Author Topic: Strange Email about My Image (Read 15026 times)

angelawaye · « **Reply #25 on:** November 30, 2016, 09:07 »

I feel like if I delete the image I am admitting wrong but it has barely made me any money - less than $100. I couldn't work the entire day over this and the stress seems too much for me.

I emailed FAA but not SS. What are they getting out of this though? How does me removing the image give them money? Will they try something later on?

Pauws99 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 30, 2016, 09:09 »

Quote from: cobalt on November 30, 2016, 08:20

I would simply deny all allegations and tell them you are waiting for their "proof". And that you reserve the right to countersue for slander or any damages that occur to your business.

Most importantly i would contact FAA and SS. So that you write to them first.

Maybe they are trying this scam on many other artists and only FAA and SS can catch who is behind this.

If it were me I would contact FAA and SS and ignore their emails unless/until they take some formal legal action which I very much doubt. Its hard to just ignore I know but the more you engage with them the more they draw you in.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #27 on:** November 30, 2016, 09:11 »

Does the photo have any logos in it? This is weird.

angelawaye · « **Reply #28 on:** November 30, 2016, 09:17 »

I posted the photo on the first page - the only thing I can think of is the "addition" icons on the side. Can we not use those in images? I'm shocked if so ...

Pauws99 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 30, 2016, 09:27 »

If the email were genuinely from FAA wouldn't they have just taken the image down and banned you...? Its a scam try not to stress about it.

angelawaye · « **Reply #30 on:** November 30, 2016, 09:37 »

The photo is NOT on FAA. They used the FAA name to contact me. It came from the [email protected] email but when I logged into FAA it was not there. I'm not a fan of FAA but maybe a user can contact someone to an email address instead of on the site?

Also, if you google my name - my website is at the top so I don't know why they went this route of contacting me...

angelawaye · « **Reply #31 on:** November 30, 2016, 09:48 »

I made the photo in 2012. I've been google image searching to see if I can find anything similar with "add icons". I googled the girls name who emailed me and can't find anything either - still a hotmail account and no business signature. Maybe she is a designer and wants to use my "logo" and this is a way to make me get rid of it?

cathyslife · « **Reply #32 on:** November 30, 2016, 09:49 »

Quote from: angelawaye on November 30, 2016, 09:37

The photo is NOT on FAA. They used the FAA name to contact me. It came from the [email protected] email but when I logged into FAA it was not there. I'm not a fan of FAA but maybe a user can contact someone to an email address instead of on the site?

Also, if you google my name - my website is at the top so I don't know why they went this route of contacting me...

They took this route because scammers have a way of tapping into your email contacts and making it look like the email is coming from FAA. You wouldn't have opened it, or even got it if they used an unknown email because your spam filter might have caught it.

Or they have tapped into FAAs email and are using their contacts to scam people. I know this because I have a client whose email keeps getting hacked. I keep getting emails from a person who also works with that client. The first time I got one from her, the email was suspicious. I checked the headers and sure enough, it wasn't really from her. I got another one last week. I didn't even bother to open it. I marked it spam and deleted it immediately.

My suggestion is to just forget about this, like Pauws99 said. It's a scam. Change all the passwords on your accounts and email. Don't have any more contact with them. Delete all emails off your computer. Run a malware or spyware check on your computer. When you have done all that, go Christmas shopping!

angelawaye · « **Reply #33 on:** November 30, 2016, 09:58 »

Thanks Cathy

I always enjoy reading your comments on the site. I don't always respond to every post but I read the forum daily.

I want to contact SS but reluctant to "make a mess" on my account if it is just a scam. I guess it doesn't hurt to be proactive but I hear it takes weeks for them to get back to you.

