Now, with Android's growth in China and with more Chinese companies looking to advertise online, Google's decision to reverse course and invest more in China is a "pragmatic" one, said Mr. Alegre.

WSJ: Google Renews Push in China

Some even use doctored photographs to advertise their qualifications: one image online shows a group of students said to be from the non-existent Wuhan University of Industry and Commerce standing in Tiananmen Square the original photograph shows the same group under a banner proclaiming who they really are: students from the Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology.

ECONOMIST: Fake degrees

Retail marketers know they can advertise more efficiently if they can actually track and close the redemption loop from online browsing to offline buying.

FORBES: The Credit Card Is The New App Platform