A client got an email this morning threatening legal action if they don’t take down copyrighted images (which are most certainly theirs).
So many reasons to figure out this is a fake
No last name for the photographer.. and a rude ending threat to legal action. It includes a link to download a file. I confirmed the fake-ness on the WedgwoodInsurance blog
And here’s what tipped me off to check more:
- Is the grammar right? Is the spelling right? Is it especially rude in the first email you got?
- Is your whole name there?
On this one, not only is a real name not used in the opening, but also there is no last name of the photographer.
Just like if you get a message from “your bank” that does not say, “Dear First and Last Name” (Obviously, your real first and last name). If the sender does not have access to the simplest of information, why suppose s/he has more sensitive info? - Be very afraid of attached documents, especially if they don’t really know who you are. Sometimes you can tell by just HOVERING your mouse over the link and it doesn’t look the same as what you see on the visible link.
Hi there!
This is Melisha and I am a professional photographer.
I was confused, frankly speaking, when I recognised my images at your web-site. If you use a copyrighted image without an owner’s approval, you should be aware that you could be sued by the copyright owner.
It’s illegal to use stolen images and it’s so low!
See this document with the links to my images you used at mysite.com and my earlier publications to get the evidence of my copyrights.
Download it right now and check this out for yourself: Link left off here
If you don’t get rid of the images mentioned in the document above within the next few days, I’ll file a to your hosting provider informing them that my copyrights have been severely infringed and I am trying to protect my intellectual property.
And if it doesn’t help, for damn sure I am going to take legal action against you! And you won’t receive the second notice from me.
