Share my problem on IS with you

japonchik

New Member

« on: October 30, 2009, 06:06 »

#link

Hello,
Somebody advise me to post my problem here.

So, on the 20th of October I received e-mail from iStockphoto:

Quote

Reports from our system show that a large number of accounts have been opened in your geographical location that are redeeming free exclusive Moo card credits, downloading your files exclusively and then not logging in again. We would of course appreciate your comments on this matter, but it does appear that you have breached section 9B of the Artist Supply Agreement where you have agreed not to collude with other members to download your files exclusively.

Take note “in your geographical location”

I explained to IS that many peoples have my cards and I don not how they used theirs. I gave many cards participants of international conferences, students of our Institute, camera shop assistance, travel agents, hotel managers, staff of consulate of my country in Japan, etc.

Next message I received one week later:

Quote

Although this may not have been your intent, this is considered to be a breach of your agreement with us. As well, this breach is part of an agreement that you have agreed to, therefore you are responsible for these actions. In addition to this, the breach that you have participated in has resulted in earnings in your account which additional reports show to be $593.70…
Your account will remain suspended for this period of time and the earnings in your account ($75.85) will be held to offset the amount owing to us. As per the membership agreement (again which you have agreed to) this termination does not alleviate you from the amount owing to us. The total of this is $517.85.

I asked to send me stats and got:

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There were a total of 808 downloads through members soley downloading your files, all through credits obtained through MOO cards…
199 Moo cards were used to download these files. All credits from all moo cards were used to solely download your files. The total credits issued with 199 Moo cards is 1990 with credits valued at $1 each…
Geographical location does vary, however the entirety of the credits issued through all cards were used to solely download your files.

Take note: Geographical location does vary

I paid the damages ($517.85) via PayPal and in the evening at home recount all my Moo cards. Unbelievable, but I have 279 unused cards of 400 (Moo cards were ordered 2 times by 200, total 400). 3 cards gave away last week after locking my account, 1 cards used myself and I can not download own images, in 1 cards used by my wife and my friend, they also did not download my images. Any students said that they did not use my cards for registration on IS. Probably, 115 cards gave away (not 199 as mentioned above), but I am not sure did anybody registered on iStockphoto and used my Moo cards and those who registered, not everyone, on IS might buy my images. I want to pay attention, I don’t know did somebody register on IS and got 10 free credits to buy images or no, and I never collude with other members to download only my files.

So, I paid the damages for using not my Moo cards and also my Moo cards. My account still locked.

Finnaly:
1)   Somebody used my Moo-cards to by my images – I am an accomplice and I have to return damage;
2)   Somebody used not my Moo-cards to by my images – I am also the accomplice and I also to return damage.
3)   Something, I don’t know, because I am under stress.

P.S. Sorry for my English.


« Last Edit: October 30, 2009, 06:10 by japonchik »	Ignore \| Logged

sjlocke

« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2009, 06:23 »

#link

I would have to agree that 199 people signing up and only using their free credits to download your files and not a single other file, looks very suspicious.


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gostwyck

« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2009, 06:31 »

#link

It seems fairly obvious to me they caught you trying to game the system and have taken the appropriate action. Didn't you just visit lots of internet cafes (or other's computers), created new accounts and then downloaded your own stuff? Are you really trying to claim that it's all an extraordinary coincidence?


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« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2009, 06:38 »

#link

What is a MOO card?


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alias

« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2009, 06:44 »

#link

? These are the same '10 free credits' codes which people give away on their websites if you sign up via their referral link ?


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gostwyck

« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2009, 06:45 »

#link

Quote from: FD-amateur on October 30, 2009, 06:38

What is a MOO card?

Read all about it;

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=79161&page=1


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sjlocke

« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2009, 06:47 »

#link

Exclusives get free business cards from MOO with a code for 10 free credits. You hand to drum up new business. The code is not linked to your account though, so they must use a referral link for you to get the $10 bonus for signing up a new buyer.

It is extremely unlikely that 199 people would join and use their free credits to only buy images from one person.


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sjlocke

« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2009, 06:51 »

#link

Quote from: alias on October 30, 2009, 06:44

? These are the same '10 free credits' codes which people give away on their websites if you sign up via their referral link ?

if someone reads my blog and emails me, I will send a code from a card and toss the card in the bin. Regular referral badge links don't offer any such code. There is an email you can send to people that will get them three credits.


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gostwyck

« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2009, 06:58 »

#link

Quote from: sjlocke on October 30, 2009, 06:47

It is extremely unlikely that 199 people would join and use their free credits to only buy images from one person.

That's an understatement! If he had 1000 images in his portfolio then the odds of a single image from his port being downloaded randomly are about 1/6000. For that to happen 808 times consecutively would require odds of about 1/5M. If he only had 100 images on-line then the odds extend to about 1/50M.


« Last Edit: October 30, 2009, 07:02 by gostwyck »	Ignore \| Logged

alias

« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2009, 07:09 »

#link

Wonder why the referral codes are not linked to the accounts. That would be good.

I'm surprised this guy is trying to pretend he wasn't trying to scam the system. Quite funny ! How much must that have cost in time ?


