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If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online, https:/=
/api.neonemails.com/emails/content/4Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7K=
fWo=3D.
Google is getting fat off fake weight loss gummies

Google is spoon-feeding fake =E2=80=9CShark Tank approved=E2=80=9D weight l=
oss gummy candies to innocent people =E2=80=94 and making money doing it. T=
he search giant=E2=80=99s monopoly power in the ad industry apparently lets=
them profit off allowing scam ads to flourish, with no consequences.

Mark Cuban and a Shark Tank producer spoke to us about how Google=E2=80=99s=
lax adherence to its own policies hurts innocent people, the Shark Tank br=
and, and the reputations of the sharks themselves.



A fake ABC site advertising Shark Tank-endorsed keto gummies, a product tha=
t does not exist.=20

Back in November, Check My Ads cofounder Nandini Jammi got scammed by a fak=
e shoe ad. When she later riffed on Cuban's frustrations with online advert=
ising, he reached out and asked us to look into a similar scam with fake Sh=
ark Tank keto gummies.

=E2=80=9CI get heartbreaking emails from people who ask me why they don=E2=
=80=99t work. How they are overweight and really trusted my brand or the Sh=
ark Tank brand when they made the purchase,=E2=80=9D he told Check My Ads.

In some cases these scam companies continue charging their victims after th=
e fact, putting more financial strain on their victims who often cannot aff=
ord them, he added. =E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s just awful and it=E2=80=99s been =
going on for years now.=E2=80=9D

We analyzed the page 1 results for the keywords "shark tank keto,=E2=80=9D =
looking at 22 sponsored links and non-sponsored search results, and found G=
oogle enabling scammers in four ways:

Google is doing business with scammers, letting them pay for scam links to =
be higher in search results so more people will click. Every click makes Go=
ogle money.

Google indexes fake pages set up by scammers on legitimate sites, so that t=
hey show up higher in search results.

Google makes its own tools available to scammers, letting them better targe=
t their victims.

Google sometimes pays successful scam sites, and gets paid for it, too.

These scams have a cost beyond the financial. They can damage brands, gener=
al trust, and most importantly, people. Google has let thousands become vic=
tims of this scam for too long.
Sponsored results and =E2=80=9Cverified=E2=80=9D advertisers

The first four =E2=80=9Csearch=E2=80=9D results that greeted us when we sea=
rched for =E2=80=9Cshark tank keto=E2=80=9D weren=E2=80=99t a warning from =
the FTC about fake endorsements. Or a USA Today story that Google itself br=
eaks out into a fact check.



Sponsored search results for "shark tank keto."

Instead, it was sponsored results that said things like, =E2=80=9CTop 5 Sha=
rk Tank Keto Gummies=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9CKeto As Seen On Shark Tank.=E2=
=80=9D Results that Google gets paid for if someone clicks the link.

Google knows this is a problem, telling the Washington Post =E2=80=94 in 20=
22 =E2=80=94 that it was trying to address scam ads. A spokesperson said th=
e company increased advertiser verification processes and their capacity to=
detect and remove coordinated scams.

In 2021, Google blocked or removed =E2=80=9C38.1 million ads for =E2=80=98m=
isrepresentation=E2=80=99 and 58.9 million ads for violating its financial =
services policies, both before and after they ran,=E2=80=9D the spokesman t=
old the Washington Post.

That may sound like a lot, but it=E2=80=99s minuscule for a company that se=
rves trillions of ads a month, according to marketing company WordStream. H=
ow many ads is Google failing to catch? Does =E2=80=9Cverification=E2=80=9D=
even do anything? Because many of the scam advertisers we found actually w=
ere verified by Google.

We documented sponsored scam posts from Malta-based Noventa Ventures Ltd., =
Arizona-based Sapphire Media Group LLC, and Spain-based Kravio Rocket S.L. =
=E2=80=94 all verified.

Google says =E2=80=9Cwe will pause your account immediately =E2=80=A6 if we=
suspect your ads violate our Google Ads policies, including misleading rep=
resentation.=E2=80=9D It seems their definition of =E2=80=9Cimmediate=E2=80=
=9D is somewhat different from most people=E2=80=99s.

Because we reported these advertisers to Google in mid-December. On Jan. 18=
, they were still running scam ads. Here=E2=80=99s some of Kravio Rocket=E2=
=80=99s inventory as of Jan. 18, as seen in the Google Ads Transparency cen=
ter.



A screenshot of the Google Ads Transparency Center, showing scam ads.

But even if someone avoids clicking sponsored posts, scammers have other wa=
ys of popping up in Google search results.
Imposter search results and fake pages on legitimate sites

Google says that its algorithm emphasizes sites it considers trustworthy, s=
uch as ones from governments and universities. So it=E2=80=99s no surprise =
that scammers find ways to exploit that fact to appear higher in search res=
ults.

The first non-sponsored result for =E2=80=9Cshark tank keto=E2=80=9D appear=
s to be an article on the University of Pittsburgh=E2=80=99s website =E2=80=
=94 right above a legitimate result warning of the scam.



Yet the University of Pittsburgh page isn=E2=80=99t actually viewable =E2=
=80=94 if you go to the address directly ([link removed]
XG-wxaWd/anzr-bs-funex-gnax-xrgb-doCYI-thzzvrf), you get a message saying =
=E2=80=9Cthe requested page could not be found.=E2=80=9D

But what happens when you click the search result?



A screenshot of a fake CBS page selling keto gummies.

You=E2=80=99re taken to an imposter CBS News site hawking keto gummies, but=
this time using a photoshopped image of Kelly Clarkson.

Why is Google indexing pages on legitimate sites that you can=E2=80=99t acc=
ess but that still manage to send you to a site to swindle you? And then pl=
acing these nonexistent sites as the top search result, above warnings of t=
he very scam Google is presenting to you as legitimate?
Using Google Analytics to find victims

And thanks to Google, even if you click on one of the sponsored Shark Tank =
keto links and don=E2=80=99t buy anything, you=E2=80=99re still helping the=
scammers build a better mousetrap.