The screenshots are ready to go ...

ravens · « **Reply #34 on:** November 30, 2016, 10:02 »

Sorry to hear about this scary incident that happened to you.
I agree with others, the Hotmail address and language they use spell SCAM. "Full proof", threats, simple language etc is just the kind of language spammers, scammers and phishers would use. They will make you feel like you have no options but to act quickly. If you clicked any link on the emails they sent, scan your emails and computer very carefully for malware, spyware and viruses like somebody already suggested.
If you have the materials that you used for the image, that's good, keep them, but I would not be worried if I were you. You know it is your image and you can easily prove it if necessary!

angelawaye · « **Reply #35 on:** November 30, 2016, 10:15 »

How are they making money from me removing it though - that is the part that has me worried...

There was no external link, no other action but for me to remove it. Unless they are planning something for later ...

Pauws99 · « **Reply #36 on:** November 30, 2016, 10:55 »

Quote from: angelawaye on November 30, 2016, 09:37

The photo is NOT on FAA. They used the FAA name to contact me. It came from the [email protected] email but when I logged into FAA it was not there. I'm not a fan of FAA but maybe a user can contact someone to an email address instead of on the site?

Also, if you google my name - my website is at the top so I don't know why they went this route of contacting me...

Sorry I misunderstood I noticed on FAA they have a contact us web page if you haven't already I would use that and see what they say.

Daniel Dash · « **Reply #37 on:** November 30, 2016, 11:09 »

Quote from: angelawaye on November 30, 2016, 10:15

How are they making money from me removing it though - that is the part that has me worried...

There was no external link, no other action but for me to remove it. Unless they are planning something for later ...

They can ask you later for some money to forget about case. Or they gonna send you some attachment (similar to document) with malware.
Do not open anything. Dont worry. Just ignore *insult removed*

AlessandraRC · « **Reply #38 on:** November 30, 2016, 11:43 »

They were talking about these e-mails on FAA forum. Go there. Many people got those, it is a hoax.

ShadySue · « **Reply #39 on:** November 30, 2016, 11:55 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on November 30, 2016, 09:27

If the email were genuinely from FAA wouldn't they have just taken the image down and banned you...? Its a scam try not to stress about it.

It is a scam, but as Jo-Anne and I noted above, there is a genuine system by which people can use FAA'S system to contact sellers but without giving away the seller's email address. One example of a reason they do this is to facilitate direct selling of artwork, as opposed to prints.
Obviously I don't know for a fact that Angela's wannabe scammer used the legit system any more than you know that they didn't.

illstudio · « **Reply #40 on:** November 30, 2016, 12:17 »

Probably a scam, but to what end on their end? Take down a pic? For what? Why?
Even if they sue, they would have to prove financial loss. How much have you made on a micro stock pic of our family?

Pauws99 · « **Reply #41 on:** November 30, 2016, 12:19 »

Quote from: ShadySue on November 30, 2016, 11:55

Quote from: Pauws99 on November 30, 2016, 09:27
If the email were genuinely from FAA wouldn't they have just taken the image down and banned you...? Its a scam try not to stress about it.
It is a scam, but as Jo-Anne and I noted above, there is a genuine system by which people can use FAA'S system to contact sellers but without giving away the seller's email address. One example of a reason they do this is to facilitate direct selling of artwork, as opposed to prints.
Obviously I don't know for a fact that Angela's wannabe scammer used the legit system any more than you know that they didn't.

h'mmm that doesn't seem very sensible approach gives spammers a way in. Sadly these days you have to be very careful about any emails you receive.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #42 on:** November 30, 2016, 12:20 »

Quote from: illstudio on November 30, 2016, 12:17

Probably a scam, but to what end on their end? Take down a pic? For what? Why?
n email

I suspect it will be followed by a nasty attachment in a that might cause all sorts of problems.

Desintegrator · « **Reply #43 on:** November 30, 2016, 12:24 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on November 30, 2016, 12:20

Quote from: illstudio on November 30, 2016, 12:17
Probably a scam, but to what end on their end? Take down a pic? For what? Why?
n email
I suspect it will be followed by a nasty attachment in a that might cause all sorts of problems.

