Angela's Desk

If You Receive a Copyright Infringement Notice by Email, Do NOT Click on the Link!!

June 11, 2021

If You Receive a Copyright Infringement Notice by Email, Do NOT Click on the Link!!
Print Friendly

We received the following FAKE copyright infringement accusation this week via email. I’m including it in its entirely so you’ll know what to look for if one comes your way.

Note that the link in the email was to a virus. And, of course, “Nikki’s” email address is fake.

Other signs it’s a fake:

1. She vaguely refers to a website “or one that we host.”
2. There are grammatical errors in the letter.
3. She claims she is victim, but then refers to the victim as if it’s a different person – twice.
4. A family member of ours received the exact same email regarding his own website.
5. The exact same email is posted online but, in that one, Nikki has a different last name. She goes by many other names as well.

You can read more about fake copyright accusations being used to spread malware RIGHT HERE.

FAKE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT ACCUSATION:

Nikki
Nikki
Johnsonstudio36??9@yahoo.com
pipho
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Copyright Violation Notice

Hello there!

My name is Nikki.

Your website or a website that your organization hosts is infringing on a copyright-protected images owned by myself.

Take a look at this doc with the URLs to my images you utilized and my previous publications to get the evidence of my copyrights.

Download it now and check this out for yourself:

(LINK REMOVED)

I do believe that you deliberately violated my rights under 17 USC Sec. 101 et seq. and could be liable for statutory damage as high as $140,000 as set-forth in Section 504(c)(2) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) therein.

This letter is official notification. I seek the elimination of the infringing materials mentioned above. Please be aware as a service provider, the DMCA requires you, to eliminate or/and deactivate access to the copyrighted materials upon receipt of this particular letter. If you do not cease the use of the previously mentioned infringing materials a law suit will be commenced against you.

I have a strong faith belief that utilization of the copyrighted materials referenced above as allegedly infringing is not permitted by the legal copyright owner, its legal agent, as well as law.

I declare, under consequence of perjury, that the information in this letter is correct and that I am the copyright proprietor or am certified to act on behalf of the proprietor of an exclusive right that is presumably violated.

Best regards,
Nikki Johnson

RELATED



Got questions about Print On Demand and Self-publishing? Ask Angela Hoy.

About The Author

AngelaPortrait72dpismall_400x400

Angela Hoy is the publisher of WritersWeekly.com, the author of 19 books, and the co-owner of BookLocker.com (one of the original POD publishers that still gets books to market in less than a month), PubPreppers.com (print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish), and Abuzz Press (the publishing co-op that charges no setup fees).

Angela has lived and traveled across the U.S. with her kids in an RV, settled in a river-side home in Bradenton, FL, and lived on a 52 ft Irwin sailboat. Angela now resides on a mountaintop in Northwest Georgia, where she plans to spend the rest of her days bird watching, gardening, hiking, and taking in all of the amazing sunrises.

WritersWeekly.com - the free marketing ezine for writers, which features new paying markets and freelance job listings every Wednesday.

BookLocker.com - According to attorney Mark Levine, author of The Fine Print, BookLocker is: "As close to perfection as you're going to find in the world of ebook and POD publishing. The ebook royalties are the highest I've ever seen, and the print royalties are better than average. BookLocker understands what new authors experience, and have put together a package that is the best in the business. You can't go wrong here. Plus, they're selective and won't publish any manuscript just because it's accompanied by a check. Also, the web site is well trafficked. If you can find a POD or epublisher with as much integrity and dedication to selling authors' books, but with lower POD publishing fees, please let me know."

Abuzz Press offers FAST and FREE book publication, but only accepts a small percentage of submissions, and only works with U.S. authors.

PubPreppers.com - "We Prep, You Publish!" Print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish. Offers formatting and design services only, and then provides simple instructions for authors on where to sign up to have the print and ebook editions printed/listed/sold. Cut out the middle man. Keep 100% of what bookstores pay for your book!

Angela's POD Secrets Revealed Series can be found HERE.

Have a POD Book with another publisher? See if BookLocker can give you a better deal. (BookLocker offers "disgruntled author discounts" to those who want to move from other POD services.)


See BookLocker's publishing packages HERE.


ANGELA ON TWITTER https://twitter.com/AngelaHoy


BOOKLOCKER ON FACEBOOK - Provides links to free excerpts!
https://www.facebook.com/booklockerbooks


ANGELA ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/angela.hoy.750


ANGELA ON LINKEDIN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelahoy/


Angela is the creator of the Original 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
https://24hourshortstorycontest.com/



Read More Of Angela's Articles HERE



The Fearless Freelancer: How to Thrive in a Recession


Want to Recession-Proof Your Freelance Business?



Freelancing in a recession doesn’t have to be scary. The Fearless Freelancer gives you a proven, step-by-step process for getting steady, high-paying clients—from a freelancer who’s thrived during two recessions.



Whether this is your first recession or you’ve been through this before, discover how to:

  • Boost your confidence so you can stay calm and focus
  • Stand out in a sea of freelancers so clients choose you
  • Make freelance marketing as easy as tying your shoes
  • Find high-paying clients that still need freelancers now
  • Create marketing that will attract those clients
  • Succeed in a recession even if you’re a new freelancer


Free Bonus Content
Also get dozens of checklists, templates, and other tools to help you recession-proof your freelance business, including:

  • Simple Strategic Plan for Surviving the Recession
  • The Ultimate LinkedIn Profile Checklist for Freelancers
  • Awesome Freelance Website Template





Fall 2023 24 Hour Short Story Contest




7.625 STRATEGIES IN EVERY BEST-SELLER - Revised and Expanded Edition


At this moment, thousands of would-be authors are slaving away on their keyboards, dreaming of literary success. But their efforts won’t count for much. Of all those manuscripts, trade book editors will sign up only a slim fraction.

And of those titles--ones that that editors paid thousands of dollars to contract, print and publicize--an unhealthy percentage never sell enough copies to earn back their advances. Two years later, most will be out of print!

Acquisition Editor Tam Mossman shares seven essentials every book needs to stay in print, and sell!



Read more here:


https://writersweekly.com/books/5635.html



3 Responses to "If You Receive a Copyright Infringement Notice by Email, Do NOT Click on the Link!!"

  1. Pingback: Yes, You CAN Copyright Your Website…Under These Conditions – by Harvey Randall, Esq. | WritersWeekly.com

  2. Pamela Allegretto  June 12, 2021 at 1:20 pm

    Wow, add another one to the list. Thanks for the heads up. I am so over these people.

  3. Richard Atwood/McHenry  June 12, 2021 at 8:24 am

    I was recently hit with a renewal/charge notice of $249 from a tech support company I dealt with some years ago, iYogi. There was no link in the email, which would have caused me to be suspicious. Instead there was only a phone number. I called it, to tell them I haven’t had their service for years. He said yes, but you didn’t cancel your “automatic renewal”, which you can do now. Then the question arose as to which or what of my cards or otherwise had been charged? Anyway, I was successfully led into viewing my online bank account, so they could reverse the charge. Nothing showed up, so he said it must not have posted yet, and we will call you back in ten minutes. I then immediately called the bank — who had me change my password instantly. Naturally they never called me back. Then had to go into town to close out all my bank accounts, and have new account numbers issued. I’m usually pretty savvy, but admit I fell for this one. If in doubt, IGNORE… until an unapproved charge appears somewhere in your finances later. Then you can fight it out.