One of the most recent spam scams going around is about a supposed image copyright violation.
I’ve spoken in the past about why not inappropriately using images, videos, text etc. from someone else is so important. You don’t want to accidentally violate copyrights, and you definitely don’t want to simply use an image or other material that you find on Google.
In my article explaining some of the different types of copyrights, I even noted how it can be very costly – to the tune of being sued and possibly awarded 6-figures or more – and why you don’t want to cut the expense of using a stock photo site.
When you do violate copyright, especially from one of the larger image repositories (Getty Images), they often start by sending you a “cease and desist” type of email or letter … which can look very much like the scam one that is going around right now.
However, the important thing to note is that this particular scam, if you click on the link, actually takes you to a website that downloads a virus to your computer.
In this case, the message is coming either through a contact form on your website and/or an email to you (to the email address that you use on your website). Good reminder is NEVER click a link in an email unless you know the person sending it, and even then, if the email looks suspicious, still don’t click.
For example, we send out email updates or everyone on our newsletter list shortly after a new blog posts is published, and the email will contain a link back to the blog post. You know me, and you know that I regularly send those types of emails, so you’re okay to click. But if my next door neighbor suddenly send you an email telling you to click on a link to read their blog article, you don’t know them and you aren’t expecting any link, so you wouldn’t want to click there.
Or, if you know how to reach the company’s website directly, you can manually type it in and find what you’re looking for that way. With the example above, you know you can always directly go to our website and click the “Blog” menu and find our latest articles.
Have you seen this scam going around?
Stay safe, don’t click!
Vicky is the CEO and Chief Creative Strategist of Vicky Wu Marketing. She draws from 30 years of experience at the CMO level, the CEO level, marketing for Fortune 500 companies and multi-million and multi-billion-dollar organizations, PLUS strategies learned helping startups and nonprofits with limited budgets … now focusing on providing SMBs with effective and efficient marketing strategies – giving them access to the same level of expertise as the really big guys with deep pockets, that they may not otherwise be able to access.
