Google Ads Anti-Fraud Algorithms in 2025: Overview and How to Bypass Them

JUNE 11, 2025 • AFFILIATE MARKETING • EXPERT OPINION

Google has strengthened its anti-fraud systems with new algorithms and artificial intelligence tools designed to verify ads and websites. This protects users from spam and controls content quality, but at the same time significantly complicates earning with affiliate marketing. Let’s take a closer look at the mechanisms and technologies Google uses and how they work in practice.

The Google Ads anti-fraud system combines automated algorithms and manual moderation to detect violations by advertisers. Google has used machine learning for years to conduct mass ad checks, and in 2023, it began implementing more powerful artificial intelligence models (LLMs) to analyze ads. These models allow faster detection of new fraud schemes and help to examine content. For example, LLM models can distinguish legitimate financial services from fraudulent "quick profit" schemes, improving fraud detection even when fraudsters constantly change tactics.

The algorithms automatically block or flag suspicious ads and accounts. In ambiguous situations, they are passed to moderators for review. Google monitors ads and accounts on several levels: analyzing ad and website content, account history, user reviews, as well as external signals such as complaints or warnings from regulators. As a result, in 2023, more than 5.5 billion improper ads were removed and 12.7 million advertising accounts were frozen, almost double compared to the previous year. Google’s strategy is aimed at preventing fraudulent ads from appearing and blocking scam accounts before they can cause harm.

Particular attention is paid to affiliate marketing, where traffic is directed to a page created solely to profit from ads. The system evaluates the landing page quality, including the ratio of unique content to advertising. If traffic is sent to affiliate landings prohibited by Google Ads rules, the ad will be rejected, or the account will be blocked.

Additionally, violators include those who attempt to bypass the rules repeatedly. When deception is detected, Google’s system blocks not only the main account but all related accounts. Using multiple accounts leading to the same prohibited offer is especially strictly tracked and penalized.

Google thoroughly checks payment data and identifies suspicious transactions using automated filters. If a payment seems abnormal, the account may be flagged as a "suspicious payment" and blocked.

Signs of suspicious activity:

Google considers such cases as potential fraud and immediately limits spending or blocks the account. Moreover, all accounts with shared payment data are blocked: if a shared card or payment profile is detected, all related ad accounts, Merchant Center accounts, and even AdSense accounts will be blocked. This means each advertising account requires a unique and clean payment method.

Google’s anti-fraud system analyzes the IP addresses used to access the account and compares them with the advertiser’s geolocation. Suspicious activities include:

In 2025, traffic quality requirements have tightened: accounts using spammed or low-quality proxies are instantly banned. Therefore, affiliates need to use clean residential proxies. Google monitors this carefully, and using cheap, "burned" proxies almost certainly guarantees a ban.

Practical guides recommend selecting an IP address from the same country and city as the account’s business information, and even when changing the address, trying to pick an IP from the same region. Geographic mismatches — for example, if an account is registered in the USA but logs in from a Kenyan IP — are red flags for the system. Furthermore, Google tracks repeated IP address usage: if multiple accounts access the network from the same IP address, they may be linked together and blocked.

Although Google does not officially disclose the parameters used to identify a device, experience shows that operating system parameters, Canvas/WebGL indicators, font lists, time zone, cookies, and other data are taken into account. Any common feature between accounts can reveal multi-accounting.

Therefore, to safely use multiple accounts in affiliate marketing, an anti-detect browser is essential. Its job is to isolate each account's environment and spoof the digital fingerprint. High-tech anti-detect browsers like Octo Browser create browser fingerprints that are indistinguishable from those of real devices.

In addition to static data, anti-fraud systems analyze account behavior, specifically how an advertising campaign is created and managed. Sudden or illogical actions often trigger a review. For example, if a large budget is injected into the account immediately after registration or settings are suddenly changed, algorithms are triggered. We recommend avoiding intense activity in the first few days: any changes, whether budget increases, new campaigns, or profile edits, should be made gradually.

General legitimacy of behavior is also monitored. A real advertiser typically shows activity in the account, reviewing reports, gradually creating campaigns, linking verified contacts, and using a Google account with a history. If the account looks disposable — for example, an empty profile created solely to launch ads and immediately promoting prohibited content — the system will notice.

Google states that when determining violations, it takes data from various sources into account, including consumer feedback. This indirectly indicates that the ad’s user-side performance, such as low experience ratings and complaints about the ad, can also have an impact. Additionally, Google monitors the history of violations: repeat offenses, such as an ad being rejected multiple times, may quickly lead to account suspension for attempting to circumvent the rules.

Altogether, abnormal patterns, whether in timing (businesses typically aren’t active at night), speed of actions, or connections to other accounts, are all analyzed to detect fraudulent activity.