Eight of the sponsored search result sites we analyzed, including todayshea=
lthreviews.com, topverifiedreveiws.com, and sharp-reviews.com, use Google A=
nalytics or Tag Manager. They=E2=80=99re powerful tools that let sites trac=
k and better shape the ads and content driving people to their sites.

This helps them maximize their ad spend, getting the most bang for their bu=
ck (which, in this case, is fleecing people lured in by the promise of Shar=
k Tank-approved weight loss drugs).
Getting paid by Google to promote fake products

Shark Tank keto scammers are also using another Google tool to make money w=
ithout ever actually selling anything =E2=80=94 AdSense.

Unscrupulous operators set up what are called Made For Advertising (MFA) si=
tes. They=E2=80=99re sites designed to look good to search engines and pull=
in money through running ads when people visit them.

And when it=E2=80=99s Google placing those ads on MFA sites =E2=80=94 like =
we found on MFA sites including onlymyhealth.com =E2=80=94 it=E2=80=99s Goo=
gle getting a cut of advertiser dollars to serve the ads.



An MFA site running Google ads on fake Shark Tank content.

We even found an MFA site in our sponsored search results for Shark Tank ke=
to. That means Google could get paid at least two times for scam sites: Onc=
e when we clicked on the sponsored link, and again when the target site loa=
ded ads. And if we were to click on the ads on the MFA site? Google would p=
ay the scammer and also get paid a third time.
Google=E2=80=99s lack of incentives

What incentive does Google have to fix all this? It gets paid to run sponso=
red ads. It gets paid when scam sites load ads through its AdSense network.=
If it fixes the problem, it loses money =E2=80=94 and market share =E2=80=
=94 on two fronts.

Google captures almost 30 percent of the entire US digital advertising mark=
et. It has nearly $300 billion in annual revenue. And in the third quarter =
of 2023, it made $44 billion from search ads alone =E2=80=94 the very produ=
ct that seems to be so easily manipulated.

How does Google address this issue? Shark Tank producer Clay Newbill has a =
place to start: =E2=80=9CThey should donate their profits from these sites =
to stopping scammers.=E2=80=9D

But unless Google gets its act together, we=E2=80=99d all better get used t=
o seeing things like this in search results: Shark Tank investor Lori Grein=
er pleading for people not to fall for diet scams, surrounded by the very s=
cams she=E2=80=99s warning about.



Tomorrow, we=E2=80=99ll send out a template for us all to send to Google so=
that we can ask questions together. Keep your inbox open.

Stay safe on the internet!

