There is a persistent scam going around that is so pervasive, that you might think everyone has heard about it, and is immune to it. Yet, I often enough see this come up as a question in a Facebook group – where a photographer is unsure if an enquiry is a scam. Most often they are. This is how these advance-fee scams work, and how photographers are scammed:
Photographers beware: eBay buyer steals camera and lens by pretending to receive wrong product
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Buying and selling gear online is convenient in many ways, but sadly, it comes with a risk of various scams. Apparently, the scammers have figured out how to rob you even through eBay, the website which is generally one of the safest options. Photographer Liz Moughon was recently subject of one such eBay scam, and she shared her story with DIYP as a cautionary tale for all of you who want to sell your gear online.
Photographers, beware of this magazine photoshoot scam
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Online scams are a pretty common occurrence, and many of them are aimed at photographers and other creatives. Lately, a scam has been going around targeting particularly portrait and fashion photographers. It’s pretty elaborate and it can be difficult to notice red flags, but it’s the details that will reveal that you should stay away from it.
After its digiFilm fail, Yashica launches a 35mm film. Photographers are furious
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As if the digiFilm’s epic fail wasn’t enough, Yashica is now launching its own 35mm film. Yes, that Yashica, the company that trashed the iconic Japanese brand’s name by launching a plastic piece of junk version of the Electro 35.
The new 35mm film has been promoted on Yashica’s Facebook page, and it’s bad from the very start. The bad Photoshop job of the promo image shows that it could be just another scam, which has provoked a fierce reaction in the community.
Wedding videographer sued for $14,000 over allegedly scamming multiple brides
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From time to time, we hear stories of unprofessional wedding photographers or videographers who ruin precious memories for the couple. The latest case comes from Wisconsin, US. A wedding videographer was sued by several brides over allegedly failing to deliver the promised work or even not showing up at the wedding. The court has ruled that he will have to pay damages, and they sum up to over $14,000.
I got $5,000 worth of gear stolen from me through Fat Llama
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As mentioned previously on this site, I use the Fat Llama website to loan out some of my photography gear when not in use, and I’ve been very happy with the extra beer money… well up until last week that is, as my camera kit was stolen!
Let’s rewind a bit and go through exactly what happened, how I was dealt with by the Fat Llama team and my thoughts on how to better protect yourself if you use Fat Llama or something similar.
Travel photographers, beware of this international scam that tricked 100 people so far
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There are all sorts of scams targeted at photographers. But there has recently been a new one that has reportedly tricked at least 100 people so far. It’s targeted particularly at travel photographers and Instagram influencers. It doesn’t only involve losing thousands of dollars, but potentially being in danger and manipulated in a foreign country, thousands of miles away from home.
These are the four biggest photography rip-offs you should avoid
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Photography is an expensive hobby even if you only buy the stuff you absolutely need. And like in any other industry, there are things that make you spend even more on completely unnecessary things. In this video, Marc Newton of The School of Photography talks about the four most common rip-offs that are present in the world of photography. He teaches you to avoid them to save yourself some money, but also what to focus on instead.
This is how photographers caught and identified a Venmo scammer
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You may be familiar with the increasingly popular scam targeting photographers. Scammers use Facebook Marketplace, pay through Venmo, and cancel the payment after you’ve already handed over the gear. Photographer Jennifer Khordi was scammed this way and had her $3,800 worth Nikon D810A stolen. But, thanks to the community and photographer Eli Wohl, the scammer was identified and Khordi got her camera back.
Attention Internet Scammers – Eff Off And Die
by 18 CommentsNine Internet Scams, Internet Spams and Phone Scams that Could Affect your Photography Business
Please excuse the rant – but I am so sick and tired of constantly having to ward off internet scam artists, internet spam, phone scams and theft of my personal information – it’s time to have a serious conversation on how the internet needs some sort of fundamental kick in the a$$ that will stop this omnipresent onslaught of time sucking junk.
Oh – and I don’t just mean the guy working at the call center that phones me every day about improving my SEO – I’m also talking about the big corporations that buy my personal information and then send me “personalized” advertising about some random pair of shoes I clicked on months ago.
You can all eff off and die.
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