MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: lisafx on July 18, 2013, 12:00
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As if there isn't enough to worry about on Istock, so far this morning I have had 40 images from the same series sell in a row, all at large or XL size.
I should be happy for the windfall, but last time this happened it turned out to be fraud.
Anyone else notice similar?
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iStockphoto Admin Brenda (oldladybird) says here in this post (http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=348181&messageid=6762029):
We would encourage anyone who is seeing highly abnormal activity in their account to use the toll free number and alert the Client Relations team.
Good luck.
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I like to read these threads.
Or really I dont, it is with mixed feelings.
Im glad Im out, is one feeling. I deleted my 400 pic port and left only a dead cockroack (see it here: http://www.istockphoto.com/search/portfolio/2048062/?facets={%2225%22%3A%226%22}#1b34c0fa) (http://www.istockphoto.com/search/portfolio/2048062/?facets={%2225%22%3A%226%22}#1b34c0fa))
to lie there and rot. And waved goodbye to 2-300 dollars per month. Being happy they suffered 85% more. Lobos arrogance and having fun was a direct reason. But also the many years of endless and repeated humiliation by fx the upload process and being pushed back in the search and being treated like a 2nd rank citizen.
I have decided that for every humiliation I suffered (and there were many), Im going to write something bad about them. I do that proactively, I spellcheck and care to write istockphoto, so its easier found in the searches. I simply take revenge. They have annoyed me so much that Ill never forget.
I have once been cheated for 100.000 dollars by a conartist, but istock has made me more revengeful and angry than he did.
But then again, maybe its because they humiliated me at the same time they earned 100.000 from me. The conartist always smiled and gave me wine, he also said he was sorry and he is now in prison on the 8th year.
When I hear people suffer from new abuse from istockphotos side, it produces a short feeling of shadenfreude, then saddness and sympathy for the people involved. It would be so easy to put istockphoto out of business if we could just unify. The D-day action was a good one.
But we cant unify, and therefore istockphoto can continue their abuse, despite they have broken every ethic and law on the globe, and deserve to be punished.
There is good hope that they will go down by their own malpractice.
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And waved goodbye to 2-300 dollars per month. Being happy they suffered 85% more.
do you really think they lost that money? I guess there are few more pictures apart from yours, nobody is irreplaceable in this industry or any other
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Im not naive.
I know they earned 85% on my work. That stopped.
I also know that there are enough rats in the ratrace.
But as other contributors, I took certain files to shutter, and especially one file.
I had the feeling that the buyers followed. At least some. Maybe only a few, but thats good enough for me.
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And waved goodbye to 2-300 dollars per month. Being happy they suffered 85% more.
do you really think they lost that money? I guess there are few more pictures apart from yours, nobody is irreplaceable in this industry or any other
Unfortunately true - as is the case when folks say rejections cost the site money - as long as there's an alternative no worries for the site. Same can't be said for some of the other daft stuff they have been at lately - real lemming antics. I actually pity the exclusives - our failing raft is a step from solid ground but they have a long swim from the sinking ship.
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I admire what you did Jens and everybody else that jumped out, I have stopped uploading a long time ago and this month my IS earnings are way beyond what I ever expected, I cannot even buy a happy meal at McDonalds :o
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Yes I also pity the exclusives.
Pommies,
Prisoners of istock. Being at the mercy of such a volatile organisation.
Once back then when I had the choice, Yuri was much an idol, and he said things about eggs in one basket.
So I didnt.
How ironical.
LOL
But Im glad I didnt.
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I admire what you did Jens and everybody else that jumped out, I have stopped uploading a long time ago and this month my IS earnings are way beyond what I ever expected, I cannot even buy a happy meal at McDonalds :o
Thanks luis, When your earnings are so small, then delete, so istockphoto cant do all their filthy trade with your content.
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As if there isn't enough to worry about on Istock, so far this morning I have had 40 images from the same series sell in a row, all at large or XL size.
I should be happy for the windfall, but last time this happened it turned out to be fraud.
Anyone else notice similar?
