Looking at a few sources casually online, I see that there are about 150,000 photographers working in the U.S. \u00a0We tend to work independently, or as very small companies. We are not big companies with big legal departments. We depend very much on our ongoing reputations. Sometimes, this makes us targets.<\/p>\n
The general public is usually not aware that there are quite a few scams that are perpetuated against photographers (here are a few<\/a> if you are interested). \u00a0 \u00a0This week, I find myself on the receiving end of a really nasty one.<\/p>\n There is a new one happening to a great many photographers right now. \u00a0 It is a combination of scam and blackmail.<\/p>\n What makes this so sneaky? \u00a0 Though these all arrive in roughly the same month or so,\u00a0each one comes from what seems to be a different person, and a different email address.<\/strong><\/p>\n A few weeks ago, I got the following, very ordinary-looking email from a Mark Schwarz:<\/p>\n Mark Schwarz mmarky430@gmail.com<\/p>\n We have a newborn on the way and we are looking to book a session. What is the studio I responded in my usual way, pointing out what my normal specialties are as a No response. This happens, so I didn’t think much about it.<\/p>\n Next: This email:<\/p>\n mohamadobama7@gmail.com<\/p>\n I am submitting some scathing reviews about your business. I am using social media As you can see, this is just a bald, bare, mean threat.<\/p>\n I am a member of several professional photography groups, including Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and The National Association of Professional Child Photographers (NAPCP). \u00a0It is through these groups that I found I am not alone as a target of this scam. \u00a0Many other photographers have received the same emails, and many have even received bad reviews from people they have never even photographed. \u00a0I did a little research.<\/p>\n First, I searched for “mohamadobama7@gmail.com.” \u00a0 Lo and behold, up came many blogs and reports about exactly what I am writing here, usually included with the Mark Schwarz email, plus one more, which looks a lot like this:<\/p>\n Subject: Investigation \u2013 Photography business and your reputation.<\/p>\n My name is Jennifer McMahon. I am a private investigator and forensic IT investigator. In the event that anytime in the future writes or threatens to write negative comments about your business, these are my services:<\/p>\n 1) Reputation Management: I am able to post your testimonials in many key areas to be found quickly by search engines. Thereby pushing any negative comments further down search engine results so as not to be immediately visible to prospective clients.<\/p>\n 2) Private Investigator: I am able to positively identify the personal name and\/or business name and address of anyone who writes or threatens to write any negative comments about your company online. I am able to supply the person\u2019s name, address, phone number, IP address, and email. Using specialized contacts, I have a 100% success rate. This service is very popular in the photography field. *Best to contact me as soon as possible if you have seen negative comments or have received a threat of negative comments.<\/p>\n 3) Further options are available upon consultation.<\/p>\n Please keep my contact information in the event you need my services. This is a one time email only. Thank you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I may or may not have received this last email already. \u00a0 It looks enough like unsoliciated spam, that \u00a0I might have deleted it. \u00a0 \u00a0On the other hand, I might receive it still this afternoon.<\/p>\n UPDATE: I received the following email from kaganelena1@gmail.com three days later:<\/p>\n Subject: Investigation – Photography business and reputation management.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve read online that many people in the photography field are receiving I work as a private investigator and I also do reputation management Elena<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The photography community is aware of this scam, and we are banding together to get the word out so that no one’s business and reputation are hurt. \u00a0Here’s what the photography community is saying:<\/p>\n http:\/\/petapixel.com\/2015\/02\/18\/watch-out-theres-a-bad-reviews-scam-targeting-photographers\/<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/realbusinessphotographer.com\/bad-reviews-photographers\/<\/p>\n WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE A TARGET<\/p>\n OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO ARE BEING TARGETED<\/p>\n http:\/\/harpernoelphotography.com\/blog\/<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.edenbaophotography.com\/bad-reviews-scam-targeting-newborn-photographers\/<\/p>\n http:\/\/jodieotte.com\/2015\/02\/go-bad-reviews-extortion\/<\/p>\n http:\/\/classiccreations.blogspot.com\/2015\/02\/extortion-threats-scam-targeting.html<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cBad Reviews” Blackmail Extortion Scam is Targeting Photographers Looking at a few sources casually online, I see that there are about 150,000 photographers working in the U.S. \u00a0We tend to work independently, or as very small companies. We are not big companies with big legal departments. We depend very much on our ongoing reputations. Sometimes,<\/p>\n\n
\nIs this photographer established enough to be worth the trouble?<\/li>\n
\nThis could be a bogus complaint or not. \u00a0It declares intentions to attack the photographer’s online reputation.<\/li>\n
\nAn offering of “legal” services to protect an online reputation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\naddress? What are your fees? What is the length of a session? When can we meet?
\nThank you. Mark Schwarz<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nphotographer, and describing my services.<\/p>\n
\nsuch as Google+, YouTube, ripoffreport, and Yelp, You will be coverd in the next week
\nor so. Your name and company name with words ripoff, bad quality, and scam next to it is
\nwhat I’m working on. I do not want money. I want to hurt your photo business to weed out
\nthe competition.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nthreats to their online reputation by a competitor. If you have already
\nreceived such threats (or should you receive these type of threats in
\nthe future), please keep me in mind. I can positively identify the
\nculprit and provide their physical and website addresses.<\/p>\n
\n(pushing negative comments further down search result indexes). I am
\nvery experienced with cases like yours. If I cannot help you, you don\u2019t
\npay me. Please let me know if interested. My rates are very reasonable.
\nA bad online reputation is like a stain that won\u2019t go away. Sadly, we
\nare judged by what Google says we are. If I see any reviews about your
\ncompany, I will contact you again. I am here if you need me. Thank you.<\/p>\n\n
\n