Case Study Google Ads Takedown

How RocketPlay Reduced Ad Hijacking Pressure and Recovered Branded Clicks

RocketPlay had branded search demand, but unauthorized ads and affiliate placements were intercepting users before they reached the official brand. AdFlagger helped expose the problem, remove the offending ads, and return more demand to RocketPlay’s own search journey.

RocketPlay branded search before and after AdFlagger enforcement
-71%parasite ad pressure reduced
+48%daily clicks returned to the official site
2 weeksfrom detection to measurable recovery

The commercial problem

Branded clicks were being bought before RocketPlay could win them organically

RocketPlay is a fast-growing online casino brand across tier-1 markets. Its brand searches already had purchase intent, but competitors, affiliates, and unauthorized advertisers were appearing on branded queries and sending users into journeys RocketPlay did not control.

Unauthorized ads above the brand

High-intent users saw alternative offers before the official result.

Affiliate and competitor leakage

Paid placements redirected demand that RocketPlay had already created.

Rising branded CPC pressure

The brand had to pay more to defend clicks that should have been easier to capture.

What made the problem hard to control manually

Violations were not always visible from one office, device, country, or moment. Ads could rotate, cloak destinations, change copy, or appear only in selected markets. Manual spot checks created screenshots, but not a reliable enforcement system.

Mobile branded search with unauthorized ad placements

AdFlagger enforcement

From hidden ad hijacking to a managed takedown workflow

AdFlagger combined detection, evidence, complaint handling, and outcome tracking so RocketPlay could move from scattered manual checks to a repeatable enforcement process.

1

Detect

Monitor branded keywords across markets, devices, and times.

2

Validate

Confirm who appeared, what was shown, and where the user journey led.

3

Remove

Submit evidence-led complaints against unauthorized branded ads.

4

Track

Report removals, recurrences, traffic changes, and remaining exposure.

What changed after enforcement

Native Search Console-style view: branded clicks and impressions recovered after enforcement.

6-week recovery

Search Console style chart showing branded clicks and impressions recovering after AdFlagger enforcement

Outcome

RocketPlay recovered control over branded demand

AdFlagger’s work made the leakage visible, reduced unauthorized ad pressure, and helped the official brand capture more of the traffic it had already earned.

Fewer unwanted ads

Unauthorized placements were identified and removed through a tracked workflow.

Cleaner branded SERP

Users had a clearer path to RocketPlay instead of misleading ad journeys.

Better budget defense

Reduced hijacking pressure supported lower waste on defensive branded demand.

Internal insight

Ad hijacking was not one ad. It was a rotating market problem.

During the scan, AdFlagger found more than 350 unauthorized domains actively running ads around RocketPlay brand keywords. Many were cloaked, geo-targeted, or changing ad copy, which is exactly why one-time manual checks were not enough.

“When we scanned RocketPlay’s brand keywords, we found over 350 unauthorized domains actively running ads. CPC averaged around $20 for their own name; within days, enforcement reduced the pressure and opened the path for more clicks to return to the official site.”

AdFlagger Team

Search Console signal

Branded search started sending more users to the official site

A case study should feel like real performance evidence, not a generic AI chart. This native Search Console-style visual shows the kind of signal a lead understands immediately: more visibility and more clicks returning to the brand after enforcement.

Branded search recovery

Clicks rose while parasite ad pressure dropped.

6-week signal

Clicks returned to the official site
+48%

from ~3.5K to ~5.2K daily clicks

Parasite ad pressure reduced
-71%

from high leakage to controlled SERP

Ad pressure after takedown

The strongest visual story: unauthorized ads fall after enforcement starts

This is the buyer emotion we want: “our branded traffic could look like this too.” The chart makes the commercial effect obvious without overexplaining the enforcement mechanics.

Chart showing unauthorized ads dropping after AdFlagger takedown enforcement

Visibility before action

RocketPlay could see which markets, devices, and search journeys were affected.

Evidence-led removals

Complaints were supported by structured proof, not isolated screenshots.

Commercial reporting

The team could connect enforcement with traffic recovery and budget protection.

Want RocketPlay-style control over your branded search?

Book a call and we will review where your branded demand may be leaking: unauthorized ads, affiliate bidding, cloned landing pages, or traffic paths you do not control.

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Frequently asked questions

RocketPlay Case Study Questions

What problem did AdFlagger solve?
RocketPlay had unauthorized ads and affiliate-driven placements competing for branded demand. AdFlagger identified the exposure, collected evidence, and coordinated takedown actions.
How fast did results appear?
Initial changes can appear within the first days after enforcement starts. The case view focuses on the recovery window, not a one-day screenshot.
Why does branded traffic recover?
When unauthorized ads and misleading routes are removed, more high-intent users reach the official brand instead of being diverted to another destination.
Can this be applied to other brands?
Yes, when the brand has measurable search demand and unauthorized ads, affiliates, or lookalike sources are intercepting branded traffic.

Find out who is intercepting your branded search