Beware of image theft

by Stephanie » Mar 7, 2008

This is what I don''t understand - We all take several shots of our diamonds at several angles. But why use such different pictures from different rings for the same "auction?" Have we identified everyone''s pictures being used?

 

by Cleo » Mar 7, 2008

I have emailed the registered owner of the diamonddirectbuy.com website, who happens to be based in England. I have drawn his attention to the theft of images from this website being used on that domain, and the misrepresentation of jewellery being offered for sale there.

Quite frankly I am shocked at the apparent lack of concern by the customer services department of idonowidont.com.

I would have expected that in the interests of their customers they would take image theft and misrepresentation very seriously. I would not expect it to be tolerated on their website, as it is not tolerated on eBay.

The response from customer services seemed to lack professionalism and any degree of concern.

x x x

 

by Demelza » Mar 7, 2008

I emailed them this morning to tell them that this seller stole my pictures and they seemed rather unconcerned. Here is their response:

"Yes this has been brought to our attention and we notified the seller to take down the pics. We are not affiliated with her or her site so you may want to email her personally about the pics on her website. Thank you for bringing this to our attention."

Should I email the seller directly? I don''t really want her to have my name.

 

by Stephanie » Mar 7, 2008

You can just go and create an "fake" email address so you can email her without her having your real name or identification at all.

 

by Ellen » Mar 7, 2008

Demelza, I just got the same response. Wonder why they don''t DROP her, like I suggested?

 

by LegacyGirl » Mar 7, 2008

Their response doesn''t seem too professional in my opinion...

 

by AGBF » Mar 7, 2008

I have only read the first and last pages of this thread so far, the pieces of bread-not the filling of the sandwich-and only because Ellen alerted me via e-mail to its existence. I visited the website in question, though, and I do not like it. I do not like it at all. It is sleazy. It reminds me of massage parlors. No one should sell engagement rings next to filth about how to get sex after your marriage breaks up. If I saw that site I would run, not walk, away from it.

PS-I am not against sex outside of marriage. Just have sex discreetly, for God's sake, don't discuss it on a website right next to a place where people are are trying to sell engagement rings!

Deborah

 

by AGBF » Mar 7, 2008

Has anyone written to any of these vendors and asked if the stone or ring pictured is the one actually being sold? (I have read the entire thread now.) I would be interested in the response.

Deborah

 

by denverappraiser » Mar 7, 2008

Really?

They are assuming the position of guaranteeing that what is being sold is as it is advertised in exchange for a fee paid by the seller. They're partners in each deal and they are acting as advocates for the seller. This is not a simple advertising venue. A buyer of an item that has been ‘verified’ by them that is subsequently found to be not as represented, for example if it's not the item pictured in the ad, quite possibly would be entitled to damages from idonowidont.com, not just from some ‘unaffiliated’ overseas seller. The little disclaimer on each advertisement that ‘the seller xxx assumes all responsibility for this listing’ does not change this. I'm no attorney, and I don't even play one on TV but a strategy session with their own council may do these folks some good.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Jewelry Appraisals in Denver

 

by decodelighted » Mar 7, 2008

So is this really the nanny who stole $$ to buy diamonds? I couldn''t read the whole article but -- why is she out of jail?? Did she flee the country? Shouldn''t we be reporting this to the authorities of wherever she''s being prosecuted? It''s possible all of the stones were bought with stolen $$$$$ (forget the stolen pix!)

YEESH!

 

by ImpatientOne » Mar 7, 2008

Hmm, well I am thinking maybe some negative publicity might get them both. How about posting about the thefts of your pics on these consumer sites?

www.ripoffreport.com

www.planetfeedback.com

 

by surfgirl » Mar 7, 2008

Wow, I just looked at that site and saw a lot of "familiar" rings there. Is it possible to have Andrey and some of the professionals here send emails/letters so it''s more official? It seems it someone''s stealing photos from this site then perhaps Andrey can take legal action as the site''s owner?

 

by AGBF » Mar 7, 2008

[/quote]

OK...this may seem far out, but is it possible that one would-be thief is behind all of this? Could Call-me-Anna who allegedly stole the blank checks have set up an entire website? Why not set up her own entire fake website? The supposedly Australian jeweler page with all the Paypal and jeweler credentials may just be a fake page. Could this be a Potemkin Village? Call me cynical.

Deborah

 

by marvel » Mar 7, 2008

It looks like they're starting to remove the pictures from their site. I clicked on a few links in this thread to idonowidont.com, and the pictures are gone.

http://auction.idonowidont.com/229ct-I-color-Si1-ROUND-EGL-Certified-UD527752---------,itemname,15618,id,auctiondetails

 

by Stephanie » Mar 7, 2008

They have removed several of the ones that have been pointed out. That's why I was wondering if we i.d. them all.