Love,



Claire & Nandini

This email was sent to [email protected]. Click here to [link removed]
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</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><h1 cl=
ass=3D"my-4" style=3D"padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; l=
ine-height: 130%; color: inherit; word-wrap: normal; font-weight: 400; marg=
in-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 34px; font-family: Montser=
rat, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style=3D"font-size: 24pt;"><strong><span s=
tyle=3D"font-family: Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;">Google is getting fa=
t off fake weight loss gummies</span></strong></span></h1></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><p sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Google is spoo=
n-feeding fake =E2=80=9CShark Tank approved=E2=80=9D weight loss gummy cand=
ies to innocent people =E2=80=94 and making money doing it. The search gian=
t=E2=80=99s monopoly power in the ad industry apparently lets them profit o=
ff allowing scam ads to flourish, with no consequences.</p> <p style=3D"col=
or: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; pad=
ding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-heig=
ht: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Mark Cuban and a Shark =
Tank producer spoke to us about how Google=E2=80=99s lax adherence to its o=
wn policies hurts innocent people, the Shark Tank brand, and the reputation=
s of <a href=3D"[link removed]
3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UDZv8PrP_0SBj=
ldmUWpjEmw=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight:=
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">the sharks</a> t=
hemselves.</p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last image" styl=
e=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word=
-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">
<!--[if mso]><center><![end-if]-->
<img class=3D"align-center" src=3D"[link removed]
eoncrm.com/neon/resource/checkmyads/images/sharktankscamsite.png" alt=3D"A =
site appearing to be on ABC.com advertising Shark Tank keto gummies, but it=
's entirely fake." width=3D"600" align=3D"center" style=3D"outline: none; t=
ext-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; cle=
ar: both; display: block; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; float: none; text=
-align: center; height: auto;"><!--[if mso]></center><![end-if]-->
</figure></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><p sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style=3D=
"font-size: 10pt;"><em>A fake ABC site advertising Shark Tank-endorsed keto=
gummies, a product that does not exist.&nbsp;</em></span></p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><p sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style=3D=
"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Back in November, Check My Ads cof=
ounder Nandini Jammi </span><a style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: no=
ne; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5; f=
ont-size: 12pt;" href=3D"[link removed]
ink/4Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UFYN=
tZHTNszG8ppz7Shb0EU=3D">got scammed by a fake shoe ad</a><span style=3D"fon=
t-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">. When she later </span><a style=3D"co=
lor: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text=
-align: left; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 12pt;" href=3D"[link removed]
mails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/4Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe=
7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UPJbSokCKCmzWow5ispHlXE=3D">riffed on Cuban's =
frustrations with online advertising</a><span style=3D"font-family: inherit=
; font-size: 12pt;">, he reached out and asked us to look into a similar sc=
am with fake Shark Tank keto gummies.</span></p>=20
<div>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: l=
eft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom:=
10px;">=E2=80=9CI get heartbreaking emails from people who ask me why they=
don=E2=80=99t work. How they are overweight and really trusted my brand or=
the Shark Tank brand when they made the purchase,=E2=80=9D he told Check M=
y Ads.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: l=
eft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom:=
10px;">In some cases these scam companies continue charging their victims =
after the fact, putting more financial strain on their victims who often ca=
nnot afford them, he added. =E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s just awful and it=E2=80=
=99s been going on for years now.=E2=80=9D</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: l=
eft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom:=
10px;">We analyzed the page 1 results for the keywords "shark tank keto,=
=E2=80=9D looking at 22 sponsored links and non-sponsored search results, a=
nd found Google enabling scammers in four ways:</p>=20
<ol style=3D"list-style-position: inside; Margin: 0 0 10px =
0; padding: 0 0 0 10px;">=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margi=
n: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; list-s=
tyle: decimal outside;">Google is doing business with scammers, letting the=
m pay for scam links to be higher in search results so more people will cli=
ck. Every click makes Google money.</li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margi=
n: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; list-s=
tyle: decimal outside;">Google indexes fake pages set up by scammers on leg=
itimate sites, so that they show up higher in search results.</li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margi=
n: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; list-s=
tyle: decimal outside;">Google makes its own tools available to scammers, l=
etting them better target their victims.</li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margi=
n: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; list-s=
tyle: decimal outside;">Google sometimes <a href=3D"[link removed]
com/emails/tracking/click-link/4Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=
=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UIaKadok0pRsUihgoo1ydXo=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9=
; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left=
; line-height: 1.5;">pays successful scam sites</a>, and gets paid for it, =
too.</li>=20
</ol>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: l=
eft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom:=
10px;">These scams have a cost beyond the financial. They can damage brand=
s, general trust, and most importantly, people. Google has let thousands be=
come victims of this scam for too long.</p>=20
<div data-mobiledoc=3D"{&quot;version&quot;:&quot;0.3.2&quo=
t;,&quot;atoms&quot;:[],&quot;cards&quot;:[],&quot;markups&quot;:[[&quot;a&=
quot;,[&quot;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
&amp;q=3D&amp;esrc=3Ds&amp;source=3Dweb&amp;cd=3D&amp;cad=3Drja&amp;uact=3D=
8&amp;ved=3D2ahUKEwiPsviz0uSDAxUYRDABHbJ2COUQFnoECBEQAQ&amp;url=3Dhttps%3A%=
2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Fconsumer-alerts%2F2023%2F02%2Fdid-your-favorite-sha=
rk-tank-celebrity-really-endorse-probably-not&quot;]],[&quot;a&quot;,[&quot=
;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
fact-check-false-claim-shark-tank-judges-endorsed-keto-diet-pill/6035141001=
/&quot;]]],&quot;sections&quot;:[[1,&quot;h3&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Sponsored=
results and =E2=80=9Cverified=E2=80=9D advertisers&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quo=
t;,[[0,[],0,&quot;The first four =E2=80=9Csearch=E2=80=9D results that gree=
ted us when we searched for =E2=80=9Cshark tank keto=E2=80=9D weren=E2=80=
