EGGD From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 12426 posts, RR: 40 Posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 2676 times:
Hi there, I need the help of someone who is a professional or who has dealt with alot of businesses..
This might be quite important so please listen. For a start I need help, and I'm sure some of you got an email too so you're probably in the same position.. Somebody emailed me on Thursday with regard to the usage of one of my photos. Which is nothing unusual, but you know just a few little things that I picked up that are probably not important... Anyway, when they emailed back I was told the photo was for use in a promotion for Arriva buses in which the given photo would be used on advertisements on the buses on certain routes in London..
The price for usage they quoted was £4000. Not just that, but after I emailed them back asking what size photo they would like they said that before that i'd need to send them a downpayment of £500 so that they could promote my name along with my picture. Also the say there will be a ceremony to inaugurate the promotion (whatever it is, that hasn't been stated), and other such stuff. Anyone who has sold photos to businesses before, have you ever had to pay a downpayment? Sounds a bit suspicious to me, especially since i've never heard of the company (Aviation Retail inc.) and the person who emailed me didn't have a typical email address.
I know Tobias has also been emailed.. Anyone else? Has anyone gone one step further?
I'm not trying to question anyones integrity but it does seem a bit strange to me, and i'm not really willing to hand over £500 in such circumstances!!!
USAFHummer From United States of America, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 54 Reply 1, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 2638 times:
Tell them that you want 3500 pounds (no idea how to put the pound sign on the American keyboard lol)...if they are offering 4000 and say that you need to give them 500....it makes sense to ask for 3500...although this does sound like a scam to me...
Greg
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
JT8D From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 170 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 2627 times:
Definitely sounds unusual. I have never heard of such a fee. I would tell them not to worry about promoting me just send my money for the agreed photo usage.
JeffM From United States of America, joined May 2005, 3266 posts, RR: 53 Reply 3, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 2624 times:
Nice one Greg! Yup, would do the same. Just tell them to take their 500lbs (how's that?) out of your 4000. Tell them to hurry as you have other "takers" for the photo they want.
EGGD From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 12426 posts, RR: 40 Reply 4, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 2608 times:
500lbs, hahaha thats a good one Jeff!! I might do that, first i've just asked them to give me a name I can write out a cheque out for. If its a personal cheque I know its a scam. I've also emailed Arriva to see if they have ever dealt with this company.
However, Jeff you're Idea sounds good to me. I'll say that as it'll leave me in a pretty good position.
ExitRow From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 2601 times:
Daniel,
No reputable art buyer would ask for a downpayment. That's ridiculous. Usage doesn't work that way.
This sounds very similar to the tried and true "modelling agency" scam where they "discover" young, unknown fashion modelling talent and scam them into paying $500 to be added to a talent "database."
USAFHummer From United States of America, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 54 Reply 6, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 2599 times:
Also...does the UK have something like our BBB (Better Business Bureau)...if there is something like that, give them a call and see if they can verify the legitimacy (or illegitimacy) of this company...
Greg
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
Fireguy274 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 299 posts, RR: 8 Reply 7, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 2566 times:
If you send me 500 american i will buy one of your photos for 400? JK
Apuneger From Belgium, joined Sep 2000, 3026 posts, RR: 13 Reply 9, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2475 times:
Manzoori: Yes, you're 100% correct. This mail is a typical mail in which people try to convince you to make a payment of amount X in order to receive amount 5X.
I've heard/read of many similar fraud cases. It's quite simple actually: if somebody you don't know asks for a sum of money via email for something you haven't ordered explicitely, just delete the mail. Don't let them convince you...
Craigy From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 1118 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2470 times:
Dan,
Have you also won the Canadian lottery?
It's been in the news a lot over here. You are phoned to say that you have won £1million in the Canadian lottery but need to send an administration fee.
They have so far scammed over £3million in admin fees - and that's just from the people who have reported it.
One year I won a holiday and when I didn't send the admin fee, I won another one!!!!
Jaspike From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2008, 1 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2462 times:
Sounds a bit suspicious to me, especially since i've never heard of the company (Aviation Retail inc.)
If they're dealing with thousands of £s, you'd have thought they'd be mentioned somewhere on the internet, a search on Google brings up nothing at all.
As the Metropolitan Police website says:
Remember: "If it sounds too good to be true, then it is!"
On that page it says: If you believe you might be being set up as a target for fraud or if you are an investigator and you think you might be dealing with this type of activity then please contact the Fraud Squad at the address, e-mail or phone number below.
EGGD From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 12426 posts, RR: 40 Reply 12, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2456 times:
Hi there,
Thought as much, sounded suspicious from the beginning. I have to make sure though, wouldn't want to miss out on £4000 . I'm well aware of the other scams going around, the only thing i'm worried about is the other photographers he has emailed. At first it seemed genuine until we started talking about the money, I can see someone not experienced whatsoever with photo sales could get drawn in.
Also, Once he emails me back I should have his real name, I can email his ISP and try and find out where he's using the computer from, and then I can email the 'fraud squad' hahaha.
Also i'm sure Arriva will be interested as they have been mentioned.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 13, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 2417 times:
I haven't heard of the Candian Lottery.
I assume that it is the same scam as the spanish lottery and the European lottery.
Have heard of the Nigerian Letter Scam.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
EGGD From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 12426 posts, RR: 40 Reply 16, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2295 times:
Hmm,
I've got a reply saying something on the lines of 'another photographer has made us aware of you revealing the details of our negotiations on a public newsgroup and thus I will have to terminate our deal'.
Which means he probably reads the forum, oh well .
JeffM From United States of America, joined May 2005, 3266 posts, RR: 53 Reply 17, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2296 times:
I think this was mentioned in another post. One reason I don't come on here asking how much I should ask.... So it does look like the buyers read these posts....
ExitRow From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 2270 times:
So it does look like the buyers read these posts....
I think the fact this "buyer" saw this thread is only a good thing for us.
A photographer paying for an ad agency to use his images is pure BS. I don't have a problem discussing usage and pricing in forums, but I agree that once a deal is struck and prices have been discussed, that should be kept confidential as a professional courtesy.
'another photographer has made us aware of you revealing the details of our negotiations on a public newsgroup and thus I will have to terminate our deal'.
EGGD From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 12426 posts, RR: 40 Reply 20, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 2218 times:
Hi there,
Please, I only asked if anyone has been in this situation before, as i'm unaware of the procedure in this case. Please nobody claim it is a scam, it could quite easily all be a misunderstanding. I can't go into any specific detail at the moment but i'll probably be able to explain fully whats happening or has happened tomorrow.
Please nobody bring anyone's integrity into question at the moment, I only needed to know whether anyone has gone through this procedure before.
EGGD From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 12426 posts, RR: 40 Reply 21, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2155 times:
Hey All,
I acted stupidly, and should have not put into doubt the competance of the
company in question, who throughout my negotiations have remained interested and helpful regarding my pictures. They have decided to not go ahead with charging me £500, which was infact only for their financial balance sheet. I regret that created misleading information regarding that company which caused prejudice. I have struck a deal with the company and everything seems to be in order.
Boieng747-400 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (9 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2123 times:
Hey Dan,
How come you have contradicted yourself totally throughout this post? I mean clearly your first posts were putting into doubt this company and now you are praising them...
BTW how much money are you getting and what do you plan to do with it?
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