Policy Compliance Checklist

Fix Your Google Ads
Dishonest Behaviour
Violation

Tick off each item below to identify what's causing your suspension or warning — and exactly what you need to fix to get back running.

28 checks across 6 categories
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5 min to complete
Your Compliance Progress
0 / 28 Fixed
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🌐
Your Website & Landing Page
Google checks where your ad sends people — this is the #1 cause of violations
0/6
My website is working and loads properly
Your website must be live and fully accessible. If it's down, under maintenance, showing errors, or redirecting to a blank page — Google will flag it immediately.
Critical
My website clearly shows what my business sells or offers
Visitors should immediately understand what your product or service is. A confusing or vague homepage can trigger a "misleading content" violation.
Critical
My website has a real "Contact Us" page with actual contact details
Google requires businesses to have genuine contact information — a phone number, email, or physical address. A contact form alone may not be enough.
Critical
My website has a Privacy Policy page
This is non-negotiable. If you collect any information from users (even just an email address), you must have a clear Privacy Policy. No privacy policy = automatic violation.
Critical
My ad takes users to the same page it promises — not a different one
If your ad says "Buy Running Shoes" but sends people to a homepage about fitness gear, that's considered misleading. The landing page must match the ad's promise exactly.
Critical
My website does not automatically download files onto visitors' computers
If your site triggers any automatic downloads when someone lands on it, Google will suspend your account. All downloads must require the user's permission.
Critical
📝
Your Ad Text & Claims
The words in your ads must be honest, accurate and provable
0/5
My ads don't make false claims like "#1 in the world" or "100% guaranteed"
Superlative claims must be backed by evidence. If you can't prove it, remove it. Unverifiable claims are a top reason for dishonest behaviour flags.
Critical
My ad headline matches what's actually on the landing page
If your ad says "50% Off Today Only" but your landing page shows full price, that's dishonest. Every offer in your ad must be real and visible on the destination page.
Critical
My ads don't pretend to be from a government or official body
Ads that impersonate official organisations, government websites, or well-known brands to gain trust are a serious violation.
Critical
My ads don't use fake countdown timers or false urgency
Countdown timers that reset on every page load are considered deceptive. Only use urgency if the deadline or scarcity is 100% real.
Important
My display URL matches my actual website
The URL shown in your ad must represent your real domain. Using a fake or misleading display URL is an immediate violation.
Critical
💰
Prices, Offers & Promotions
Every price and discount you advertise must be real and available
0/4
The price shown in my ad matches the price on my website
If your ad shows "$29" but the product page shows "$49", that's a dishonest practice. Prices in ads must always match what's on the landing page.
Critical
My "sale" prices are real discounts from a genuine previous price
Inflating the original price just to show a bigger "discount" is a deceptive practice.
Critical
My promotions are available to everyone who clicks — no hidden conditions
If an offer requires a promo code or membership to access, this must be clearly stated in the ad. Hidden conditions are a common violation trigger.
Important
All fees and charges are shown clearly — no surprise costs at checkout
Hidden fees that only appear at checkout are considered deceptive. Either show the full price upfront or clearly state exclusions.
Important
🏢
Your Business Identity
Google must be able to verify that you are a real, legitimate business
0/5
My Google Ads account name matches my real business name
The business name in your Google Ads account should match your actual company name and what's displayed on your website.
Critical
I'm not pretending to be a different, more well-known brand
Using another company's brand name, logo, or trademark in your ads without authorisation is impersonation.
Critical
My business address and details are real and verifiable
If you've entered a business address in Google Ads, it must be a real, verifiable location. Virtual offices and fake addresses can cause suspensions.
Important
I haven't created multiple Google Ads accounts for the same business
Running the same business across multiple Google Ads accounts to get around a suspension is against the rules.
Critical
My customer reviews and testimonials are genuine
Fake reviews, purchased testimonials, or made-up star ratings are considered dishonest. Only display reviews from real customers.
Important
🔒
Data Collection & User Trust
How you collect and handle visitor data must be transparent
0/4
My website clearly tells visitors what information I collect from them
If you collect emails or any personal data, you must tell visitors upfront what you're collecting and why.
Critical
My lead forms don't have pre-ticked boxes signing people up to things they didn't choose
Pre-checked consent boxes are a deceptive pattern. Users must actively opt in to anything beyond the service they requested.
Important
My website does not use pop-ups that are impossible to close or that trick users into clicking
Pop-ups with fake "X" buttons or misleading "No thanks" links that actually subscribe people are deceptive UI tricks.
Important
I'm not collecting credit card details unnecessarily before showing prices
Asking for payment information before revealing the full cost is a red flag. Always show the complete price before requesting financial details.
Important
⚙️
Account & Technical Issues
Behind-the-scenes technical problems that trigger automatic flags
0/4
My website's domain is not copied from or confusingly similar to a famous brand
Using a domain like "gooogle-ads-help.com" to look like a legitimate company is cybersquatting — a serious policy violation.
Critical
My website doesn't redirect users to a completely different site after they click the ad
If clicking your ad redirects to a totally different website or domain, Google treats this as deceptive cloaking.
Critical
My ads are not showing different content to Google's review bots vs real users
Showing Google a "clean" version during review but something different to real visitors is cloaking — results in permanent account bans.
Critical
I have read and accepted Google Ads Terms & Conditions with my real identity
Your Google Ads account must be set up under your real identity. Using false names or someone else's identity is a violation.
Important

Still suspended after fixing these issues?

Google Ads policy violations can be complex and the appeal process is strict. I help businesses get their accounts reinstated — book your consultation.

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Built by Muhammad Umair — Performance Marketing Specialist
This checklist is based on Google's Dishonest Behaviour policy guidelines.
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