Below is a list of ways in which people have been banned from Google AdSense, along with information on how to avoid it happening to you. Which can so easily happen, and in ways you'll be surprised about!

Don't click on your own ads

An obvious one this, yet people still do it. Google has the IP address of the computer, or computers that you've used to create and check your AdSense account. If it sees that same IP address clicking one of your ads. Yes you guessed it brainbox - you're in trouble! So don't do it. What your trying to do by clicking your own ads is plain and simple theft. Not from Google, but from the AdWords advertisers.

If you want to go to a site advertised in one of your ads - don't click on it, but instead look at the URL of the advertising site displayed at the bottom of the ad itself, and type it into your browser.

If you click on one of your ads accidentally (which does happen from time to time), you'll probably be OK - but it's worth dropping a quick eMail to Google with an explanation and an apology to be on the safe side.

Don't log in to AdSense from a shared computer.

As I pointed out above, Google keeps a record of every machines IP address used to log into your adsense account. If someone else was to click on your ads from the same machine. Google sees this as "click fraud". No matter who's behind the keyboard. This is worth bearing in mind when thinking of checking your adsense stats from somewhere else like an Internet Café for example.

Don't log in to your AdSense account from work.

Apart from getting in trouble with the company that employs you, there's also a further risk. Most companies use a proxy server to access the Internet. And most use a proxy server with "one IP Address". Therefore, checking your ads from work means this proxy IP address is being recorded by Google as one that you use to access your account. The problem is - if there are 1000 people in your company and they all log onto the internet using this same IP address and happen to find your site and click on the ads. Google can't differentiate between you and the other 999 employees in your company. If just one of these 999 work mates clicks your ads - you could be banned.

Don't get into a "I'll click your ads, if you click mine" agreement with another Webmaster.

As mentioned above; Google will have your IP address and that of every other AdSense publisher. If they see these IP addresses consistently clicking on each other ads - it's goodbye for the both of you. They ain't stupid!

Don't tell your friends and family.

Telling friends and family about your money making websites can lead to big problems. Even if you tell them not to click on your ads, there's always the chance somebody like "Auntie Maud" will think it sounds like a great idea to make some extra money for her favorite nephew. 100 clicks later from the same visitor and your account is screaming "Click Fraud" to Google, hence your banned.

Receiving clicks from illegal traffic.

Check the AdSense TOS for sources of traffic that aren't allowed by Google to visit your site. These include methods like Traffic exchange, PTC advertising, and Auto surf etc.

Do monitor your visitor and AdSense figures.

Check your account at least once a day. If you see a massive spike in click-thru's, coupled with a massive increase in Page CTR. Investigate the cause using your visitor stats website tools. If you see it's all coming from the same IP address. You could have been the victim of a malicious attack. Do yourself a favour and inform Google via email and offer them access to your logs. So they know your being honest and up-front with them. Instead of saying nothing, making them think click fraud is going on.