By on April 6, 2010

Prominent UK Politician Encourages Google Click Fraud?

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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.


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14 comments on “Prominent UK Politician Encourages Google Click Fraud?”

  1. Elmer Boutin Says:

    April 6th, 2010 at 2:07 pm

    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 =-.

  2. Kathy Miranda Says:

    April 6th, 2010 at 2:15 pm

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

  3. Mark Says:

    April 6th, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    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

  4. wilson Says:

    April 6th, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    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 =-.

  5. Chipotle Coupons Says:

    April 7th, 2010 at 4:17 am

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

  6. Prescott in Internet Fraud Scandal - Guy Fawkes' blog Says:

    April 7th, 2010 at 8:19 am

    [...] Internet Fraud Scandal For what he no doubt thought was a quick hit, John Prescott has come under fire for advocating online [...]

  7. Prescott stands accused of Internet fraud « the credo Says:

    April 7th, 2010 at 8:40 am

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  8. Click Fraud: Whose Fault Is It? | ABC SEM | Learn and Master Search Engine Marketing Says:

    April 7th, 2010 at 9:09 am

    [...] the other party’s ads to empty their budget and make them spend more money. That seems to be still happening around the world.Credit: www.marketingpilgrim.comOf course, this is done for fun and all. But the practice is still [...]

  9. Fraud Says:

    April 7th, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    [...] Prominent UK Politician Encourages Google Click Fraud [...]

  10. Ian Says:

    April 7th, 2010 at 5:30 pm

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

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    April 8th, 2010 at 5:17 am

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    April 13th, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    [...] Prominent UK Politician Encourages Google Click Fraud – Interesting with the UK election around a month away, a Labour politician is encouraging Labour supporters to commit Google click fraud! Yeah, these are the kind of people we want running the country!?!?!? But given the whole MP expenses scandal, what else can you expect from politicians? [...]

  13. Sam Says:

    April 23rd, 2010 at 2:30 pm

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

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    April 28th, 2010 at 9:05 am

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