This is an update to a previous post, Google Ads Scam Alert: This Happened to Me!
Google Ads Scam Alert: This Happened to Me!
📢 Google Ads charged me for ads I never ran—then refused to acknowledge the fraud. If that wasn’t bad enough, they blocked my Google Business Profile, made support impossible to reach, and even previously shut down my YouTube channel unfairly. Here’s my story and what you can do if this happens to you.
The Mysterious Google Ads Charge
Two months ago, I logged into my American Express account and noticed a $500 charge from Google Ads. My first thought? Did I forget to turn off an ad campaign? But then I remembered—I don’t even use Amex for Google Ads!
I immediately checked my Google Ads account. No active campaigns. No running ads. Nothing.
I disputed the charge with American Express, and before I could even explain, they said:
“We know these are fraudulent charges.”
Clearly, this scam is happening to a lot of people.
Google’s Response? “You Owe Us the Money.”
I appealed to Google Ads and provided proof that I had no active campaigns. Their response?
“You received the services you were promised. The amount you owe is now due.”
🤨 What services?! My account history shows no ads running, yet I have an outstanding balance of $299.66 (screenshots below).
Trying to Contact Google? Good Luck.
After appealing, I tried to reach Google support directly, only to find:
❌ 50-minute wait times for phone support
❌ No real way to escalate the issue
❌ No human review of my case
Adding to the frustration, Google has also blocked my access to my Google Business Profile with a cryptic message:
“Your access has been suspended because this profile doesn’t follow the guidelines. Edit your business info, and learn how to regain access.”
No explanation. No clear appeal process. Just another roadblock.
Google’s History of Unfairness – They Shut Down My YouTube, Too!
This isn’t the first time Google has treated me unfairly. They shut down my YouTube channel for alleged copyright violations—even though every video was my original content.
They denied my appeal, and I only got the channel reinstated because someone pointed me to @TeamYouTube on X (Twitter), where they actually reviewed my case properly.
This is Bigger Than Me – It’s a Widespread Scam
I found an article from Malwarebytes explaining how this exact Google Ads scam works:
🔹 Hackers use phishing sites disguised as Google Ads login pages to steal credentials.
🔹 They take over accounts, lock out users, and run their own ads.
🔹 Compromised accounts are sold on blackhat forums, and Google keeps billing the victims.
What Can You Do?
✔ Check your Google Ads account regularly – even if you don’t run ads!
✔ Use two-factor authentication (2FA) to secure your account.
✔ Dispute unauthorized charges immediately with your credit card company.
✔ Report fraud to Google, the BBB, and the FTC if they refuse to acknowledge it.
My Next Steps
If Google doesn’t remove the fraudulent balance, I’m filing complaints with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
🔹 Have you had similar issues with Google Ads, Business Profile suspensions, or unfair treatment? Let me know in the comments!
#GoogleAdsScam #GoogleAdsFraud #ScamAlert #GoogleBusinessProfile #YouTubeTakedown #DigitalMarketing