=99t a warning &quot;],[0,[0],1,&quot;from the FTC about fake endorsements&=
quot;],[0,[],0,&quot;. Or a USA Today story that Google itself breaks out &=
quot;],[0,[1],1,&quot;into a fact check&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot;.&quot;]]]]}">=
=20
<div>=20
<h3 style=3D"padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align=
: left; line-height: 130%; color: inherit; word-wrap: normal; font-weight: =
400; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 28px; font-family=
: Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style=3D"font-size: 18pt;=
font-family: Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;">Sponsored results and =E2=
=80=9Cverified=E2=80=9D advertisers</span></strong></h3>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,=
sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-botto=
m: 10px;">The first four =E2=80=9Csearch=E2=80=9D results that greeted us w=
hen we searched for =E2=80=9Cshark tank keto=E2=80=9D weren=E2=80=99t a war=
ning <a href=3D"[link removed]
3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UEzO8M_e160E1=
Wyk8Ke5Jvs=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight:=
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">from the FTC abo=
ut fake endorsements</a>. Or a USA Today story that Google itself breaks ou=
t <a href=3D"[link removed]
Oe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UL9f-WMBp0hxk4g2=
5MtKUSA=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: in=
herit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">into a fact check</=
a>.</p>=20
</div>=20
</div>=20
</div></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last image" styl=
e=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word=
-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">
<!--[if mso]><center><![end-if]-->
<img class=3D"align-center" src=3D"[link removed]
eoncrm.com/neon/resource/checkmyads/images/results1.png" alt=3D"Sponsored s=
earch results for " width=3D"600" align=3D"center" style=3D"outline: none; =
text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; cl=
ear: both; display: block; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; float: none; tex=
t-align: center; height: auto;"><!--[if mso]></center><![end-if]-->
</figure></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><p sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><em><span styl=
e=3D"font-size: 10pt;">Sponsored search results for "shark tank keto."</spa=
n></em></p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<div data-mobiledoc=3D"{&quot;version&quot;:&quot;0.3.2&quot=
;,&quot;atoms&quot;:[],&quot;cards&quot;:[],&quot;markups&quot;:[[&quot;a&q=
uot;,[&quot;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
/09/16/scams-search-ads/&quot;]],[&quot;strong&quot;],[&quot;a&quot;,[&quot=
;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
en&quot;]],[&quot;a&quot;,[&quot;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
m/adspolicy/answer/2464998?hl=3Den&amp;ref_topic=3D1626336&quot;]],[&quot;a=
&quot;,[&quot;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
0/google-display-network-targeting&quot;]],[&quot;em&quot;],[&quot;a&quot;,=
[&quot;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
&quot;]],[&quot;a&quot;,[&quot;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
gle.com/advertiser/AR13571752576939982849?region=3Danywhere&quot;]]],&quot;=
sections&quot;:[[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Instead, it was sponsored r=
esults that said things like, =E2=80=9CTop 5 Shark Tank Keto Gummies=E2=80=
=9D and =E2=80=9CKeto As Seen On Shark Tank.=E2=80=9D Results that Google g=
ets paid for if someone clicks the link.&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0=
,&quot;Google knows this is a problem, telling the &quot;],[0,[0],1,&quot;W=
ashington Post&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot; =E2=80=94 &quot;],[0,[1],1,&quot;in 20=
22&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot; =E2=80=94 that it was trying to address scam ads. =
A spokesperson said the company increased advertiser verification processes=
and their capacity to detect and remove coordinated scams.&quot;]]],[1,&qu=
ot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;In 2021, Google blocked or removed =E2=80=9C38.1 =
million ads for =E2=80=98&quot;],[0,[2],1,&quot;misrepresentation&quot;],[0=
,[],0,&quot;=E2=80=99 and 58.9 million ads for violating its &quot;],[0,[3]=
,1,&quot;financial services policies&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot;, both before and=
after they ran,=E2=80=9D the spokesman told the Washington Post.&quot;]]],=
[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;That may sound like a lot, but it=E2=80=99s=
minuscule for a company that serves &quot;],[0,[4],1,&quot;trillions of ad=
s a month&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot;, according to marketing company WordStream.=
How many ads is Google failing to catch? Does =E2=80=9Cverification=E2=80=
=9D even do anything? Because many of the scam advertisers we found actuall=
y &quot;],[0,[5],1,&quot;were&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot; verified by Google.&quo=
t;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;We documented sponsored scam posts fr=
om Malta-based Noventa Ventures Ltd., Arizona-based Sapphire Media Group LL=
C, and Spain-based Kravio Rocket S.L. =E2=80=94 all verified.&quot;]]],[1,&=
quot;p&quot;,[[0,[6],1,&quot;Google says&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot; =E2=80=9Cwe =
will pause your account immediately =E2=80=A6 if we suspect your ads violat=
e our Google Ads policies, including misleading representation.=E2=80=9D It=
seems their definition of =E2=80=9Cimmediate=E2=80=9D is somewhat differen=
t from most people=E2=80=99s.&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Beca=
use we reported these advertisers to Google in mid-December. &quot;],[0,[1]=
,1,&quot;On Jan. 18, they were still running scam ads.&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot=
;Here=E2=80=99s some of Kravio Rocket=E2=80=99s inventory as of Jan. 18, as=
seen in the &quot;],[0,[7],1,&quot;Google Ads Transparency center&quot;],[=
0,[],0,&quot;.&quot;]]]]}">=20
<div>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">Instead, it was sponsored results that said things like, =E2=80=9C=
Top 5 Shark Tank Keto Gummies=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9CKeto As Seen On Shark T=
ank.=E2=80=9D Results that Google gets paid for if someone clicks the link.=
</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">Google knows this is a problem, telling the <a href=3D"[link removed]
.neonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/4Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3=
y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UKbp5oUugTmmY-unY0fSTXw=3D" style=3D"col=
or: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-=
align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Washington Post</a> =E2=80=94 <strong>in 20=
22</strong> =E2=80=94 that it was trying to address scam ads. A spokesperso=
n said the company increased advertiser verification processes and their ca=
pacity to detect and remove coordinated scams.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">In 2021, Google blocked or removed =E2=80=9C38.1 million ads for =
=E2=80=98<a href=3D"[link removed]
Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UAKoME7x1=
Qy1OACzdBwrU7s=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-wei=
ght: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">misrepresent=
ation</a>=E2=80=99 and 58.9 million ads for violating its <a href=3D"https:=
//api.neonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/4Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAl=
aoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UGFjWdYp5FraErnBvfJsvUA=3D" style=
=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0=
; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">financial services policies</a>, bot=
h before and after they ran,=E2=80=9D the spokesman told the Washington Pos=
t.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">That may sound like a lot, but it=E2=80=99s minuscule for a compan=
y that serves <a href=3D"[link removed]
ink/4Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UDdr=
Rw9eqqK_idrard6n4lM=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; fon=
t-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">trillio=
ns of ads a month</a>, according to marketing company WordStream. How many =
ads is Google failing to catch? Does =E2=80=9Cverification=E2=80=9D even do=
anything? Because many of the scam advertisers we found actually <em>were<=
/em> verified by Google.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">We documented sponsored scam posts from Malta-based Noventa Ventur=
es Ltd., Arizona-based Sapphire Media Group LLC, and Spain-based Kravio Roc=
ket S.L. =E2=80=94 all verified.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;"><a href=3D"[link removed]
Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UIZ8ytwRD=
ljNBJkDZanNAXw=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-wei=
ght: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Google says<=
/a> =E2=80=9Cwe will pause your account immediately =E2=80=A6 if we suspect=
your ads violate our Google Ads policies, including misleading representat=
ion.=E2=80=9D It seems their definition of =E2=80=9Cimmediate=E2=80=9D is s=
omewhat different from most people=E2=80=99s.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">Because we reported these advertisers to Google in mid-December. <=
strong>On Jan. 18, they were still running scam ads. </strong>Here=E2=80=99=
s some of Kravio Rocket=E2=80=99s inventory as of Jan. 18, as seen in the <=
a href=3D"[link removed]
Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UEOPcFaINoUpqzgHUPS=
kHSE=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inher=
it; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Google Ads Transparenc=
y center</a>.</p>=20
</div>=20
</div></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last image" styl=
e=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word=
-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">
<!--[if mso]><center><![end-if]-->
<img class=3D"align-center" src=3D"[link removed]
eoncrm.com/neon/resource/checkmyads/images/transparencycenter.png" alt=3D"A=
database of ads Kravio Rocket is placing through Google that include the t=
itle " width=3D"600" align=3D"center" style=3D"outline: none; text-decorati=
on: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; clear: both; di=
splay: block; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; float: none; text-align: cent=
er; height: auto;"><!--[if mso]></center><![end-if]-->
</figure></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><p sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><em><span styl=
e=3D"font-size: 10pt;">A screenshot of the Google Ads Transparency Center, =
showing scam ads.</span></em></p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<div data-mobiledoc=3D"{&quot;version&quot;:&quot;0.3.2&quot=
;,&quot;atoms&quot;:[],&quot;cards&quot;:[],&quot;markups&quot;:[],&quot;se=
ctions&quot;:[[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;But even if someone avoids cl=
icking sponsored posts, scammers have other ways of popping up in Google se=
arch results.&quot;]]],[1,&quot;h3&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Imposter search res=
ults and fake pages on legitimate sites&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,=
&quot;Google says that its algorithm emphasizes sites it considers trustwor=
thy, such as ones from governments and universities. So it=E2=80=99s no sur=
prise that scammers find ways to exploit that fact to appear higher in sear=
ch results.&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;The first non-sponsore=
d result for =E2=80=9Cshark tank keto=E2=80=9D appears to be an article on =
the University of Pittsburgh=E2=80=99s website =E2=80=94 right above a legi=
timate result warning of the scam.&quot;]]]]}">=20
<div>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">But even if someone avoids clicking sponsored posts, scammers have=
other ways of popping up in Google search results.</p>=20
<h3 style=3D"padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; line-height: 130%; color: inherit; word-wrap: normal; font-weight: 4=
00; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 28px; font-family:=
Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style=3D"font-size: 18pt; =
font-family: Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;">Imposter search results and =
fake pages on legitimate sites</span></strong></h3>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">Google says that its algorithm emphasizes sites it considers trust=
worthy, such as ones from governments and universities. So it=E2=80=99s no =
surprise that scammers find ways to exploit that fact to appear higher in s=
earch results.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">The first non-sponsored result for =E2=80=9Cshark tank keto=E2=80=
=9D appears to be an article on the University of Pittsburgh=E2=80=99s webs=
ite =E2=80=94 right above a legitimate result warning of the scam.</p>=20
</div>=20
</div></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last image" styl=
e=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word=
-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">
<!--[if mso]><center><![end-if]-->
<img class=3D"align-center" src=3D"[link removed]
eoncrm.com/neon/resource/checkmyads/images/pittresult.png" alt=3D"The Unive=
rsity of Pittsburgh search result =E2=80=94 the first non-sponsored result =
in our search =E2=80=94 isn=E2=80=99t real. You can't actually visit the si=
te." width=3D"600" align=3D"center" style=3D"outline: none; text-decoration=
: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; clear: both; disp=
lay: block; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; float: none; text-align: center=
; height: auto;"><!--[if mso]></center><![end-if]-->
</figure></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<div data-mobiledoc=3D"{&quot;version&quot;:&quot;0.3.2&quot=
;,&quot;atoms&quot;:[],&quot;cards&quot;:[],&quot;markups&quot;:[],&quot;se=
ctions&quot;:[[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Yet the University of Pittsbu=
rgh page isn=E2=80=99t actually viewable =E2=80=94 if you go to the address=
directly ([link removed]
b-doCYI-thzzvrf), you get a message saying =E2=80=9Cthe requested page coul=
d not be found.=E2=80=9D&quot;]]]]}">=20
<div>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">Yet the University of Pittsburgh page isn=E2=80=99t actually viewa=
ble =E2=80=94 if you go to the address directly ([link removed]
u/fAHmgXG-wxaWd/anzr-bs-funex-gnax-xrgb-doCYI-thzzvrf), you get a message s=
aying =E2=80=9Cthe requested page could not be found.=E2=80=9D</p>=20
<div data-mobiledoc=3D"{&quot;version&quot;:&quot;0.3.2&qu=
ot;,&quot;atoms&quot;:[],&quot;cards&quot;:[],&quot;markups&quot;:[],&quot;=
sections&quot;:[[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;But what happens when you c=
lick the search result?&quot;]]]]}">=20
<div>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica=
,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align=
: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bott=
om: 10px;">But what happens when you click the search result?</p>=20
</div>=20
</div>=20
</div>=20
</div></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last image" styl=
e=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word=
