picture.com a scam?

newrmdmike · May 9, 2007

has anyone enterend their contest . . . it looked pretty shady but i gave it a shot.

then i get a letter in the mail saying i'm in the semi-finals and blah blah blah, its going to be in a book, do i want to buy the book for way to much money, blah blah blah.

i recently recieved the following email from them

[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dear Michael,[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Last month, we informed you that you and your artistic accomplishments could have been honored at the International Society of Photographers Convention and Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada, even though you were unable to attend.[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If you have not already taken advantage of this special opportunity, this is your final chance to do so.[/FONT] [FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Time is limited for you to elect to receive your awards and benefits of the ISP membership that [/FONT]
<img title="rightsideblock" alt="rightsideblock" height="100%" width="60"> [FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] we have scheduled for you, provided that you will allow us to present your photo "At The Mercy Of Man" (see your photo here) at our next convention. Your awards, which will be shipped to you at this time, include your custom engraved Outstanding Achievement in Photography Crystal Award Trophy see it here, your bronze Commemorative Award Medallion, and your Full Basic Membership into the International Society of Photographers for 2007. [/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In this regard, we have arranged for your photographic artistry to be prominently displayed at a future international gathering of photographers. Your photograph, along with your name, will be presented exactly as you created it, so that your artistry receives the exposure it deserves. In this way, hundreds of attending photographers and their guests, who come from all over the world to attend the convention, will appreciate your photograph.[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And let me tell you a little about the actual awards and ISP membership benefits that you will receive by mail immediately after you confirm your participation in this prestigious event by allowing us to showcase your photo:[/FONT]

[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]<img title="crystal-sm" alt="crystal-sm" align="right" border="2" height="250" hspace="5" width="110"><img title="checkmark" alt="checkmark" height="25" width="25"> Your Outstanding Achievement in Photography Crystal Award Trophy (a $300.00 value) is a magnificent work of art made from imported crystal; it is hand-engraved and mounted on a solid marble base. This will be the first time ever we have bestowed these crystal awards. They have been created by artisans that we commissioned specially for this year's convention. This impressive award is so valuable and fragile that we have designed a special carrying case to ensure the protection of your prestigious award.
<img title="checkmark" alt="checkmark" height="25" width="25"> Your bronze Commemorative Award Medallion is a deeply etched bronze medal (a $40.00 value) brilliantly displayed on a 25-inch red, white and blue satin ribbon.
<img title="checkmark" alt="checkmark" height="25" width="25"> And your Full Basic Membership into the International Society of Photographers for 2007 (a $60.00 value) entitles you to a personalized membership card, special discounts and contests, and a free subscription to our quarterly newsletter. Please note, if you are already an ISP member, your benefits will be extended an additional year.[/FONT]

[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Michael, all that's required for us to immediately send you all of these Awards is for you to give us permission to display your photograph(iremoved link). Additionally, because you will not be present, we must also ask you for the necessary funds ($169.00 plus p+h) to cover the costs of the time and effort required to present your photography before the convention attendees, and to cover the costs incurred in insuring and shipping to you these extremely bulky and heavy awards.[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Michael, we are, of course, ultimately most interested in meeting you and having you personally present your artistry in front of the thousands of other photographers who attend these live events. Unfortunately, this is not the case at this time, so we're trying to do the next best thing. But we sincerely hope to personally present you with your most deserved awards in the future.[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Go Here To Have Your Photo Displayed At The Convention! (i removed link)[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sincerely,[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Craig Foster
International Society of Photographers
Convention Awards Chairperson
[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P.S. Your Outstanding Achievement in Photography Crystal Award Trophy, bronze Commemorative Award Medallion, and personalized membership card, will be shipped to you by Federal Express and will be accompanied by a 100% money back guarantee of your complete satisfaction. If for any reason you're not 100% delighted with your Awards, simply return them any time within 60 days of receipt for a full refund, no questions asked.[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P.P.S. You'll also receive a $100.00 gift certificate off the registration of a future ISP convention so that we can formally recognize your photographic accomplishments in person at a date that's convenient to you.[/FONT]

also they sent emails trying to sell crap etc.

