Click Fraud

Texarkana, TX: (Nov-20-07) A class action lawsuit was brought against Findwhat.com, a unit of MIVA Inc., alleging click fraud. Documents stated that the class included representatives from Lane's Gifts and Collectibles, US Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc., Savings 4 Merchants, and Caulfield Investigations, who brought the initial class action charges against Yahoo!, Overture Services, Inc., Time Warner, America Online, Netscape Communications Corporation, Ask Jeeves, Inc., Go.com, Google, Lycos, Inc., Looksmart, LTD, and Findwhat.com, Inc. in February 2005 in Judge Joe Griffin's Miller County Circuit Court. The suit alleged that the defendants, most of whom are either Internet search engines or providers of web search capabilities, sell Pay-Per-Click advertising. Plaintiffs claimed that they were penalized by having been charged and overcharged by defendants for pay-per-click advertising that was not generated by actual consumer clicks. They stated that the companies were aware of this and fraudulently concealed the overcharges to collect further revenue. Additional causes of action included in the plaintiffs' second amended complaint include breach of contract, unjust enrichment and civil conspiracy. Sources revealed that the class action reached a settlement, though terms of the deal are being kept confidential. [SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD: CLICK FRAUD]