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timburton

« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2009, 09:03 »

#link

doh


« Last Edit: October 30, 2009, 09:10 by timburton »	Ignore \| Logged

timburton

« Reply #11 on: October 30, 2009, 09:09 »

#link

Well, I guess thats what happens when you try to cheat in the most obvious way. Why did you pay them back if you werent cheating? Why did you pay them back if you were? Shouldve run. Did they threaten to sue you?


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Buzbuzzer

« Reply #12 on: October 30, 2009, 16:41 »

#link

I always thought you had too much good reviews on your ordinary snapshots. Now, I know why..


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flashon

« Reply #13 on: October 30, 2009, 17:57 »

#link

I am not sure how the moo card works. Now let’s say if I am a regionally recognizable micro stock geek and giving out my cards at workshops to the attendants. I will of course to tell them to sign up under my referral, and use the card to download my images. Now is this a violation?


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Gannet77

« Reply #14 on: October 30, 2009, 18:27 »

#link

Quote from: flashon on October 30, 2009, 17:57

If you ask them to download your images, then potentially yes. It's collusion.


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ShadySue

Premium Member

« Reply #15 on: October 30, 2009, 19:30 »

#link

Quote from: gostwyck on October 30, 2009, 06:31

Didn't you just visit lots of internet cafes (or other's computers), created new accounts and then downloaded your own stuff?

Why would anyone do this (unless they have lost their original images and are trying to get them back for free)?


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loop

« Reply #16 on: October 30, 2009, 20:17 »

#link

Quote from: ShadySue on October 30, 2009, 19:30

Quote from: gostwyck on October 30, 2009, 06:31

Didn't you just visit lots of internet cafes (or other's computers), created new accounts and then downloaded your own stuff?

Why would anyone do this (unless they have lost their original images and are trying to get them back for free)?

To improve the position of his photos in the Best Match results. In the past, that was done for some contributors, self-downloading his own files, o creating false accounts to download them. Even paying, it was a good scheme. Once one photo is in the firts positions sales grow exponetially, no matter if the file it's no the best.

And that, of course, is unfair an dirty.


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nruboc

« Reply #17 on: October 30, 2009, 21:44 »

#link

Quote from: loop on October 30, 2009, 20:17

Quote from: ShadySue on October 30, 2009, 19:30

Quote from: gostwyck on October 30, 2009, 06:31

Didn't you just visit lots of internet cafes (or other's computers), created new accounts and then downloaded your own stuff?

Why would anyone do this (unless they have lost their original images and are trying to get them back for free)?

Topic starter.... welcome to the wonderful world of being independent.....lol


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ShadySue

Premium Member

« Reply #18 on: October 31, 2009, 03:49 »

#link

Quote from: loop on October 30, 2009, 20:17

Quote from: ShadySue on October 30, 2009, 19:30

Quote from: gostwyck on October 30, 2009, 06:31

Didn't you just visit lots of internet cafes (or other's computers), created new accounts and then downloaded your own stuff?

Why would anyone do this (unless they have lost their original images and are trying to get them back for free)?

H**k - it would never have occurred t me that a free download would count for anything!


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japonchik

New Member

« Reply #19 on: November 01, 2009, 20:40 »

#link

Thanks for your comments and moral supports.

Unfortunately I can do nothing. I got e-mail

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Your stats do not change the fact that the numbers of Moo cards that were used to solely download your files. Regardless if these were your cards personally or cards of colleagues, it does not remove the fact that there was collusion and the result of this breach was $593.70, so regardless of how you spin it 199 account opened accounts, used a moo card and used them to download your files solely.

Anyway, I paid damages. Some works probably will be deactivated.
I'll have to brace up to my misfortune and get on with my work.

P.S. This topic can be locked


« Last Edit: November 01, 2009, 20:42 by japonchik »	Ignore \| Logged

sjlocke

« Reply #20 on: November 01, 2009, 21:06 »

#link

Was your misfortune getting caught, then?


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gostwyck

« Reply #21 on: November 01, 2009, 21:59 »

#link

Quote from: sjlocke on November 01, 2009, 21:06

Was your misfortune getting caught, then?

Misfortune? I guess it must be a tough life being a fraud and a thief without the wherewithal to understand how overtly traceable your actions are likely to be.


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helix7

« Reply #22 on: November 01, 2009, 22:17 »

#link

Quote from: japonchik on November 01, 2009, 20:40

...Anyway, I paid damages. Some works probably will be deactivated.
I'll have to brace up to my misfortune and get on with my work.

P.S. This topic can be locked

So let me get this straight. Some people somehow got a hold of your cards, used them to sign up and get free credits, then used those credits to only buy your images (the odds of which are, as mentioned above, astronomical). So istock called you out on this, and you responded by sending a couple of emails and then simply paying out over $500 in damages, without much of a fight (not exactly what an innocent person would do). Now you're just ready to move on, chalk it up to "misfortune", and have this thread detailing the whole incredible story locked up so that no one else can read about it.

Why not just change the title of this thread to "I tried to scam istock and got caught - here's how..."


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cclapper

Premium Member

« Reply #23 on: November 02, 2009, 08:32 »

#link

I'm baffled as to why this person would detail the whole scam here and then make it sound like he/she deserved our sympathy? I must have missed something.