newrmdmike · May 9, 2007

Please immediately send me my Outstanding Achievement in Photography Crystal Award Trophy (a $300.00 value), my bronze Commemorative Award Medallion (a $40.00 value), and my Full Basic Membership into the International Society of Photographers for 2007 (a $60.00 value), including my personalized membership card, entry into special contests and a subscription to ISP's quarterly newsletter. If I am already an ISP member, my membership benefits will be extended an additional year. Please charge my credit card $169.00 (plus $18.00 shipping and insurance) to cover the costs of presenting my photography at the convention and all shipping, handling, and insurance costs to Federal Express these extremely bulky and heavy awards to me. My satisfaction is guaranteed by your 100% money-back guarantee. If for any reason I am not 100% satisfied with my awards, I may return them within 60 days for a full refund. I understand I will also receive a $100.00 gift certificate off the registration of a future convention so that my photographic accomplishments can be formally recognized in person at a date that is convenient for me.

First
Name: Last
Name: Address: (Address
cont'd): City: State/
Province: Alabama Alaska Alberta American Samoa Arizona Arkansas Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Canada/Europe Armed Forces Pacific British Columbia California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Federated States of Micronesia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Manitoba Marshall Islands Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Brunswick New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York Newfoundland North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Northwest Territories Nova Scotia Ohio Oklahoma Ontario Oregon Palau Pennsylvania Prince Edward Island Puerto Rico Quebec Rhode Island Saskatchewan South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas U.S. Virgin Islands Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Yukon
(US & Canada only) Country: United States Canada Andorra Anguilla Antigua/Barbuda Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Barbados Belgium Belize Bermuda Bolivia Botswana Brazil British VI Brunei Canada Cayman Islands Chile Croatia Cyprus Denmark Dominica Ecuador El Salvador Faroe Islands Finland France Germany Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Kuwait Lebanon Liechtenstein Luxembourg Malaysia Malta Mexico Namibia Netherlands Netherlands Ant New Zealand Norway Panama Paraguay Portugal San Marino Saudi Arabia Seychelles Singapore Slovenia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka St. Christopher St. Helena St. Kitts/Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent Sweden Switzerland Thailand Trinidad/Tobago Turks/Caicos United Arab Em. United Kingdom United States Vatican City Venezuela Zip: Photo Title: Card
Type: Discover MasterCard Visa American Express Card
Number: Email: Exp. Date: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 (mm/yy) I wish my name to appear on my award exactly as follows:
I hereby give you permission to display my photograph "At The Mercy Of Man" at the ISP convention.

If you experience difficulty ordering, please call (410) 363-4800 ext. 102

newrmdmike · May 9, 2007

yes i think its a scam, i'm going to contact wamu about their banner on a scam webpage

http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/qnaDetail.asp?threadID=8171

EBphotography · May 9, 2007

I entered their contests...I guess it's ok if you don't order the books or anything. I think it was Alison that told me someone she knows won a contest and they really did send the thousand dollars. I'm just not buying anything. Hope that helps.

Eric.

Alex_B · May 9, 2007

I seem to remember that a couple of weeks ago we had someone telling on this forum almost exactly the same about a similar (the same) website.

it is a scam of course...

Alex_B · May 9, 2007

EBphotography said:
I entered their contests...I guess it's ok if you don't order the books or anything. I think it was Alison that told me someone she knows won a contest and they really did send the thousand dollars. I'm just not buying anything. Hope that helps.

Eric.

well, if they nick the money from many people, then they might actually have the few spare coins to give the winner a prize

newrmdmike · May 9, 2007

yeah, but look at their grand prize winners, and first place winners, mostly crap images, some of the last place ones at the bottom of the page are better than the ones at the top.

Alex_B · May 9, 2007

newrmdmike said:
yeah, but look at their grand prize winners, and first place winners, mostly crap images, some of the last place ones at the bottom of the page are better than the ones at the top.

well, that is somewhat fishy too.. I agree, but then again, flickr is similar in that respect

lots of people prefer the not-too-arts things

Big Mike · May 9, 2007

Maybe not technically a scam, they do put your photo into a book...and you can buy that book for some crazy price. I've never heard if they actually give out prizes or not...but it's definitely a shady operation.