HELP! - PPC Fraud by Advertiser - What Can Be Done!?!?

[PAPABEAR1126]

I am not sure how to proceed, maybe someone here can suggest something, PLEASE!

A client brought to my attention that ppc ads were found on various sites using my clients company name, a specific personal name, were the company name was in the sponsored listing header BUT when clicked, a scrapper ad site comes up with multiple competing sites being listed.

The ppc ads are being served through Yahoo.
I did a backlink check on the scrapper site and found the same ads on many other sites that offer up Yahoo PPC ads. The result showing my clients name in the header come up when searching my clients company name.

I also found some other companies in the same industry that this is happening to as well.
I am building a list of them and recording those ads too, by my clients request.

What recourse do we have?
What course of action would you suggest?

My thoughts are;
1. Contact Yahoo?
2. Contact the offending scrapper site registrant?
3. My client is wondering how much this has affected them financially, I am wondering how we can find that out?
I am thinking first;
3A. Contact a legal representitive to find out legal recourse if any?
3B. Contact Yahoo with the information and request click throughs for that ad?
Maybe this can be used to build a case for damages if the click through traffic is significant?
3C Contact the Hosting and Registrants of the offending scraper site?

What do you folks think?
Thanks!!!
Frank

[suzjor]

I would definitely contact yahoo. I would also suggested figuring out their registrar/webhost and contact them as well. Good luck!

[corneo]

You have to email them first. Keep records of everything. That way if it goes legal, you'll have copies. That way you can say "I tired to let them know what was wrong"