A few days ago : 4 EL's of 7$ for images on the same subject. I didn't think of fraud, I was just annoyed because the EL's were only 7 dollars a piece. But you're right, 40 is really weird.
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As if there isn't enough to worry about on Istock, so far this morning I have had 40 images from the same series sell in a row, all at large or XL size.
I should be happy for the windfall, but last time this happened it turned out to be fraud.
Anyone else notice similar?
A few days ago : 4 EL's of 7$ for images on the same subject. I didn't think of fraud, I was just annoyed because the EL's were only 7 dollars a piece. But you're right, 40 is really weird.
Thanks Anyka for actually posting on topic.
There are lots of other threads for general b*tching about Istock. Can we try to keep this one to potential fraud, please?
I am specifically interested in whether anyone else is seeing an unusual, potentially fraudulent sales pattern.
Looks like other than possibly Anyka's four, nobody is. I'm not going to bother calling the customer relations line since it has been made very clear it is no longer for contributors.
If others were reporting the same, then it would be worth following up on. Until someone else notices something similar to what I have, I am not certain it is fraudulent activity.
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I'm not going to bother calling the customer relations line since it has been made very clear it is no longer for contributors.
Check the link I posted under your OP Lisa. The Admin 'oldladybird', who is always very helpful, says to call if there is suspect buying activity. The context of her reply specifically relates to the sort of situation you are describing. She posted that relatively recently.
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I'm not going to bother calling the customer relations line since it has been made very clear it is no longer for contributors.
Check the link I posted under your OP Lisa. The Admin 'oldladybird', who is always very helpful, says to call if there is suspect buying activity. The context of her reply specifically relates to the sort of situation you are describing. The posted that relatively recently.
Thanks for the link. That post is around 9 months old. My understanding since then is that Customer Relations number is no longer for contributors to call.
I will give it a try, but not holding out a lot of hope for action ::)
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As if there isn't enough to worry about on Istock, so far this morning I have had 40 images from the same series sell in a row, all at large or XL size.
I should be happy for the windfall, but last time this happened it turned out to be fraud.
Anyone else notice similar?
A few days ago : 4 EL's of 7$ for images on the same subject. I didn't think of fraud, I was just annoyed because the EL's were only 7 dollars a piece. But you're right, 40 is really weird.
I too had 4 ELs on Tuesday with very low per credit values of the same subject matter in a short period of time. A fifth one a little earlier that day at a high credit amount but different EL license but same subject matter.
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Someone looking to steal and perhaps re package content would likely want the largest sizes possible - but I cannot think of a reason why anyone would fraudulently purchase ELs.
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Someone looking to steal and perhaps re package content would likely want the largest sizes possible - but I cannot think of a reason why anyone would fraudulently purchase ELs.
Interesting. Mine weren't ELs. Just large and XL regular license.
I'm on hold with IS ATM, so will report back when/if I find anything out....
ETA: My info will be referred to the fraud department and they'll investigate. Girl on the phone was very sweet, but not holding my breath for a reply from fraud dept. anytime soon.... ;)
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Someone looking to steal and perhaps re package content would likely want the largest sizes possible - but I cannot think of a reason why anyone would fraudulently purchase ELs.
Interesting. Mine weren't ELs. Just large and XL regular license.
I'm on hold with IS ATM, so will report back when/if I find anything out....
ETA: My info will be referred to the fraud department and they'll investigate. Girl on the phone was very sweet, but not holding my breath for a reply from fraud dept. anytime soon.... ;)
Glad you got through to them.
Keep us posted. Hope it isn't bad news.
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Someone looking to steal and perhaps re package content would likely want the largest sizes possible - but I cannot think of a reason why anyone would fraudulently purchase ELs.
Interesting. Mine weren't ELs. Just large and XL regular license.
I'm on hold with IS ATM, so will report back when/if I find anything out....
ETA: My info will be referred to the fraud department and they'll investigate. Girl on the phone was very sweet, but not holding my breath for a reply from fraud dept. anytime soon.... ;)
I can:
A user with a stolen credit card wants to camouflage huge transactions, aimed at a certain account. With a stolen credit card its about not being noticed, and to confuse the investigation, so he buys pictures here and there, to camouflage who is the real recipient.
