click fraud

Official IAB definition:

"As used in the context of [CPC advertising], Click Fraud means a sub-component of Invalid Clicks, originating from a user, program or automated agent (e.g., Internet robot or spider) that accesses a URL for the purpose of manipulating click measurement activity or click-based advertising payments, having no intention of legitimately browsing site content, making a purchase or performing any other type of legitimate conversion action. Click Fraud also includes situations where a user is unwillingly, or tricked into, accessing information(for example, user “virus” infected activity, or auto-clicking functions).

As used in the [Click Measurement Guidelines], Click Fraud is not intended to represent “Fraud” as defined in various laws, statutes and ordinances or as conventionally used in U.S. Court or other legal proceedings, but rather a custom definition of “fraud” as associated with click measurement."