-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">
<!--[if mso]><center><![end-if]-->
<img class=3D"align-center" src=3D"[link removed]
eoncrm.com/neon/resource/checkmyads/images/kellyclarksonad.png" alt=3D"An i=
mposter CBS News site using a photoshopped image of Kelly Clarkson to sell =
keto gummies." width=3D"600" align=3D"center" style=3D"outline: none; text-=
decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; clear: =
both; display: block; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; float: none; text-ali=
gn: center; height: auto;"><!--[if mso]></center><![end-if]-->
</figure></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><p sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style=3D=
"font-size: 10pt;"><em>A screenshot of a fake CBS page selling keto gummies=
.</em></span></p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<div data-mobiledoc=3D"{&quot;version&quot;:&quot;0.3.2&quot=
;,&quot;atoms&quot;:[],&quot;cards&quot;:[],&quot;markups&quot;:[[&quot;a&q=
uot;,[&quot;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
ps://afnethealthy.com/DIET/T33229/KellyCk/?cep=3DFtaDMxpX_LBKt09oMa2INA6ueW=
utLzqw-NST3PDVU9-aqGZzJO3oxSVYoM5853CKJ3J0Zx3G8xOtt0Uib0Ue-dvRMTg-gqe7QbvUP=
OXPJq_bJTNkiVnjSL926vedfpWM8Gya2fQVkOW4vBfy_n-kn3Uf7t8K2ajISh-GAbXZ2MvgtzxX=
ZPXREw7jkd53Tt7U7DuDJjwNFi1MhhxNlLNN_46p38w4jGUHuaxiF5m3hwBVAYYUgPxkwdeFapa=
4uJiXjkf7MWrthTSSYpK17ye3sazi0slMYNYijPJE6VNstOlMI0Y4dl1JYzX7HBPaj4g_MvtgU9=
1oKd7y7aZ_QwQGEfLwR8X-RCdnLoq1PaxNgGOOZsXilSUpgu8t89MJziPs1qc67PcVNzH3kNR0U=
p5kVw&amp;lptoken=3D17500532637c666d8343&quot;]],[&quot;a&quot;,[&quot;href=
&quot;,&quot;[link removed];]],[&quot;a&quot;,[&quot;=
href&quot;,&quot;[link removed];]],[&quot;a&quot;,[&qu=
ot;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed];]]],&quot;sections&quot;=
:[[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;You=E2=80=99re taken to an &quot;],[0,[0]=
,1,&quot;imposter CBS News site&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot; hawking keto gummies,=
but this time using a photoshopped image of Kelly Clarkson.&quot;]]],[1,&q=
uot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Why is Google indexing pages on legitimate sites=
that you can=E2=80=99t access but that still manage to send you to a site =
to swindle you? And then placing these nonexistent sites as the top search =
result, above warnings of the very scam Google is presenting to you as legi=
timate?&quot;]]],[1,&quot;h3&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Using Google Analytics to=
find victims&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;And thanks to Google=
, even if you click on one of the sponsored Shark Tank keto links and don=
=E2=80=99t buy anything, you=E2=80=99re still helping the scammers build a =
better mousetrap.&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Eight of the spo=
nsored search result sites we analyzed, including &quot;],[0,[1],1,&quot;to=
dayshealthreviews.com&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot;, &quot;],[0,[2],1,&quot;topveri=
fiedreveiws.com&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot;, and &quot;],[0,[3],1,&quot;sharp-rev=
iews.com&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot;, use Google Analytics or Tag Manager. They=
=E2=80=99re powerful tools that let sites track and better shape the ads an=
d content driving people to their sites.&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0=
,&quot;This helps them maximize their ad spend, getting the most bang for t=
heir buck (which, in this case, is fleecing people lured in by the promise =
of Shark Tank-approved weight loss drugs).&quot;]]],[1,&quot;h3&quot;,[[0,[=
],0,&quot;Getting paid by Google to promote fake products&quot;]]],[1,&quot=
;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Shark Tank keto scammers are also using another Goo=
gle tool to make money without ever actually selling anything =E2=80=94 AdS=
ense.&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Unscrupulous operators set u=
p what are called Made For Advertising (MFA) sites. They=E2=80=99re sites d=
esigned to look good to search engines and pull in money through running ad=
s when people visit them.&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;And when=
it=E2=80=99s Google placing those ads on MFA sites =E2=80=94 like we found=
on MFA sites including onlymyhealth.com =E2=80=94 it=E2=80=99s Google gett=
ing a cut of advertiser dollars to serve the ads.&quot;]]]]}">=20
<div>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">You=E2=80=99re taken to an <a href=3D"[link removed]
mails/tracking/click-link/4Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz=
-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UErSUO2iVzzaCRwCQvoyOfc=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text=
-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line=
-height: 1.5;">imposter CBS News site</a> hawking keto gummies, but this ti=
me using a photoshopped image of Kelly Clarkson.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">Why is Google indexing pages on legitimate sites that you can=E2=
=80=99t access but that still manage to send you to a site to swindle you? =
And then placing these nonexistent sites as the top search result, above wa=
rnings of the very scam Google is presenting to you as legitimate?</p>=20
<h3 style=3D"padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; line-height: 130%; color: inherit; word-wrap: normal; font-weight: 4=
00; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 28px; font-family:=
Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style=3D"font-size: 18pt; =
font-family: Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;">Using Google Analytics to fi=
nd victims</span></strong></h3>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">And thanks to Google, even if you click on one of the sponsored Sh=
ark Tank keto links and don=E2=80=99t buy anything, you=E2=80=99re still he=
lping the scammers build a better mousetrap.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">Eight of the sponsored search result sites we analyzed, including =
<a href=3D"[link removed]
9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UDsD-E2zl9D-tM_r78=
AXyTQ=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inhe=
rit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">todayshealthreviews.c=
om</a>, <a href=3D"[link removed]
tq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UAbCN1Z79R=
wbtabp70aFRIQ=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weig=
ht: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">topverifiedre=
veiws.com</a>, and <a href=3D"[link removed]
ick-link/4Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-=
0UOar5jO2F9JLUiKpbfh1tFg=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none=
; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">sh=
arp-reviews.com</a>, use Google Analytics or Tag Manager. They=E2=80=99re p=
owerful tools that let sites track and better shape the ads and content dri=
ving people to their sites.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">This helps them maximize their ad spend, getting the most bang for=
their buck (which, in this case, is fleecing people lured in by the promis=
e of Shark Tank-approved weight loss drugs).</p>=20
<h3 style=3D"padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; line-height: 130%; color: inherit; word-wrap: normal; font-weight: 4=
00; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 28px; font-family:=
Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style=3D"font-family: Mont=
serrat, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Getting paid by Google to pr=
omote fake products</span></strong></h3>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">Shark Tank keto scammers are also using another Google tool to mak=
