> saying that Google spoofed the origin of their traffic

The discussion was about user agents, not origins.

>Fraud is gain by deception; simple.

The hell it is. Let me give you an actual definition of fraud:

  * a representation of an existing fact;
  * its materiality;
  * its falsity;
  * the speaker's knowledge of its falsity;
  * the speaker's intent that it shall be acted upon by the plaintiff;
  * the plaintiff's ignorance of its falsity;
  * the plaintiff's reliance on the truth of the representation;
  * the plaintiff's right to rely upon it; and
  * consequent damages suffered by the plaintiff.

Note in particular that if you don't harm someone there is no fraud.