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Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: littleMan on October 26, 2018, 16:21

Title: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 26, 2018, 16:21
Hello guys !

I'm new here. I created account in SS about 6-7 months ago. Then about a few months ago I created account with the passport of my aunt. She is good at drawing illustrations. Then I started to upload to illustrations to her account. Sometimes I entered to my own SS account to see earnings then log outed and entered my aunt's account and her earnings. Actions were happening from the same IP address. But about a week ago, both my own account and my aunt's account suspended. Then they asked in both emails that "have you previously created a SS Contributor account ? ". I said no. Then my aunt's account and mine were terminated. They wrote to both emails that account terminated for "suspicious activity". Now my question is What . how they found I'm using both accounts ?
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: qunamax on October 26, 2018, 17:35
Well IP obviously. They don't need to know if it's you or your aunt in front of the computer, they don't even have to be sure what is happening, they just see something suspicious (two accs one IP) and that's enough for them. You did suspicious activity, they banned your for suspicious activity.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: nobody on October 26, 2018, 17:43
Here we go again  :(

Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on October 26, 2018, 18:42
I'm guessing there's more to this story we haven't yet heard, but it can't just be the IP address that is the trigger.

Imagine a co-working space with shared resources and computers - like this one (https://www.newtechnorthwest.com/resource-guide/co-working/) - which are all over the US (and I assume elsewhere too). Shared office and resources are part of the deal. I think all users in a space would show up with the same external IP address.

It would be perfectly legal to hire a person to do the uploads for multiple contributors - an administrative assistant. That wouldn't be typical for the smaller/part time/home based contributor, but I think SS can accommodate that.

As with another recent account closure reported here, no one here can help you sort this out. You're new here (this is your first post) so possibly you don't realize this is just a group of contributors who exchange information.

Assuming you really had two truly separate contributor accounts, content, payout accounts and no content sharing, write to SS and explain the situation - in detail - and ask them to reverse their decision. Don't fudge the truth with them. If it's legitimate, lay out the arrangement - perhaps the fact that it appears to SS you lied to them was the issue.

And for anyone else considering non-typical arrangements, how hard would it be to contact SS up front to explain what you're doing and get their explicit OK of the arrangement to avoid all this?

Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: nobody on October 26, 2018, 19:29
I am sure it more than just an IP Address.  I kind of like reading these stories! First they claim the victim role and then they either fess up or someone on this site finds the actual truth.  Anyway just fun to watch it unfold... 8)

Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: leremy on October 26, 2018, 19:30
Well IP obviously. They don't need to know if it's you or your aunt in front of the computer, they don't even have to be sure what is happening, they just see something suspicious (two accs one IP) and that's enough for them. You did suspicious activity, they banned your for suspicious activity.

Same IP address, same postal address, or using the same computer IS NOT AND NEVER THE REASON. This is truly just a myth. In no where at Shutterstock's agreement stated you cannot use the same computer, same IP address, or same postal address to become a contributor. Me and my wife have been using the same computer/ip address/postal address for many many years to do our uploads for 6-10 different sites and there hasn't been a problem. The one thing we never share is our payment detail.

There must be OTHER REASON why their account got closed. Two contributors or more using the same IP address, same computer, and same postal address does not justify why Shutterstock need to close their account. It doesn't cheat, steal, or getting unfair advantage.

My biggest suspect is that these contributors who got their account banned together are most probably using the same artworks elements/photos in their portfolios.

Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 26, 2018, 19:43
Okay, I wish it's not the IP address because I'm sure that I haven't broke any other SS terms. But they wrote me "suspicious activity" reason. If it was same artwork, element issue with another portfolio, I guess they should attach similar images or wrote actual reason with details. I think it's IP or maybe browser cookie reason. But I really want to know to clearify this issue. Maybe I can twit to CEO about this ? Because if SS terminated your account, they hardly respond to your mails.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: sgoodwin4813 on October 26, 2018, 19:49
Were both accounts paying to the same Paypal or bank account?  That might do it.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Minsc on October 26, 2018, 21:12
Did you had your aunt's artwork in your account? If both of your accounts have similar content by the same artist, that's probably the reason.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Artist on October 26, 2018, 22:40
Did you had your aunt's artwork in your account? If both of your accounts have similar content by the same artist, that's probably the reason.