e money without ever actually selling anything =E2=80=94 AdSense.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">Unscrupulous operators set up what are called Made For Advertising=
(MFA) sites. They=E2=80=99re sites designed to look good to search engines=
and pull in money through running ads when people visit them.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">And when it=E2=80=99s Google placing those ads on MFA sites =E2=80=
=94 like we found on MFA sites including onlymyhealth.com =E2=80=94 it=E2=
=80=99s Google getting a cut of advertiser dollars to serve the ads.</p>=20
</div>=20
</div></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last image" styl=
e=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word=
-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">
<!--[if mso]><center><![end-if]-->
<img class=3D"align-center" src=3D"[link removed]
eoncrm.com/neon/resource/checkmyads/images/onlymyhealthad.png" alt=3D"An ar=
ticle titled " width=3D"600" align=3D"center" style=3D"outline: none; text-=
decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; clear: =
both; display: block; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; float: none; text-ali=
gn: center; height: auto;"><!--[if mso]></center><![end-if]-->
</figure></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><p sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><em><span styl=
e=3D"font-size: 10pt;">An MFA site running Google ads on fake Shark Tank co=
ntent.</span></em></p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<div data-mobiledoc=3D"{&quot;version&quot;:&quot;0.3.2&quot=
;,&quot;atoms&quot;:[],&quot;cards&quot;:[],&quot;markups&quot;:[[&quot;str=
ong&quot;],[&quot;em&quot;],[&quot;a&quot;,[&quot;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
www.wsj.com/articles/google-and-metas-advertising-dominance-fades-as-tiktok=
-netflix-emerge-11672711107&quot;]],[&quot;a&quot;,[&quot;href&quot;,&quot;=
[link removed]
arnings-release.pdf&quot;]],[&quot;a&quot;,[&quot;href&quot;,&quot;[link removed]
lorigreiner.com/beware-of-fake-ads/&quot;]]],&quot;sections&quot;:[[1,&quot=
;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;We even found an MFA site in our sponsored search r=
esults for Shark Tank keto. That means Google could get paid at least &quot=
;],[0,[0],1,&quot;two times&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot; for scam sites: Once when=
we clicked on the sponsored link, and again when the target site loaded ad=
s. And if we were to click on the ads on the MFA site? &quot;],[0,[1],1,&qu=
ot;Google would pay the scammer and also get paid a third time.&quot;]]],[1=
,&quot;h3&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Google=E2=80=99s lack of incentives&quot;]]]=
,[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;What incentive does Google have to fix all=
this? It gets paid to run sponsored ads. It gets paid when scam sites load=
ads through its AdSense network. If it fixes the problem, it loses money =
=E2=80=94 and market share =E2=80=94 on two fronts.&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quo=
t;,[[0,[],0,&quot;Google &quot;],[0,[2],1,&quot;captures almost 30 percent&=
quot;],[0,[],0,&quot; of the entire US digital advertising market. It has n=
early $300 billion in annual revenue. And in the third quarter of 2023, it =
made &quot;],[0,[3],1,&quot;$44 billion from search ads alone&quot;],[0,[],=
0,&quot; =E2=80=94 the very product that seems to be so easily manipulated.=
&quot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;How does Google address this issu=
e? Shark Tank producer Clay Newbill has a place to start: =E2=80=9CThey sho=
uld donate their profits from these sites to stopping scammers.=E2=80=9D&qu=
ot;]]],[1,&quot;p&quot;,[[0,[],0,&quot;But unless Google gets its act toget=
her, we=E2=80=99d all better get used to seeing things like this in search =
results: Shark Tank investor &quot;],[0,[4],1,&quot;Lori Greiner pleading f=
or people not to fall for diet scams&quot;],[0,[],0,&quot;, surrounded by t=
he very scams she=E2=80=99s warning about.&quot;]]]]}">=20
<div>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">We even found an MFA site in our sponsored search results for Shar=
k Tank keto. That means Google could get paid at least <strong>two times</s=
trong> for scam sites: Once when we clicked on the sponsored link, and agai=
n when the target site loaded ads. And if we were to click on the ads on th=
e MFA site? <em>Google would pay the scammer and also get paid a third time=
.</em></p>=20
<h3 style=3D"padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; line-height: 130%; color: inherit; word-wrap: normal; font-weight: 4=
00; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 28px; font-family:=
Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style=3D"font-size: 18pt; =
font-family: Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;">Google=E2=80=99s lack of inc=
entives</span></strong></h3>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">What incentive does Google have to fix all this? It gets paid to r=
un sponsored ads. It gets paid when scam sites load ads through its AdSense=
network. If it fixes the problem, it loses money =E2=80=94 and market shar=
e =E2=80=94 on two fronts.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">Google <a href=3D"[link removed]
-link/4Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UC=
uLxHpXT2ungsEEXXFCnQg=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; f=
ont-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">captu=
res almost 30 percent</a> of the entire US digital advertising market. It h=
as nearly $300 billion in annual revenue. And in the third quarter of 2023,=
it made <a href=3D"[link removed]
Utq-3jPOe9Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UAQz58NJW=
BLGCahq0r7CHfg=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-wei=
ght: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">$44 billion =
from search ads alone</a> =E2=80=94 the very product that seems to be so ea=
sily manipulated.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">How does Google address this issue? Shark Tank producer Clay Newbi=
ll has a place to start: =E2=80=9CThey should donate their profits from the=
se sites to stopping scammers.=E2=80=9D</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;">But unless Google gets its act together, we=E2=80=99d all better g=
et used to seeing things like this in search results: Shark Tank investor <=
a href=3D"[link removed]
Rs4P_JPp34CsHPAlaoJL3y2Zswe7KfWo=3D/Qz-eZ4f8aNpsEiMPS1-0UNvn4QY35PPdSmmH5Tx=
jEnE=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inher=
it; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Lori Greiner pleading =
for people not to fall for diet scams</a>, surrounded by the very scams she=
=E2=80=99s warning about.</p>=20
</div>=20
</div></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last image" styl=
e=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word=
-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">
<!--[if mso]><center><![end-if]-->
<img class=3D"align-center" src=3D"[link removed]
eoncrm.com/neon/resource/checkmyads/images/loriwarning.png" alt=3D"A search=
result titled " width=3D"600" align=3D"center" style=3D"outline: none; tex=
t-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; clear=
: both; display: block; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; float: none; text-a=
lign: center; height: auto;"><!--[if mso]></center><![end-if]-->
</figure></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #F7F6EE; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
<div data-mobiledoc=3D"{&quot;version&quot;:&quot;0.3.2&quot=
;,&quot;atoms&quot;:[],&quot;cards&quot;:[],&quot;markups&quot;:[],&quot;se=
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Google is getting fat off fake weight loss gummies

