Scam ads using my photos

[pips]

I'm forever finding adverts online for African Grey parrots, using photos of Mojo and Shinda. The scammers clearly go through my Flickr and 'steal' whatever pics they wish to use, then advertise 'their' parrots for ridiculously cheap prices (usually about £200, the average Grey costs at least £600).

The deal is always that the buyer pays upfront and the seller sends the (non-existent) birds by courier. I've no doubt some people DO fall for it too.

We were discussing this on a PARROT FORUM last night, here's just one of the ads I found:

http://www.birdtrader.co.uk/pair_of_talking_african_grey_parrots/advert/243305

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flipflopip/4647683340/in/set-72157623843085665/

Found eight others but those have all been taken down already.

Anyway, there's nothing I can do if I wish to keep my photos public, which I do as so many people like to see them, other than report the ads as and when I (or other people) find them.

Yesterday, a friend found this though! I was initially a bit but then I just laughed!

http://uk.efreeclassifiedads.com/for-sale/pets/african-grey-parrots-377.htm

That's the first time I've come across one using a photo with ME in it! They've got some bloody front!

 

[Delvey]

I noticed on the second one there is a report/spam button. I'd use this with the link from your flickr in there

I'd also email the seller and state you want royalty fees etc for them to use your photo

There is a google chrome app that searches the web for your pictures as well. May be worth looking into

 

[pips]

I noticed on the second one there is a report/spam button. I'd use this with the link from your flickr in there

I'd also email the seller and state you want royalty fees etc for them to use your photo

There is a google chrome app that searches the web for your pictures as well. May be worth looking into

Oh don't worry, I report each and every one I find!

The scammers are generally from Cameroon, asking them to pay royalties would be a complete waste of time, they are totally lacking in scruples!

Someone recommended this:

http://www.tineye.com/

Trouble is, I have literally thousands of photos of my parrots! I've just accepted over the years that this will continue to happen and all I can do is continue to report them when I find them

 

[mucca_D]

Trouble is, I have literally thousands of photos of my parrots! I've just accepted over the years that this will continue to happen and all I can do is continue to report them when I find them

Or you could have some fun with a bit of scambaiting

some of ths stories on http://www.419eater.com/ will make you laugh for rather a long time

 

[pips]

Or you could have some fun with a bit of scambaiting

some of ths stories on http://www.419eater.com/ will make you laugh for rather a long time

Oh I often have a play with them!

Love that website, discovered it a few years ago and it is very amusing!

 

[kman2009]

You could consider putting a watermark across your image. Would probably deter most scammers

 

[pips]

You could consider putting a watermark across your image. Would probably deter most scammers

I did wonder about that but I assume this can't be done retrospectively to photos already in my Flickr account (that'll be thousands then! )?

Also, I'd only consider having a watermark/signature in the bottom corner of photos (I appreciate serious photographers use watermarks for a good reason but I really dislike them) so I expect the scammers would just save and crop the images!