Yes this could be the reason, if you use same artwork / elements and upload in both, you are then banned...
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: noodle on October 26, 2018, 22:52
Busted!
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 27, 2018, 01:20
Absolutely not ! not same payment, not same artwork.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: derek on October 27, 2018, 01:54
Of course its more! some of the smaller factories with say around 5 photographers in the same studio are uploading all using the same IP!...but why are you asking? planning something? :)
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 27, 2018, 02:59
What does it matter? There's absolutely no benefit to you at this stage knowing how they found out you had two accounts... other than if you're looking for tips on creating two more accounts without them getting found out. When asked if you've ever created another account you should have said 'yes' and explained what you explained to us... but it's a bit late for that now.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 27, 2018, 04:05
When asked if you've ever created another account you should have said 'yes' and explained what you explained to us... but it's a bit late for that now.

Exactly this. You obviously should have answered "yes" instead of "no" there...

By answering "no" you're telling them the accounts weren't legit and they shut them down.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: tätarätä on October 27, 2018, 06:49
I guess its not about the second account. Its about tax fraud.
Has your aunt known about her account and properly filled out the tax form?
I guess not.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: JetCityImage on October 27, 2018, 07:07
It could be just an IP thing. My dad and I are both members of a Corvette forum and he asked me to reset his password. Within 24 hours, both of our accounts were suspended for "multiple accounts from the same IP address." I explained what happened, and they unlocked our accounts. I suspect that if the OP truly had one account for him and one for his aunt, an explanation would have cleared up the issue.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Noedelhap on October 27, 2018, 07:42
Why did you answer no to SS question? You could have explained you DID create a second account for your aunt. But my question is: why did you have to create the account for her anyway? Is she not capable of doing it herself? Something's fishy about this.

The phrasing of your question is suspicious too; how did Shutterstock 'find out'? That implies you were trying to hide it.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: MysteryShot on October 27, 2018, 08:25
Im affraid they will close my account too, im using Microstockr app, where i connect from public wifi, starbucks etc, to check my earnings  ???
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 27, 2018, 08:42
Im affraid they will close my account too, im using Microstockr app, where i connect from public wifi, starbucks etc, to check my earnings  ???
Why would they?...you haven't created a second account then lied about it.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Groucho on October 27, 2018, 08:47
Maybe it is only Shutterstock Cookies : if you and your aunt used the same computer account, cookies from both users can be seen by Shutterstock.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 27, 2018, 08:49
Guys, Tax form for both accounts were totally filled properly. And I taught my aunt to draw illustrations in Illustrator. She can only do drawing part. I did all the uploading part if her account and I analyzed its earnings too. I haven't tell to SS I have second account, because actually I don't have. Yes we're using same IP, same browser but images in each portfolio are totally different.
If these accounts were terminated for IP, then SS should write this in their terms that you should use  your own computer and own wifi.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 27, 2018, 08:51
Maybe it is only Shutterstock Cookies : if you and your aunt used the same computer account, cookies from both users can be seen by Shutterstock.

Yeah, I believe this is most realistic reason that they terminated accounts. But what if we have only one computer.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Groucho on October 27, 2018, 08:55
If you have only one computer you should create two users on it. That is what I do with my wife : a single computer but 2 separate accounts on it. This way, one cannot see private of the other ;-)
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Chichikov on October 27, 2018, 09:03
Maybe it is only Shutterstock Cookies : if you and your aunt used the same computer account, cookies from both users can be seen by Shutterstock.

Yeah, I believe this is most realistic reason that they terminated accounts. But what if we have only one computer.

Why don't you ask directly to Shutterstock? Who better than them can answer you?

[email protected]
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: SuperPhoto on October 27, 2018, 09:10
From the sounds of it...

Sounds like you probably tried submitting someone else's content and passing it off as your own, hoping you wouldn't get "caught". Since you did - you are pretending that if you feign innocence, "they" won't know. "They" actually do have brains.

So if you stole someone elses content, fudged/"edited" the passport photo, spammed their database, then yes, they would ban your account.

