Author Topic: Additional contributor info needed email. Spam or legit (Read 19841 times)

leaf · « **on:** June 28, 2016, 06:06 »

I just received an email from Pond5 asking for more info about me. Did anyone else receive this? When clicking the link in the email I'm sent to a woofu form.. which seems a bit odd. Perhaps it is a fishing email? I emailed Pond5 but thought I'd give a heads up here in case anyone else received one as well.

I'll update this thread when I hear more.

Your Action Is Required

As part of our ongoing effort to prevent fraud and to protect your content, we’re asking contributors to provide additional identifying information to help us verify their accounts.

We’re reaching out to you today because we were unable to fully verify your identity with the information you had previously provided on Pond5. Please take a minute to provide additional information by clicking the link below.

Warning: Failure to respond to this email by July 29, 2016 may result in a temporary suspension of your account and removal of your content until the information requested is supplied and approved by our team. Please contact us if you have any questions

leaf · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2016, 06:22 »

quick response.. it's legit...

Thank you for contacting the Pond5 Customer Care team.

I can confirm that the email is not spam. We are requesting this additional piece of information from you.

Thank you for your understanding.

Kind regards,

Tror · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2016, 07:26 »

I got the same. Quite awful imho. If you do not respond they "temporarily terminate your account". They got already a official ID and I work years with them, there is no need to batch threaten people with years of history on their accounts with weird third party forms and account termination.

dbvirago · « **Reply #3 on:** June 28, 2016, 09:15 »

I just uploaded a model release which they already had. Quick and easy

Travelling-light · « **Reply #4 on:** June 28, 2016, 09:16 »

So they want us to upload photo ID to an insecure site we've never heard of? After several years of selling through Pond5?

Malice or incompetence? Take your pick.

KnowYourOnions · « **Reply #5 on:** June 28, 2016, 09:55 »

Even Leaf thought this is a spam email!!! P5 Communication Manager should resign!
Or whoever approved this awful wording in an invite to submit our "IDs".

Benozaur · « **Reply #6 on:** June 28, 2016, 10:00 »

Its legit, I just verified with Pond. All part and parcel with our old friend Pond going corporate...
A bit like an old highschool best buddy getting married - we can still be friends but things are going to be different...

U11 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 28, 2016, 10:03 »

the email looks fishy (I also got it), I don't feel comfortable to load my official ID to the (wufoo.com ?!) site . Can I at least blur out the ID number to reduce a risk of fraud ?

Benozaur · « **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2016, 10:05 »

Quote from: U11 on June 28, 2016, 10:03

the email looks fishy (I also got it), I don't feel comfortable to load my official ID to the (wufoo.com ?!) site . Can I at least blur out the ID number to reduce a risk of fraud ?

They don't ask for your ID

click_click · « **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2016, 10:10 »

Why are some of you mentioning that you "have to" upload your ID?

I got the email as well and I was able to provide links to my personal web site and social network which was an option on that Pond5 form.

Of course I wouldn't send sensitive information over an unsecure connection.

I only shared what I would share with a stranger or what anyone could find on Google anyways.

I also thought it's a fishy way to address contributors using a "click here" button. All major companies (Paypal, ebay etc.) emphasize that thex would NEVER ask you that information in an email using a link!!! This should be mentioned in the contributor panel on Pond5.com.

I'll write them anyways to let them know that this is a suspicious way to get additional info about someone.

KnowYourOnions · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2016, 10:15 »

Quote from: click_click on June 28, 2016, 10:10

Why are some of you mentioning that you "have to" upload your ID?

I got the email as well and I was able to provide links to my personal web site and social network which was an option on that Pond5 form.

Of course I wouldn't send sensitive information over an unsecure connection.

I only shared what I would share with a stranger or what anyone could find on Google anyways.

I also thought it's a fishy way to address contributors using a "click here" button. All major companies (Paypal, ebay etc.) emphasize that thex would NEVER ask you that information in an email using a link!!! This should be mentioned in the contributor panel on Pond5.com.

I'll write them anyways to let them know that this is a suspicious way to get additional info about someone.

Unprofessional too!

If social network link can prove anything...what a waste!

U11 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2016, 10:25 »

Quote from: Benozaur on June 28, 2016, 10:05

Quote from: U11 on June 28, 2016, 10:03
the email looks fishy (I also got it), I don't feel comfortable to load my official ID to the (wufoo.com ?!) site . Can I at least blur out the ID number to reduce a risk of fraud ?

They don't ask for your ID

so what

Quote

Please provide a government issued photo ID with a valid expiration date, e.g. passport, driver’s license, state ID, Country ID card, etc.

means?

danielsbfoto · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2016, 10:48 »

I've sent my SS video link. I think they want to know if I'm really myself.

