How to Avoid Billing Ban When Copying Campaigns: Protecting Payment Data in Facebook and Google Ads

One of the most painful scenarios for an arbitrageur is when Facebook or Google Ads bans not just a single account, but all payment information. After this, the card you used to fund the ad account becomes unusable with that platform forever. This happens particularly often when copying (or "copying") advertising campaigns between accounts — the platforms have learned to track connections through billing data and ban entire sets of accounts in one go.

In this article, we will analyze the technical reasons for chain bans through billing, show how platforms link accounts through payment data, and provide specific instructions on how to protect your cards and accounts when scaling through copies.

What is a billing ban and why is it more dangerous than a regular account ban

A billing ban is a block imposed by the platform not on a specific advertising account, but on payment data: card number, PayPal account, bank account, or even the name of the cardholder. After such a ban, you cannot use this payment information in any new or existing advertising account on that platform.

The difference between a regular ban and a billing ban is critical:

For an arbitrageur working with 10-50 accounts, a billing ban means losing an entire segment of the farming structure. If one card is linked to 15 Facebook Ads accounts with a total daily budget of $3000, then a billing ban stops all of this traffic flow instantly. Additionally, the card itself becomes "dirty" — it cannot even be used to create a personal account on the platform.

This is especially painful for those who use corporate cards or cards in their own name — after a billing ban, your real data gets blacklisted by the platform, and circumventing this is more complicated than just buying a new account.

How Facebook and Google track connections through payment data

Advertising platforms use a multi-level system to link accounts through billing information. This is not just a comparison of card numbers — it is a comprehensive analysis of dozens of payment data parameters and behaviors.

Key billing tracking points

Facebook and Google use hashing of payment data — they do not store the full card number in plain text, but create a unique hash (digital fingerprint) based on a combination of parameters. If two accounts have the same or similar billing hash, the system automatically marks them as linked.

How chain bans work through billing

Let's imagine a typical scenario for an arbitrageur:

This is a classic chain ban. Platforms specifically look for such connections because one violator rarely works with just one account — usually, it is a farming structure. A billing ban allows them to "mow down" the entire farm in one action.

Why copying campaigns provokes chain bans

Copying (or "copying") advertising campaigns is a standard practice for scaling in arbitrage. You find a winning combination of creative + targeting in one account and duplicate it in 5-10 other accounts to increase traffic volumes. However, it is the copies that create the most vivid signals for the platforms' anti-fraud systems.

What platforms see when copying campaigns

When you copy a campaign from account A to account B, Facebook and Google record many identical parameters:

• Identical creatives: The same image/video file (checked via file hash, not name)
• Identical ad texts: Headlines, descriptions, CTAs — a match of even 80% is already a signal
• Similar targeting settings: The same interests, age, geo, placements
• Identical landing pages: URL of the landing page, especially if it is an aggressive offer
• Synchronous creation time: Campaigns in different accounts created within 5-30 minutes of each other
• Similar budgets: For example, all campaigns start at $50/day

Each of these factors alone is not critical. But when the algorithm sees 5-10 accounts with identical campaigns created almost simultaneously, plus finds a common element (like billing), it concludes: this is a coordinated network of accounts owned by one person, violating multi-accounting rules.

Billing as the main linking element when copying

The problem is that arbitrageurs have learned to isolate other parameters (IP, browser, creatives) through anti-detect browsers like Dolphin Anty or AdsPower and residential proxies. But billing often remains common — either because there aren't enough cards, or the arbitrageur does not understand the criticality of this connection.

Copying campaigns is not prohibited in itself, but it creates a bright pattern that prompts anti-fraud systems to look for connections between accounts. And if they find common billing — it becomes evidence of a violation, and chain ban is inevitable.

Billing isolation: account and card structure

Proper billing isolation is not just "one card per account." It is a thoughtful structure that takes into account risks, card costs, and your business processes. Let's consider different strategies from conservative to aggressive.

Strategy 1: Full isolation (1 card = 1 account)

The safest but most expensive approach. Each advertising account receives a unique card that is never used in other accounts.

This strategy is justified for expensive, warmed-up accounts with high trust scores or for working with aggressive offers (nutra, gambling, crypto), where the risk of a ban is initially high.

Strategy 2: Cluster isolation (1 card = 3-5 accounts)

A compromise option. You create clusters of 3-5 accounts, each cluster operates on a separate card. Within the cluster, accounts are linked by billing, but clusters are isolated from each other.

Key rules for cluster isolation:

• Do not copy campaigns between clusters: Copies are only allowed within one cluster (i.e., between accounts on the same card)
• Separate by risk level: Aggressive offers — in a separate cluster with a minimal number of accounts
• Use different proxies for clusters: Cluster A operates through a US proxy, cluster B — through Germany, etc.
• Stagger by time: Do not create all accounts in the cluster on the same day

When one account in a cluster gets banned, there is a risk of losing the entire cluster (3-5 accounts), but the other clusters will remain alive. This is a reasonable balance between card costs and safety.