You could try continue making multiple accounts - but most likely you would do something foolish, and get those banned too.

Don't steal other people's stuff and try to pass it off as your own. Don't submit identical stuff to multiple accounts to 'spam' the database with photos with the hopes of making more $$$.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: estike on October 27, 2018, 09:38
How did it begin in the first post?
"I've second account." "I created (second ) account with the passport of my aunt." "I started upload … to her account."

I didn't read something about "My aunt und I contacted support", always only "I". Seems your aunt is only involved by giving the passport.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: qunamax on October 27, 2018, 09:38
Well IP obviously. They don't need to know if it's you or your aunt in front of the computer, they don't even have to be sure what is happening, they just see something suspicious (two accs one IP) and that's enough for them. You did suspicious activity, they banned your for suspicious activity.

Same IP address, same postal address, or using the same computer IS NOT AND NEVER THE REASON. This is truly just a myth. In no where at Shutterstock's agreement stated you cannot use the same computer, same IP address, or same postal address to become a contributor. Me and my wife have been using the same computer/ip address/postal address for many many years to do our uploads for 6-10 different sites and there hasn't been a problem. The one thing we never share is our payment detail.

There must be OTHER REASON why their account got closed. Two contributors or more using the same IP address, same computer, and same postal address does not justify why Shutterstock need to close their account. It doesn't cheat, steal, or getting unfair advantage.

My biggest suspect is that these contributors who got their account banned together are most probably using the same artworks elements/photos in their portfolios.

No of course, just as Ann wrote, there is something else to add up, I was just pointing out how they know, of course IP alone won't trigger ban.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Artist on October 27, 2018, 11:01
The story is not totally clear from the OP side. I would like to see what exactly SS emailed and replied to you.

Further, if you helped your aunt with illustration and worked with same IP address I don't find this as a issue as SS itself have contributor referral program. So yes, referring your aunt for work seems to be fine to me.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 27, 2018, 12:16
If you have only one computer you should create two users on it. That is what I do with my wife : a single computer but 2 separate accounts on it. This way, one cannot see private of the other ;-)

Thanks for such a great idea !
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Hannafate on October 27, 2018, 16:12
It's pretty easy to tell when the same person is logging in to two different accounts from the same computer.  If your Aunt wants to sell illustrations, she needs to get her own device, AND she should do her own uploading and checking her account.

Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 27, 2018, 17:55
But it's never told to contributors by SS. If they terminate for this, they had to inform us i guess
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: cathyslife on October 27, 2018, 19:10
But it's never told to contributors by SS. If they terminate for this, they had to inform us i guess


From the Terms of Service:
f. If your account is terminated for any reason, you must obtain written authorization from Shutterstock prior to establishing another account. You may not have more than one active contributor account at any time without the written consent of Shutterstock in each instance.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: nobody on October 27, 2018, 20:24
The Five Stages of Loss-- currently you appear to be at the third stage. The faster you can get to 'Acceptance' the happier we all will be here  8)

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 28, 2018, 04:06
you better don't write anything here
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 28, 2018, 04:08
But it's never told to contributors by SS. If they terminate for this, they had to inform us i guess


From the Terms of Service:
f. If your account is terminated for any reason, you must obtain written authorization from Shutterstock prior to establishing another account. You may not have more than one active contributor account at any time without the written consent of Shutterstock in each instance.

I've read this. What do you mean ? I've said they should told us "contributors each should use differen IP address".
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: kaboom on October 28, 2018, 05:39
Then they asked in both emails that "have you previously created a SS Contributor account ? ". I said no. Then my aunt's account and mine were terminated.

They gave you a chance to explain what you did with the two accounts and, for some reason, you didnt tell them the truth. Only after that, they closed your accounts. So what do you expect now? Why vent here, you should communicate with them. But Im afraid it may be too late. I dont understand why you didnt explain it to them when they asked..
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: estike on October 28, 2018, 05:43
But it's never told to contributors by SS. If they terminate for this, they had to inform us i guess


From the Terms of Service:
f. If your account is terminated for any reason, you must obtain written authorization from Shutterstock prior to establishing another account. You may not have more than one active contributor account at any time without the written consent of Shutterstock in each instance.

