The Google Ads Scam That Spread Like a Virus
Fraud on Google Ads doesn’t stop at fake clicks, it can spread exponentially.
In this clip from Paid Search NYC, Shlomi Beer (CEO, ImpersonAlly) breaks down a massive scam uncovered earlier this year where fraudsters:
• Ran fake Google Ads pretending to be Google Ads itself
• Stole login credentials from real advertisers
• Used compromised accounts to launch more scam campaigns
• Turned one stolen account into dozens, then hundreds
• Hosted fake sites on Google-owned URLs to appear legitimate
The result?
A chain reaction of account takeovers, where each hacked advertiser was used to infect others, growing rapidly over just a few weeks.
This case shows how fraudsters exploit platform trust, brand authority, and paid ads to scale attacks faster than most defenses can react.