense income, he just want someone to pay.
    .-= wilson´s last blog ..5 Things You Need To Know Before Starting An Internet Business =-.

  • http://www.chipotlecoupons.net Chipotle Coupons

    Wowa! That guy is going completely black hat! I’ve never seen that happen in the U.S. Probably because they aren’t aware…

  • Pingback: Prescott in Internet Fraud Scandal - Guy Fawkes' blog

  • Pingback: Prescott stands accused of Internet fraud « the credo

  • Pingback: Click Fraud: Whose Fault Is It? | ABC SEM | Learn and Master Search Engine Marketing

  • Pingback: Fraud

  • Ian

    Will the new law mean he will now have his internet cut off?

  • Pingback: Social Media and the General Election – Pt. I « the credo

  • Pingback: Google Clicking Politician, Stargate Universe, An Independent Filmmaker & Monkey Island

  • http://childcarecenter.us Sam

    This is interesting, I don’t recall anything like this happen in the us

  • Pingback: First Post « Adrian Leaman

Filed Under: Legal, Search Marketing