I've read this. What do you mean ? I've said they should told us "contributors each should use differen IP address".


No, they shouldn't. Terms of services are clearly phrased. Ip addresses are not the only reason. Your aunt should have got also an email. What did she answer? Or do you also use the same email-address?
In any case SS gave you the chance to clarify the situation. You gave the wrong answer. BIG mistake. You gamble your chance away.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 28, 2018, 06:25
Then they asked in both emails that "have you previously created a SS Contributor account ? ". I said no. Then my aunt's account and mine were terminated.

They gave you a chance to explain what you did with the two accounts and, for some reason, you didnt tell them the truth. Only after that, they closed your accounts. So what do you expect now? Why vent here, you should communicate with them. But Im afraid it may be too late. I dont understand why you didnt explain it to them when they asked..
Exactly.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: cathyslife on October 28, 2018, 06:39
But it's never told to contributors by SS. If they terminate for this, they had to inform us i guess


From the Terms of Service:
f. If your account is terminated for any reason, you must obtain written authorization from Shutterstock prior to establishing another account. You may not have more than one active contributor account at any time without the written consent of Shutterstock in each instance.

I've read this. What do you mean ? I've said they should told us "contributors each should use differen IP address".


You don’t have to use two different IP addresses. You have to open one account in your name, use your work, your email, and use your payment details. Your aunt has to open her own account, in her name, use her own work, her own email, and use her own payment details. Two separate accounts, just like the Terms of Service say. Did you do all of that? If yes, then you need to explain to Shutterstock. No one here can clear it up. As has already been said, many people use computers in the same place with the same IP address, but they either have a corporate account, or their own, separate account. I have a feeling you have intermingled some of those account details and that is what triggered the suspicion, not the IP address. It has been explained several times to you now. Explain to SS.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 28, 2018, 06:57
But it's never told to contributors by SS. If they terminate for this, they had to inform us i guess


From the Terms of Service:
f. If your account is terminated for any reason, you must obtain written authorization from Shutterstock prior to establishing another account. You may not have more than one active contributor account at any time without the written consent of Shutterstock in each instance.

I've read this. What do you mean ? I've said they should told us "contributors each should use differen IP address".


You don’t have to use two different IP addresses. You have to open one account in your name, use your work, your email, and use your payment details. Your aunt has to open her own account, in her name, use her own work, her own email, and use her own payment details. Two separate accounts, just like the Terms of Service say. Did you do all of that? If yes, then you need to explain to Shutterstock. No one here can clear it up. As has already been said, many people use computers in the same place with the same IP address, but they either have a corporate account, or their own, separate account. I have a feeling you have intermingled some of those account details and that is what triggered the suspicion, not the IP address. It has been explained several times to you now. Explain to SS.

Yes she has totally different account, she has her own account, in her name, use her own work, her own email, and use her own payment details. Just the same thing is I login to her account, upload to her portfolio images from same computer. That's it.
I think what's suspicious they found is Browser Cookies and IP address.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: noodle on October 28, 2018, 07:01
Time to join Canstock and move on
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Video-StockOrg on October 28, 2018, 09:41
Few years ago I was working on two accounts because one was for the company I worked for and other was personal. That shouldn't be forbidden even if I would access to both from the same computer.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: littleMan on October 28, 2018, 10:00
Time to join Canstock and move on

is Canstock profitable ?
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: nobody on October 28, 2018, 10:25
Time to join Canstock and move on

is Canstock profitable ?

about as profitable as your closed accounts on Shutter  8)

Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Uncle Pete on October 28, 2018, 10:47
Time to join Canstock and move on

is Canstock profitable ?

about as profitable as your closed accounts on Shutter  8)

Uh no, it's more profitable than a closed account.  ;D

I really think we can see that SS found something suspicious just like many of us did, while reading. Good luck explaining it to them and getting one of the accounts back.


Yes she has totally different account, she has her own account, in her name, use her own work, her own email, and use her own payment details. Just the same thing is I login to her account, upload to her portfolio images from same computer. That's it.
I think what's suspicious they found is Browser Cookies and IP address.

