Why does Google Ads flag my payments as high risk?

Google Ads may flag payments as high risk for a variety of reasons. Here are some common ones:

Unusual Payment Activity: If Google detects unusual payment patterns, such as a sudden increase in spending or an attempt to use multiple payment methods in a short time, it might flag the account as high risk.

New or Unverified Payment Methods: If you're using a new or unverified payment method (such as a new credit card or PayPal account), Google might flag it as high risk, especially if it's being used for a larger-than-usual amount.

Suspicious or Invalid Billing Information: If your billing address, country, or other details don't match your payment method information or seem inconsistent with your previous transactions, Google may consider this high risk.

Payment History or Account Issues: If there have been issues with payments in the past—such as declined transactions, chargebacks, or a history of suspicious activity—Google may flag your account to prevent further issues.

High Volume of Ads: If you've rapidly scaled up your ad campaigns, Google may flag your account to verify that the ad spend is legitimate, especially if the campaigns appear to be targeting a broad audience or seem inconsistent with your usual ad patterns.

Geographical Discrepancies: If your payment method originates from a country that is not consistent with your Google Ads account or if it's from a high-risk region, it might raise flags. Google may have additional fraud prevention measures in place for certain locations.

Potential Fraudulent Activity: Google uses algorithms to detect fraudulent activities, including credit card fraud, suspicious activity tied to your account, or signs of account hacking. If any suspicious transactions are detected, they may flag your account for review.

Ad Content and Violations: If your ad content or the websites you're promoting are violating Google's policies, this can trigger a review and sometimes cause your payments to be flagged as high risk.

What to Do:
Contact Google Support: If your payment is flagged, reaching out to Google Ads support to clarify any issues is the best option. They can help you resolve the issue.

Review Your Payment Information: Ensure that your payment methods, billing information, and account details are accurate and up-to-date.

Verify Your Account: If you haven't already, you may need to verify your Google Ads account or payment methods to help reduce the risk of future flags.