Is your inbox feeling a bit crowded lately? Between extended car warranties and distant relatives leaving you fortunes, there’s a new scammer in town targeting your business website: the copyright infringement scam, when someone reaches out with a false claim that you’ve stolen an image from them and demands compensation. Let’s dive into this sneaky scheme that’s giving our clients the heebie-jeebies!

Breaking Down the Copyright Infringement Scam

“That’s MY Photo!” (Spoiler Alert: Probably Not)

Picture this: You’re enjoying your morning coffee when an official-looking email slides into your inbox. Someone claims that a photo on your website belongs to them, complete with an impressive-looking copyright code that would make even legal departments raise an eyebrow. They’re demanding compensation by a specific date or threatening legal action.

Cue dramatic music

Before you panic and reach for your wallet (or hastily delete that gorgeous header image from your website), take a deep breath. This common copyright infringement scam is the digital equivalent of someone trying to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.

Why This Stock Photo Scam Works on B2B Companies

Business owners are prime targets because:

• You’ve worked hard to build your professional reputation
• Legal threats feel especially concerning for established businesses
• The codes and terminology they use sound legitimate enough to create doubt

See an image below of a sample email. This is the real language one of our clients received. We’ve removed their business details and the scammer’s contact info, but you get the idea.

Scary stuff!

Everything, right down to the email convention used by the scammer, is meant to send you into digital fight or flight mode.

The Reality Check

Here’s what you need to know: If you’re working with reputable sources for your imagery (for example, we purchase all of our client stock images from iStock), you’re already protected. Stock photo subscriptions exist precisely to give you legal rights to use these images.

What to Do When Stock Photo Scammers Come Knocking

When these “copyright crusaders” slide into your inbox:

• Don’t panic or immediately remove content – Hasty reactions are exactly what they’re counting on.
  
• Check your image source – Did you take it yourself? Did it come from a paid stock site? Was it part of the materials we created for you? If you can answer yes to any of these, you’re in the clear.
  
• Give it the spam treatment – Like that email from the prince who needs your bank details, this deserves the same response: absolutely no oxygen.

The Bottom Line: Staying Safe from Any Copyright Infringement Scam

Your website’s visual appeal is crucial to your inbound marketing strategy. Don’t let random email threats compromise your carefully crafted online presence.

When in doubt, reach out to your friendly neighborhood marketing agency (that’s us!) before making any changes. We’re here to help you navigate the sometimes murky waters of digital marketing — scammers and all.

Remember: The best defense against marketing scams is a good offense of knowledge and a healthy dose of skepticism!

Have you encountered this copyright infringement scam or others targeting your company’s website? Let us know what you’re seeing so we can warn other businesses!