Also getting the contributor's email address could be essential for a possible account breaking attempt. And they only have to make you reply them for that.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #44 on:** November 30, 2016, 12:49 »

Quote from: angelawaye on November 30, 2016, 09:17

I posted the photo on the first page - the only thing I can think of is the "addition" icons on the side. Can we not use those in images? I'm shocked if so ...

Sorry, first read the thread on my mobile and must not have waited for it to load.

I've got no idea what their problem is. Maybe they have a similar logo, maybe with the three plus signs?

sharpshot · « **Reply #45 on:** November 30, 2016, 13:08 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on November 30, 2016, 12:49

Quote from: angelawaye on November 30, 2016, 09:17
I posted the photo on the first page - the only thing I can think of is the "addition" icons on the side. Can we not use those in images? I'm shocked if so ...
Sorry, first read the thread on my mobile and must not have waited for it to load.

I've got no idea what their problem is. Maybe they have a similar logo, maybe with the three plus signs?

There's nothing wrong with the image, this is a scam. Easy to spot because they use bad English and a hotmail email address. Everyone should ignore these people or report them to the sites and let them deal with it.

angelawaye · « **Reply #46 on:** November 30, 2016, 14:09 »

Quote from: dash on November 30, 2016, 11:09

Quote from: angelawaye on November 30, 2016, 10:15
How are they making money from me removing it though - that is the part that has me worried...

There was no external link, no other action but for me to remove it. Unless they are planning something for later ...

They can ask you later for some money to forget about case. Or they gonna send you some attachment (similar to document) with malware.
Do not open anything. Dont worry. Just ignore *insult removed*

I bet in "2 days" I will get an email with a link or attachment for a "settlement". Don't worry, I won't click or download anything. Thank you so much for all your reassurance. So glad this forum exists ...

Kamran · « **Reply #47 on:** November 30, 2016, 14:25 »

Following is such hoax email which I received from a buyer/seller at fiverr. After reading email I become stressed and decided to reply. But then I ask myself, why not google about it. Google return many forums, where people discussing about same following email. Finally I deleted message and reported this fake general to fiverr support, who delete his account within few hours, which was created on that same day.

------------------------------------------------------
Hoax email
--------------
Hello my dear,
My name is General Nancy William, U. S. A. Army, is my pleasure to contact you after viewing your profile today, I wish to have undisclosed partnership with you, I hope you recontact me back Via the email below,
------------------------------------------------------
Therefore relax and ignore it.
If you further contact them, they may be successfully install any malware with the help of attachment (including ransomeware, which will encrypt your all drive data) afterward they will ask you for money for decrypting your locked data.

CJH Photography · « **Reply #48 on:** November 30, 2016, 16:31 »

Quote from: angelawaye on November 30, 2016, 08:12

Well, they responded and this is what they said:

"Sorry if you get me wrong that logo no the picture /image was stolen from us and we have full proof as to where you get it from ,so I'm asking you again to take it down or the next step is going to legal action 2 days"

I don't get it, "full proof"? I bet they are foreign so if they take legal action wouldn't they have to come where I am? They still haven't shown me their example or let me know the business name. It all seems so strange.

Maybe I should just delete it....

If they thought they had a legit claim, I would think they would send a DMCA take down to the owner of the site on which your image is posted. That could cause some issues if it went to one of the agencies.

CJH Photography · « **Reply #49 on:** November 30, 2016, 16:44 »

Quote from: angelawaye on November 30, 2016, 08:26

Counter-suing would mean I need to come up with a retainer for a lawyer and the way SS is going, I am making pennies.

Don't tell them that...just reserve the right. You seem like a very nice person, maybe a bit too nice.

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Author Topic: Strange Email about My Image (Read 15026 times)

angelawaye

Pauws99

Justanotherphotographer

angelawaye

Pauws99

angelawaye

angelawaye

cathyslife

angelawaye

ravens

angelawaye

Pauws99

Daniel Dash

AlessandraRC

ShadySue

illstudio

Pauws99

Pauws99

Desintegrator

Justanotherphotographer

sharpshot

angelawaye

Kamran

CJH Photography

CJH Photography

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