So you're saying she doesn't really know what's going on, you do, opening the account, including helping her make things, editing, uploading, submitting. In effect it's your second account, because she doesn't do any of the work, except maybe some parts of drawing?
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: cthoman on October 28, 2018, 11:19
I'm not going to pass any judgement because that's not my job. That said, it's nice to see the Shutterstock still investigates and acts on things that may be suspicious.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: nobody on October 28, 2018, 11:33
The folks on this site are sick and tired of being paid peanuts – only one thing that really pisses us off more? Someone trying to cheat the system and having the audacity to ask for our help!  >:(

Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Ides on October 28, 2018, 19:49
Why did you answer no to SS question? You could have explained you DID create a second account for your aunt. But my question is: why did you have to create the account for her anyway? Is she not capable of doing it herself? Something's fishy about this.

The phrasing of your question is suspicious too; how did Shutterstock 'find out'? That implies you were trying to hide it.

Of course there is a problem.
Say "no" when you should have said "yes" (And explain the fact, which could be the reason for the suspension), for a simple question? It is because something wrong has.

Out of debt, out of danger
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: tpack on October 30, 2018, 22:26
Hello guys !

I'm new here. I created account in SS about 6-7 months ago. Then about a few months ago I created account with the passport of my aunt. She is good at drawing illustrations. Then I started to upload to illustrations to her account. Sometimes I entered to my own SS account to see earnings then log outed and entered my aunt's account and her earnings. Actions were happening from the same IP address. But about a week ago, both my own account and my aunt's account suspended. Then they asked in both emails that "have you previously created a SS Contributor account ? ". I said no. Then my aunt's account and mine were terminated. They wrote to both emails that account terminated for "suspicious activity". Now my question is What . how they found I'm using both accounts ?

designer093 is that you?
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Dodie on November 04, 2018, 15:07
So you're saying she doesn't really know what's going on, you do, opening the account, including helping her make things, editing, uploading, submitting. In effect it's your second account, because she doesn't do any of the work, except maybe some parts of drawing?


Are you serious?
It is nobody's business who helps whom, I can pay somebody to edit my images if I want to. In fact that is what factories do too. I think this happens in many families and I don't see anything wrong in this, besides SS doesn't know about this.

So what if he uploads and submits for his aunt? Others are using Stocksubmitter, what is the difference?

The only thing that SS can see is the IP address which shouldn't be a problem on its own.

There must be some common elements in the work itself.

There are thieves reported all the time who build up entire portfolios from stealing others' work and SS is not able to detect them but it is very vigilant when these inexplicable "suspicious" activities occur.
Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: nobody on November 04, 2018, 15:30
whoever it is, we serious need to let this one fade away... 8)

Title: Re: how Shutterstock find I've second account ?
Post by: Uncle Pete on November 05, 2018, 12:25
So you're saying she doesn't really know what's going on, you do, opening the account, including helping her make things, editing, uploading, submitting. In effect it's your second account, because she doesn't do any of the work, except maybe some parts of drawing?


Are you serious?
It is nobody's business who helps whom, I can pay somebody to edit my images if I want to. In fact that is what factories do too. I think this happens in many families and I don't see anything wrong in this, besides SS doesn't know about this.

So what if he uploads and submits for his aunt? Others are using Stocksubmitter, what is the difference?

The only thing that SS can see is the IP address which shouldn't be a problem on its own.

There must be some common elements in the work itself.

There are thieves reported all the time who build up entire portfolios from stealing others' work and SS is not able to detect them but it is very vigilant when these inexplicable "suspicious" activities occur.

Remember someone else had a shared camera with his partner, and that got closed too. I think they see more than IP, but right, I don't care, who edits your work or uploads it. Or if people use the same software or computers. If someone uploads to the own account and their Aunts account and the images are the same materials or shared CONTENT then it's easy to find.

Just when someone comes here crying about a closed account and virtually everything except the ID is his, I tend to be skeptical about the claim that it wasn't an attempt at a second account.  :)

I agree, I wish there was a way to find stolen, flipped or altered artwork, but the search works on individuals, our own vs our own. That's how they can see already submitted if I make a mistake and upload something that's already been accepted.

How would SS search every upload against 280 million other images? Just asking?