Benozaur · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2016, 11:01 »

Quote from: U11 on June 28, 2016, 10:25

Quote from: Benozaur on June 28, 2016, 10:05
Quote from: U11 on June 28, 2016, 10:03
the email looks fishy (I also got it), I don't feel comfortable to load my official ID to the (wufoo.com ?!) site . Can I at least blur out the ID number to reduce a risk of fraud ?

They don't ask for your ID

so what
Quote
Please provide a government issued photo ID with a valid expiration date, e.g. passport, driver’s license, state ID, Country ID card, etc.

means?

OK so you got a different set of criteria that they need from you. When you originally signed up to Pond they should have asked for some sort of official ID, I uploaded mine when I signed up years ago. Shutterstock, iStock and a number of other sites also require ID in order to know who they are dealing with.

yuliang11 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2016, 11:41 »

This is really dogdy...pond5 links to wufoo.com that requires me to upload my ID there ? Seriously ... WTFF ... to me..anyone can send this link and ask for ID that way. Pond5 should be able to do things much professional than this.

http://pond5id.wufoo.com/forms/zr15b1u0so8ki2/def/Field4=62184&Field15=F&[email protected]&Save=Save&

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #15 on:** June 28, 2016, 14:28 »

I didn't get any e-mail today, but isn't this similar to what they did at the beginning of the year?

http://www.microstockgroup.com/pond5/new-id-requirement-no-sales-unless-you-upload-id/

I don't think they handled that ID request well and it appears they've learned nothing in the interim. Things that take you to a site other than theirs from a link within e-mail is going to (or should) raise all sorts of red flags. They should send e-mail to tell you to log into your account to get directions to do whatever it is they want done. That way there's no risky links to click.

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #16 on:** June 28, 2016, 16:50 »

they should have my id on file, no need to jump through hoops clicking links in fishy emails, that email should never have been sent in that format, what are they thinking

lbarn · « **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2016, 21:33 »

I agree with Jo Ann, this is just a followup for those who didn't do as requested earlier this year. I know I never got around to re-sending my ID, but a threat to suspend my account got my attention (especially with several video downloads to be paid out this next month)......

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #18 on:** June 29, 2016, 00:41 »

I got the email, but there was nothing on it about ID. Probably as I've submitted my passport before. I just filled out my Twitter address and linked to my website, so hopefully I'm all good.

One of the thing mentioned in the email about the possibility of new licenses, was some kind of insurance/indemnity/cover (I can't remember the exact wording), and I'm assuming for that to work, they need to make sure people are who they say they are. That's my guess anyway. So I can understand it, but would have thought a passport was more conclusive than a Twitter account.

goseeit · « **Reply #19 on:** June 30, 2016, 12:46 »

Got the same unprofessional email. Pond5 can shove it you know where.

click_click · « **Reply #20 on:** June 30, 2016, 14:24 »

Has anybody's additional info been "approved" after they requested it?

Astonished · « **Reply #21 on:** June 30, 2016, 14:32 »

Quote from: click_click on June 30, 2016, 14:24

Has anybody's additional info been "approved" after they requested it?

Haven't heard back from them yet. I refused to give them any of my social media links.

KnowYourOnions · « **Reply #22 on:** June 30, 2016, 17:43 »

Quote from: Astonished on June 30, 2016, 14:32

Quote from: click_click on June 30, 2016, 14:24
Has anybody's additional info been "approved" after they requested it?
Haven't heard back from them yet. I refused to give them any of my social media links.

I am truly astonished that social media profiles/links worth any security measure to anyone!

Astonished · « **Reply #23 on:** July 01, 2016, 00:06 »

Quote from: KnowYourOnions on June 30, 2016, 17:43

Quote from: Astonished on June 30, 2016, 14:32
Quote from: click_click on June 30, 2016, 14:24
Has anybody's additional info been "approved" after they requested it?
Haven't heard back from them yet. I refused to give them any of my social media links.
I am truly astonished that social media profiles/links worth any security measure to anyone!

Exactly, professionally I only have Instagram and P5 doesn't want Instagram links. Other social media is personal so not giving that to them.

dirkr · « **Reply #24 on:** July 01, 2016, 04:23 »

Quote from: KnowYourOnions on June 30, 2016, 17:43

Quote from: Astonished on June 30, 2016, 14:32
Quote from: click_click on June 30, 2016, 14:24
Has anybody's additional info been "approved" after they requested it?

Haven't heard back from them yet. I refused to give them any of my social media links.

I am truly astonished that social media profiles/links worth any security measure to anyone!

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/29/us/homeland-security-social-media-border-protection.html?_r=0

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Author Topic: Additional contributor info needed email. Spam or legit (Read 19841 times)

leaf

leaf

Tror

dbvirago

Travelling-light

KnowYourOnions

Benozaur

U11

Benozaur

click_click

KnowYourOnions

U11

danielsbfoto

Benozaur

yuliang11

Jo Ann Snover

Microstockphoto

lbarn

SpaceStockFootage

goseeit

click_click

Astonished

KnowYourOnions

Astonished

dirkr

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