MicrostockGroup

Unusual buying activity on my Istock account today.  I've sold 13 Larges, all for 2.40, and 8 XLs, all at $3.60. 

This is absolutely unheard of for me on a Saturday.  And the fact that they are all being purchased at the largest size, and for the same dollar amount makes it pretty clear it is the theft ring active again.   Looks like they are done with the Vetta and Agency files, and now are coming after non-exclusive ports. 

Anyone else noticing similar? 

Yes, all at $2.40 large and $3.60 XL.   

That looks fairly conclusive then (mine were all purchased at the largest size available too).

Maybe iStock has decided to give independents a boost towards next year's RC targets...

I have one of the sales today that was at the maximum size (L - it's an old file) at a $1.20 credit price. The sale was made at 1:20 this morning. The other sales for today are all smaller (good news and bad, I guess )

I can't report one sale as a potential fraud, but if some of you have a bunch of them are you going to report it to IS?

I've had five sales today, which isn't typical for a Saturday, but they are xs, smalls, mediums and larges, so no particular pattern. (I use Sean's script...thanks again Sean) On Thursday I had an EL, but not particularly out of character. I just figure buyers might be using up credits, hence the additional activity. Or maybe buyers are just buying non-exclusive files because they are cheaper. Who knows.

But I don't think I can report unusual activity, necessarily.

Sadly, no one wants to steal my files
I'm off the radar of the thieves. Is that good or bad, I don't know.

Based on several other contributors' comments in the IS thread, and my single suspect sale, home remodeling seems to have been the subject favored by this thief. I was happy, but my pride slightly wounded that the Boxing Day Heist didn't include any of my images

The idea that the image is probably going to end up on some server being downloaded for free is what really bugs me. Don't know how to get that fixed.

I had five sales on a Saturday, which is totally unusual, but none related to home remodeling. I am hoping they were legit sales, because I just put in for payout.

The situation appears to be in marked contrast to the way BigStock dealt with it (and that was over the Xmas period too). BigStock acted quickly, stopped the action of the thieves, kept us informed of events and adjusted our accounts, all in about 24 hours flat with no further issues reported. I think it probable that the same thieves would have been trying it on at other major agencies too (why wouldn't they?) but presumably were unsuccessful.

this one hasn't hit me, but I'm sure it's frustrating for those of you it is hitting. I'm really concerned about their IT/web programming strategies, or lack thereof. I don't fault the current techs so much as management for not having ample staff and provisions in place for this type of stuff. they're a huge, international web-based business. screwing with the website, major bugs lasting weeks on end, clients have restrictions on buying due to security breaches.....it's ridiculous.

they need to get their IT sh*t together.

don't worry.  precedent has already been set and you get to keep the money and all the RCs.