Is this one new http://auction.idonowidont.com/150-Round-Vs2-Hcolor-EGL-CERT--DDB-13992927---,itemname,15700,id,auctiondetails ?? I don't remember it from yesterday. Of course, the pictures look familiar..

And this one - http://auction.idonowidont.com/228ct-H-color-VS2--ROUND-EGL-Certified-DDB14368870----,itemname,15619,id,auctiondetails ??

 

by Diamond*Dana » Mar 7, 2008

I am glad that they are doing something about it...I like the idea about asking the seller if the pictured ring is the actual one being sold...would love to hear what they have to say about that!

 

by CNOS128 » Mar 7, 2008

hee hee.. I just an evil thought. I was reading the "About" section of the website and thought maybe they stole the photos of the "founder" and "president" from random websites, also! At any rate, I don''t believe the story.

 

by mercoledi » Mar 7, 2008

I had the same thought! They certainly aren''t very professional pictures!

 

by Gypsy » Mar 7, 2008

Just saw this thread... wow. I seller, the webstie hosting them... all of it is just enraging.

I''m glad, at the very least, some of our PS pics are being removed so that they aren''t used to dupe unsuspecting people into bad purchases.

 

by CaptAubrey » Mar 7, 2008

Judging by the bogus testimonial in the other thread, they''re obviously aware of PS and have probably been following this thread. I wonder if they''ll be back.

By the way, Neil has a good point about their role in the transaction. This bit from their FAQ:

is going to get them in trouble sooner or later. Typically, auctioneers do not guarantee anything, and you''ll find detailed fine print to that effect if you look for it.

 

by Kaleigh » Mar 7, 2008

How long has this site been in business??

 

by Rhea » Mar 7, 2008

At least a year, that''s how long ago I first found them.

 

by snuggles1 » Mar 7, 2008

See my previous post about the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. Idonowidon't has to take it down legally. You might want to email them and tell them this. If they don't, you can sue. You have sufficient proof on Pricescope that documents that these are your photos. Anything posted on the web even on a forum is the property of the person who made the post. Just make sure you keep all your email correspondence that documents their refusal to do so. If your local tv station has one of those fraud type things, like in the SF bay area on ABC 7 there is "7 on Your Side" which is an inexpensive way to get a tv reporter to contact the company and publicly discuss your issue with them on television.

 

by snuggles1 » Mar 7, 2008

I find it kinda scary that someone who lurks or posts here regularly could be the person stealing the photos

 

by Linda W » Mar 7, 2008

Does this one look familiar to anyone???


http://auction.idonowidont.com/150-Emerald-Center-VVS1-I-color-----UD460551-EGL-Cert-------,itemname,15702,id,auctiondetails

 

by Stephanie » Mar 7, 2008

That''s Idreamofice''s photo. And thanks to it, we have uncovered all this photo stealing.. Thanks again, Idream!

 

by Linda W » Mar 7, 2008

I knew it looked familiar.

Linda

 

by Linda W » Mar 7, 2008

They haven''t taken her photo down yet, but most of the others they have.

Linda

 

by 2Artists » Mar 7, 2008

Oh I am so sorry to all of you who have had a ring image ripped off. What a pain and how creepy and unfortunate. My thoughts go out to you-that is no fun at all. They did have good taste in the ones they chose however your rings really are beautiful. Pricescope is such a genteel place to be so this is such a shame. I am no expert but perhaps the original vendors of your rings might like to know-I doubt that Tiffany''s or the like would appreciate images of their rings used for fraudulent purposes. Plus a letter from a company might be a bit more scary.
This is so sad because the pictures of people''s (to die for rings) are the best. They are my favorite part of Pricesope.
Because we are artists and have a warped sense of humor it would make us tempted (If we ever should get a ring and post it) to find the most out of place, unusual or unglamorous poses or backdrops possible. Yes we are a bit silly. Ones that no one would want to use or rip off. To start with we would watermark the heck out of it or maybe just place the hand or ring on a piece of paper that says Pricescope image. Other ideas could involve posing with a completely Henna design covered hand (this would actually be gorgeous I love the art of Henna). Perhaps one could be shown posing as if doing household chores etc. Things we know not to actually do with a lovely ring on. Can you imagine hand posed aloft a sparkling toilet bowl toilet brush in hand, or maybe with a dish scrubbie over a sink of dirty dishes, maybe a fire photo in front of a wall covered in graffiti, maybe pretend operating a jackhammer, or welding equipment. Maybe a round of photos at the shooting range or Marshall arts class complete with nunchakus and Ninja stars, or as if worn breaking a brick LOL. Maybe holding a video game controller, picking up after the puppy with a baggie, on a scary Halloween mask, shown over an open mouth as if prepared to eat the ring or maybe on a sandwich or burger. These of course would not be pretty but maybe they would be a bit of a problem for people to rip off and reuse.
Best of luck I''m so sad this happened to you.