local-services-ads-fraud

Safer in one respect, not overall. LSA gives you a dispute channel where you can contest a specific charge with a reason, which Google Ads does not offer. But each unit costs far more, so a single bad lead hurts more than a single bad click. The exposure moves rather than disappearing, and most firms run both anyway.

It is possible, and it shows up as calls that run just past the billing threshold while containing nothing useful. The caller cannot describe their situation, the script repeats across different numbers, and the volume often rises after your ranking improves. Flag those at intake and dispute them while they are still within the window.

Google will not credit a genuine prospect who simply chose another firm, even though that stings. It also will not credit people seeking free advice, shoppers contacting several firms, or cases you decline to take. Those are real inquiries for your service. Disputes that do not fit one of the stated reasons are generally declined too.

No. They are separate systems. Google Ads issues automatic invalid click credits under detection criteria it does not publish, and that applies only to click-based campaigns. Local Services Ads charge per lead and handle bad leads through a dispute process you have to file yourself. Running both means working two different remedies.

Open the lead inside your LSA account, mark it as a bad lead, and select the reason that fits, such as wrong service, outside service area, spam, or a duplicate. File it promptly, because leads become ineligible after the submission window closes. Firms that review the past week every week recover far more than those disputing only when a bill looks wrong.