Sorry that I used your thread for my vengance, I have a huge backlog and its not easy to find an oppertunity.
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I had a refund yesterday of 11$, and no sales... :'(
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Someone looking to steal and perhaps re package content would likely want the largest sizes possible - but I cannot think of a reason why anyone would fraudulently purchase ELs.
Interesting. Mine weren't ELs. Just large and XL regular license.
I'm on hold with IS ATM, so will report back when/if I find anything out....
ETA: My info will be referred to the fraud department and they'll investigate. Girl on the phone was very sweet, but not holding my breath for a reply from fraud dept. anytime soon.... ;)
I can:
A user with a stolen credit card wants to camouflage huge transactions, aimed at a certain account. With a stolen credit card its about not being noticed, and to confuse the investigation, so he buys pictures here and there, to camouflage who is the real recipient.
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That dont make sense to me? I assume the sale for the 40 images is paid at once? And all he does is draw attention to himself. The owner of the card is going to file a chargeback asap now and the card will be disabled rendering the crime useless.
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See this one, Ron.
http://blog.fotolibra.com/?tag=cyber-crime (http://blog.fotolibra.com/?tag=cyber-crime)
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See this one, Ron.
[url]http://blog.fotolibra.com/?tag=cyber-crime[/url] ([url]http://blog.fotolibra.com/?tag=cyber-crime[/url])
I think you got something mixed up. In that theory explained in the article Lisa should have stolen the credit card and downloaded the EL to get the royalties.
The scam as described in the article makes sense, but it different from your cover up theory.
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Sorry that I used your thread for my vengance, I have a huge backlog and its not easy to find an oppertunity.
this does somewhat help explain you a little more. it doesn't excuse you (although for some reason i've got it in my head you're dutch? you get 10% leeway for that)
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Im Danish, so here goes 10%, and I rant against istock whenever I find an oppertunity.
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oh a Dane, so you don't have the 10% factor I give to the Dutch (via being married into a Dutch Saffer clan)............. NOTED. your English is very...... non-UK, where politeness and understatement is important.
back Ot (cos it seems like every thread has Jens or Xanox flavour), Lisa, any news?
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If i reply to this, i will appear contrary, so i wont. Ill send you a pm instead.
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No news yet. I don't expect to hear anything for several weeks, if ever. This is Istock we are talking about after all ;)
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I just saw this thread, Lisa. I had two sales on July 15 & 16, both XXXL, of similar images (same model, same action & props, slightly different framing). I thought it was unusual because I don't get many XXXL downloads, maybe one or two a year. Although one of the images has sold as XXXL twice before and the other's largest was a XXL.
July 15: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10339767-student-doing-chemistry-experiment.php (http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10339767-student-doing-chemistry-experiment.php)
July 16: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10339847-student-doing-chemistry-experiment.php (http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10339847-student-doing-chemistry-experiment.php)
You're welcome to use the information if you can.
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]
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I just saw this thread, Lisa. I had two sales on July 15 & 16, both XXXL, of similar images (same model, same action & props, slightly different framing). I thought it was unusual because I don't get many XXXL downloads, maybe one or two a year. Although one of the images has sold as XXXL twice before and the other's largest was a XXL.
July 15: [url]http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10339767-student-doing-chemistry-experiment.php[/url] ([url]http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10339767-student-doing-chemistry-experiment.php[/url])
July 16: [url]http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10339847-student-doing-chemistry-experiment.php[/url] ([url]http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10339847-student-doing-chemistry-experiment.php[/url])
You're welcome to use the information if you can.
Thanks for posting Les. They are very nice pictures and a lovely model. I am sure that both sales were likely to be legitimate. Perhaps for a textbook. :)
FWIW mine were much more generic images of a businessman over a white background making various expressions...
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Well, I was initially pleased with 2 XXXL downloads back-to-back and my thought was that the lower pricing might mean people were buying larger images. But I saw Lisa's alert and it got me wondering if it really was legitimate.