Google is spoon-feeding fake “Shark Tank approved” weight loss gummy candies to innocent people — and making money doing it. The search giant’s monopoly power in the ad industry apparently lets them profit off allowing scam ads to flourish, with no consequences.

Mark Cuban and a Shark Tank producer spoke to us about how Google’s lax adherence to its own policies hurts innocent people, the Shark Tank brand, and the reputations of the sharks themselves.



A fake ABC site advertising Shark Tank-endorsed keto gummies, a product that does not exist.

Back in November, Check My Ads cofounder Nandini Jammi got scammed by a fake shoe ad. When she later riffed on Cuban's frustrations with online advertising, he reached out and asked us to look into a similar scam with fake Shark Tank keto gummies.

“I get heartbreaking emails from people who ask me why they don’t work. How they are overweight and really trusted my brand or the Shark Tank brand when they made the purchase,” he told Check My Ads.

In some cases these scam companies continue charging their victims after the fact, putting more financial strain on their victims who often cannot afford them, he added. “It’s just awful and it’s been going on for years now.”

We analyzed the page 1 results for the keywords "shark tank keto,” looking at 22 sponsored links and non-sponsored search results, and found Google enabling scammers in four ways:

Google is doing business with scammers, letting them pay for scam links to be higher in search results so more people will click. Every click makes Google money.

Google indexes fake pages set up by scammers on legitimate sites, so that they show up higher in search results.

Google makes its own tools available to scammers, letting them better target their victims.

Google sometimes pays successful scam sites, and gets paid for it, too.

These scams have a cost beyond the financial. They can damage brands, general trust, and most importantly, people. Google has let thousands become victims of this scam for too long.
Sponsored results and “verified” advertisers

The first four “search” results that greeted us when we searched for “shark tank keto” weren’t a warning from the FTC about fake endorsements. Or a USA Today story that Google itself breaks out into a fact check.



Sponsored search results for "shark tank keto."

Instead, it was sponsored results that said things like, “Top 5 Shark Tank Keto Gummies” and “Keto As Seen On Shark Tank.” Results that Google gets paid for if someone clicks the link.

Google knows this is a problem, telling the Washington Post — in 2022 — that it was trying to address scam ads. A spokesperson said the company increased advertiser verification processes and their capacity to detect and remove coordinated scams.

In 2021, Google blocked or removed “38.1 million ads for ‘misrepresentation’ and 58.9 million ads for violating its financial services policies, both before and after they ran,” the spokesman told the Washington Post.

That may sound like a lot, but it’s minuscule for a company that serves trillions of ads a month, according to marketing company WordStream. How many ads is Google failing to catch? Does “verification” even do anything? Because many of the scam advertisers we found actually were verified by Google.

We documented sponsored scam posts from Malta-based Noventa Ventures Ltd., Arizona-based Sapphire Media Group LLC, and Spain-based Kravio Rocket S.L. — all verified.

Google says “we will pause your account immediately … if we suspect your ads violate our Google Ads policies, including misleading representation.” It seems their definition of “immediate” is somewhat different from most people’s.

Because we reported these advertisers to Google in mid-December. On Jan. 18, they were still running scam ads. Here’s some of Kravio Rocket’s inventory as of Jan. 18, as seen in the Google Ads Transparency center.



A screenshot of the Google Ads Transparency Center, showing scam ads.

But even if someone avoids clicking sponsored posts, scammers have other ways of popping up in Google search results.
Imposter search results and fake pages on legitimate sites

Google says that its algorithm emphasizes sites it considers trustworthy, such as ones from governments and universities. So it’s no surprise that scammers find ways to exploit that fact to appear higher in search results.

The first non-sponsored result for “shark tank keto” appears to be an article on the University of Pittsburgh’s website — right above a legitimate result warning of the scam.



Yet the University of Pittsburgh page isn’t actually viewable — if you go to the address directly ([link removed]), you get a message saying “the requested page could not be found.”

But what happens when you click the search result?



A screenshot of a fake CBS page selling keto gummies.

You’re taken to an imposter CBS News site hawking keto gummies, but this time using a photoshopped image of Kelly Clarkson.

Why is Google indexing pages on legitimate sites that you can’t access but that still manage to send you to a site to swindle you? And then placing these nonexistent sites as the top search result, above warnings of the very scam Google is presenting to you as legitimate?
Using Google Analytics to find victims

And thanks to Google, even if you click on one of the sponsored Shark Tank keto links and don’t buy anything, you’re still helping the scammers build a better mousetrap.

Eight of the sponsored search result sites we analyzed, including todayshealthreviews.com, topverifiedreveiws.com, and sharp-reviews.com, use Google Analytics or Tag Manager. They’re powerful tools that let sites track and better shape the ads and content driving people to their sites.

This helps them maximize their ad spend, getting the most bang for their buck (which, in this case, is fleecing people lured in by the promise of Shark Tank-approved weight loss drugs).
Getting paid by Google to promote fake products

Shark Tank keto scammers are also using another Google tool to make money without ever actually selling anything — AdSense.

Unscrupulous operators set up what are called Made For Advertising (MFA) sites. They’re sites designed to look good to search engines and pull in money through running ads when people visit them.

And when it’s Google placing those ads on MFA sites — like we found on MFA sites including onlymyhealth.com — it’s Google getting a cut of advertiser dollars to serve the ads.



An MFA site running Google ads on fake Shark Tank content.

We even found an MFA site in our sponsored search results for Shark Tank keto. That means Google could get paid at least two times for scam sites: Once when we clicked on the sponsored link, and again when the target site loaded ads. And if we were to click on the ads on the MFA site? Google would pay the scammer and also get paid a third time.
Google’s lack of incentives

What incentive does Google have to fix all this? It gets paid to run sponsored ads. It gets paid when scam sites load ads through its AdSense network. If it fixes the problem, it loses money — and market share — on two fronts.

Google captures almost 30 percent of the entire US digital advertising market. It has nearly $300 billion in annual revenue. And in the third quarter of 2023, it made $44 billion from search ads alone — the very product that seems to be so easily manipulated.

How does Google address this issue? Shark Tank producer Clay Newbill has a place to start: “They should donate their profits from these sites to stopping scammers.”

But unless Google gets its act together, we’d all better get used to seeing things like this in search results: Shark Tank investor Lori Greiner pleading for people not to fall for diet scams, surrounded by the very scams she’s warning about.



Tomorrow, we’ll send out a template for us all to send to Google so that we can ask questions together. Keep your inbox open.

Stay safe on the internet!

Love,



Claire & Nandini

This email was sent to [email protected]. Click here to [link removed].