Google profit at risk from "click-fraud"

Google profit could have been from click-fraud according to Sam Gustin report in New York Post (via Seeking Alpha).

CLICK FRAUD CHAOS By SAM GUSTIN

January 29, 2006 -- Google's long-simmering click-fraud problem could explode into a billion-dollar headache for the Web giant, some Web marketing experts are warning.

In fact, a growing number of Google-watchers claim the search giant is ignoring the click-fraud issue because it's so large.

Click-fraud happens when surfers click on Goggle advertisers with no desire to get to the advertiser's site. Knowing Google charges advertisers based on how many surfers click on their ads, the fraudsters click on the ads simply to drive up the advertiser's costs.