One of the major innovations of late 2023 – early 2024 was the Limited Ads Serving policy. Google introduced an “acquaintance period” for new or unfamiliar advertisers, during which their ad reach is artificially limited. This measure aims to gradually vet advertisers. For example, if there is no clear connection between the advertiser and the brand mentioned in the ads or if the account is completely new, the system will initially limit the number of ad impressions. Essentially, this is a “trust sandbox”: legitimate advertisers will be able to build their reputation and their limits will gradually increase, while scammers will find it harder to immediately gain large reach to deceive users. Google notes that this policy helps honest advertisers earn trust while restricting the reach of potentially dangerous players.

In 2024, Limited Ads Serving was still in the early stages of implementation, and Google continues to refine it. For affiliates, this means that new accounts are now by default restricted in traffic volumes, and rapid scaling while bypassing filters has become more difficult.

At the end of 2023, Google announced the creation of emergency teams to respond to new types of threats. For example, the surge of celebrity deepfake ads used for scams led to rapid model training on these patterns and changes in rules regarding misrepresentation. In 2024, there were many such updates, reflecting a proactive approach to emerging threats.

In 2025, Google deepened the integration of generative artificial intelligence into its anti-fraud processes. Large language models (LLMs), such as Google’s own Gemini, began to be used to analyze ads for policy compliance and to detect fraud patterns that were previously difficult to track automatically. This is especially important for fraudulent schemes that constantly change wording and approaches, most often financial pyramids, deceptive offers, etc.

Now artificial intelligence models can recognize new deception trends and adapt rules on the fly, essentially learning from each new case. According to Google, over 90% of ad removals on the publisher side in the Google Display Network are already initiated via machine learning, including the latest LLM models. In practice, the vast majority of dangerous or non-compliant content is now filtered out by algorithms.

It can be expected that in 2025, Google will continue to promptly introduce new rules in response to emerging trends. These may include requirements for labeling AI-generated content in ads, verification of businesses in high-risk categories, and so on.

Although advertiser identity and business verification was already in place before, by 2025 Google made it almost mandatory in many areas. To launch ads on behalf of a company, one must now pass advertiser identity verification by providing company documents and the ID of the responsible person. This has complicated life for scammers who used to mass-create fake accounts. Now, without identity verification, ad campaigns may be restricted or may not launch at all.

In particular, strict checks and mandatory disclosures have been introduced for political advertising and financial services, such as the “Paid for by…” label for political ads. In 2023, Google became the first among tech companies to require labeling synthetic AI content in political ads—this is also part of the fight against misleading advertising.

All these measures indirectly strengthen anti-fraud: it is now harder for fake businesses and individuals to remain anonymous in the system, making it easier to track and block rule violators based on their real data.

The 2025 trend is a comprehensive approach: Google combines technological innovations like AI and automation with new rules and collaboration with the advertising industry to make content manipulation more difficult. Supporting this is the announcement of a partnership with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance to share information about fraudulent advertising. All of this makes the anti-fraud system more multilayered and harder to bypass.

In 2024, Google tightened the Abusing the Ad Network policy, clarifying that any attempts to deceive the system, such as spamming, click manipulation, or hiding content, would lead to immediate account suspension without warnings. Steps were also taken to increase transparency: the Ads Transparency Center was launched, where anyone can view all ads from any verified advertiser. Although this is not a direct anti-fraud tool, it raises the overall level of accountability. Knowing that their ads are publicly tracked, honest advertisers will act more cautiously, and scammers will find it harder to hide large volumes of similar ads.

Despite Google's strict anti-fraud measures, affiliates have developed strategies to reduce the risk of account blocking. These methods do not guarantee long-term evasion of moderation, as Google may eventually detect violations, but they are considered the minimum necessary to launch ads for gray and prohibited offers.

Here are the key methods proven by experience.

A new advertising account is initially managed as if it were a regular user account before being actively used. In the first days, it is important to create the appearance of real activity: logging into the account from the same device, visiting various websites through the associated Google profile, filling in profile data, browsing YouTube, Gmail, etc. The goal is to convince the algorithms that this is not a dummy but a live account. Often, a test white campaign is launched with advertising for an allowed offer with a small budget ($3–5 per day). Such a campaign is not aimed at making a profit but at passing the initial manual or automatic checks and gaining a history. The preparation stage typically lasts 1–2 weeks; after this period, the account is considered "mature" for more aggressive actions.

It is important to avoid actions that would reset the "trust counter": password changes, address changes, or abrupt clearing of browser history. Such changes signal a possible sale or transfer of the account and will attract unwanted attention.

After launching ads, it is important to avoid sudden spikes in activity. Increasing budgets and bids should happen smoothly, in small steps over several days. Adding new ads or launching campaigns should also be done gradually. Trying to increase a daily budget from $50 to $500 in one day may trigger a review and restricted ad delivery.

Similarly, if an account has been promoting one safe website for a long time and then suddenly switches to another niche or region, it may seem suspicious. Some recommend running white offers for 1–2 weeks first and only then, when the Limited Ads Serving restriction loosens, trying to switch to riskier offers.