Strategy 3: Card rotation over time

A more advanced method. You use one card for several accounts, but not simultaneously, rather sequentially with large time gaps.

This strategy works because platforms react more strongly to simultaneous use of billing across multiple accounts. If a card appears in a new account a month after being unlinked from the old one, the connection is less obvious.

However, there is still a risk: if one of the accounts where the card was used gets banned, the platform may analyze the history of that card and retroactively ban it, affecting the current account.

Setting up an anti-detect browser to work with different billings

Anti-detect browsers (Dolphin Anty, AdsPower, Multilogin, GoLogin) isolate fingerprints and cookies, but do not protect against linking through billing by themselves. However, proper organization of profiles in anti-detect helps avoid critical mistakes when working with cards.

Profile structure by billing clusters

Create a naming and tagging system for profiles that visually shows which billing is linked to which account. Example in Dolphin Anty:

This structure allows:

• To instantly see which profiles use the same billing (filter by tag [Billing-1234])
• To avoid accidentally copying a campaign between different clusters
• To quickly determine which other accounts are at risk in case of a ban
• To control that each cluster operates through its own pool of proxies

Setting up fingerprint for billing safety

Although fingerprint is not directly related to billing, there are parameters that platforms check when adding payment information:

It is especially important: when first adding a card to an account, DO NOT CHANGE the fingerprint of that profile for at least 30 days. Platforms remember from which "device" the payment method was linked, and if a week later the same account logs in with a completely different fingerprint — this is a signal of compromise or account transfer.

The role of proxies in protecting payment data

Proxies do not directly protect billing — platforms link accounts through card numbers, not through IPs. But proper use of proxies reduces the likelihood that the anti-fraud system will start looking for connections through billing.

IP when adding payment information

When you link a card to an advertising account, the platform records the IP address from which this was done. This IP becomes part of the "profile" of the payment data. Critical rules:

The correct approach:

• One proxy = one billing: If accounts A, B, and C use card **1234, all three must operate through the same proxy (or at least one subnet)
• Different clusters = different proxies: Cluster with card **1234 operates through a US proxy, cluster with card **5678 — through a UK proxy
• Do not change proxies during billing operations: Adding a card, changing limits, funding — always from the same IP as the main account operations

What type of proxy to choose for working with billing

For tasks related to payment data, only residential and mobile proxies are suitable. Datacenter proxies are too easily detected and are often already blacklisted by payment systems.

A feature of working with residential proxies: many providers offer IP rotation (IP changes every 5-30 minutes). This is not suitable for billing — you need a sticky IP that remains for the entire session or even for several days.

Proxy mistakes that expose billing

Typical mistakes made by arbitrageurs when working with proxies and payment methods:

• Using one proxy for all accounts: All your accounts log in from one IP → the platform links them → finds different billings → suspicion of multi-accounting → bans
• Frequent IP changes within a session: Added a card with IP 1.1.1.1, 10 minutes later funded with IP 2.2.2.2 → the platform sees an anomaly → checks billing → possible ban
• Mismatch between geo proxy and card: Card issued in the USA, billing address in New York, but you are working through an Indian proxy → 3D Secure will not pass, the card will be blocked
• Reusing a "dirty" IP: The proxy was already used for a banned account → new account with a new card through this IP → connection through IP reputation → preventive ban

Proxies are not a protection for billing, but a tool for isolation. They should work in conjunction with the correct structure of cards and accounts, not replace it.

Safe campaign copying workflow

Now let's put everything together into a single process: how to copy successful campaigns between accounts while minimizing the risk of a chain ban through billing.

Step 1: Preparing the infrastructure

Before you start copying, make sure you have the correct structure ready:

Step 2: Identifying the donor and recipients

Suppose you have a successful campaign in account ACC-001 (Cluster A, card **1234). You want to scale by copying it to other accounts.

Safe copying options:

This way, you minimize the risk of being flagged as a coordinated network while still scaling your successful campaign.

Step 3: Monitoring and adjusting

After launching the copied campaigns, closely monitor their performance and the status of the accounts. Be ready to make adjustments if you notice any signs of potential issues or bans.

Regularly review your billing practices and account structures to ensure they remain compliant with platform policies and minimize risks.

What to do if billing has already been banned

If you find yourself in a situation where your billing has been banned, the first step is to assess the extent of the damage. Identify which accounts are affected and whether you can recover any of them.

Consider using new payment methods and creating new accounts, but ensure that you follow the best practices outlined in this guide to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

It may also be beneficial to consult with experts or communities that specialize in arbitrage to gain insights and strategies for recovery.

Conclusion

Navigating the complexities of billing and account management in advertising platforms requires careful planning and execution. By understanding the risks associated with billing bans and implementing effective strategies for isolation and protection, you can safeguard your campaigns and maintain a successful arbitrage operation.