If you receive warnings or disapprovals, it's important not to ignore them: multiple ad disapprovals due to policy violations will quickly lead to a Circumvention flag and a ban. Therefore, ads should be made as neutral as possible, without clearly prohibited elements, to pass moderation. The prohibited content should be shown only on the landing page using cloaking.

Since, despite all precautions, blocking can occur at any time, affiliates work not with a single account but with a pool of accounts. This requires the parallel creation and preparation of dozens of new accounts so that in case of a ban, campaigns can continue to run.

Farming requires the following tools:

Each account is created with a unique set of data (full name, address, payment details) that are not used in other accounts. During registration and setup, it is strongly recommended not to use automation: all data should be entered manually, as Google has learned to detect automated form filling and scripts. Such templates are immediately banned.

Farming is a long and labor-intensive process: one account is "grown" for at least 2–3 weeks, requiring about 30 minutes a day to simulate real activity. Only after this is the account ready to launch ads or be sold to those who will attract traffic.

As mentioned, Google easily detects linked accounts using fingerprint data and IP address. Therefore, complete autonomy for each account is a mandatory condition for bypassing moderation. In practice, this means that each account must have:

There should be no overlaps between accounts: using the same IP address or device is strictly prohibited. Experts emphasize that saving money on proxies is not an option: proxy speed and "cleanliness" directly affect account lifespan. Plausibility should also be maintained: e.g., for a U.S.-based account, you should not visit Russian-language sites and should generally adhere to digital behavior typical of a user from the specified country.

Another method to bypass moderation is cloaking. The essence of cloacking is to show different versions of the site to different visitors. Google bots and moderators see a white landing page that fully complies with the rules, while real users are redirected to the target offer. These can be finance, gambling, beauty and health products, or other offers that don’t strictly conform to platform policies.

Cloaking requires advanced software or services (Adspect, Keitaro, CLOAK.IT, and others) that can identify moderators by IP/UserAgent and switch the landing page content. Properly configured, this allows passing initial moderation, with the ad being approved because Google sees only permitted content.

However, Google actively fights cloaking: detecting such substitution is classified as a severe violation (Circumventing) and results in an immediate ban. Therefore, ideally, cloaking should not be used for entirely prohibited topics. It's better to use a maximally "gray" approach, where the ad can pass even without cloaking, by avoiding prohibited promises and masking the topic.

Trusted domains also increase the chances. It should be a top-level domain with history, not flagged for spam. An old, reputable domain raises fewer suspicions than a newly purchased one for affiliate marketing.

Even when following all the above measures, affiliates understand that some accounts may still be blocked, especially when working with risky offers. To minimize losses, they follow the principle of not putting all their eggs in one basket. Spread expenses across different accounts and cards, and split budgets. Withdraw money from accounts more frequently so that frozen amounts remain insignificant.

Monitor blocking triggers: one of the common reasons for blocking is "suspicious payment." To avoid this, experienced users recommend using valid bank cards with sufficient limits and addresses that match your account. Avoid payment failures and outstanding balances. Often, a separate card is created for each account, including virtual cards from trusted banks, which are first tested with a small transaction. It is also important to properly close an account if it is no longer needed. Leaving it with debt or unpaid charges is risky, as linked accounts may also be affected.

It should be emphasized that all the methods described are not official information from Google. These are conclusions and life hacks shared by users on specialized forums and in affiliate communities. These tips may slightly extend an account’s lifespan while bypassing the rules, but there is always a risk that Google's algorithms will detect the scheme. In 2025, the anti-fraud systems have become so advanced that guaranteed bypass methods no longer exist. There is an ongoing race between the platform and violators.

When researching current anti-fraud algorithms, it is important to consider both Google's official position and the experiences of the advertiser community. Google publishes annual security reports, press releases, and support articles that reveal general statistics and approaches. For example, in the 2023 Ads Safety Report, the company reported millions of blocked ads and new measures such as Limited Ads Serving. The official platform policy guidelines describe prohibited practices, from fraudulent payments to systems’ circumvention. These sources help understand what is considered a violation and how Google responds to them. However, Google deliberately does not disclose the details of its algorithms’ implementation to prevent malicious actors from studying them.

Practical cases and forum discussions complement this picture. In niche chats and blogs, affiliates share observations about which actions lead to bans and which allow campaigns to go on running. From these sources, it becomes clear what triggers the anti-fraud systems: low-quality proxies, device reuse, virtual cards, mismatched payment information, etc. By combining official information and community insights, you can form a complete picture of anti-fraud practices currently at work.

In 2025, Google Ads uses a multi-layered anti-fraud system that employs machine learning. The main methods to counter it are proper account preparation, fingerprint spoofing, and disciplined behavior. Even with these measures, success is not always guaranteed, as Google constantly improves its algorithms, making digital advertising safer for users and advertisers.