Warning: Circle of Photographers

[SMcEvoy]

I enthusiastically entered what I thought to be a legit photo contest at circleofphotographers.com. What I got back was:
"We have chosen to publish your photograph in the 2005 edition of Photography vibes. Your photograph was selected out of 8523 entries. Your work below was appreciated for the assymetric composition and light mix used throughout:"

Sounded like something to be proud of until what came next was... "As a contest finalist and for a limited time, enjoy the manuscript for only $59 (regular price is $69). This offer expires on Oct-13-2005 (or until stocks expire) and the next contest will only be in November 2005."

I 'Googled' it (which I thought I did beforehand but must have been sleeping) and found numerous hits identifying it as a scam. Several people have been done out of their money. Paypal will no longer remit payments to them.

As a small community of photographers here, I just wanted to share and warn you all.

Thanks

[TNEmily]

I've never heard of them, but thanks for the warning.

[melbaby]

Wow, what a scam, I was reading your words, and hadn't even read your name Suzan, then I saw it was you! Good of you to share that....what a shame and a let down for sure. .

[BjCnMxS]

Greetings,

After an extensive online browse of your 'reputation' I was able to recover many complaints and suggested scam activity on your part, after a thorough analysis and comparison of the email you have sent me I believe this to be entirely true and I wish for you to discontinue any advertised photography of mine on your site! I also was able to recover such information as you billing address, contact information and furthermore your IP address!

--

I have no personal quarrel between you, if your are illegitimate or not doesn't interest me, I wish for my photograph to be removed from your site immediately! If you fail to do so much I will make further movement into exposing your company for fraud/scam.

Such complaints as these coincide with the exact numbers you had sent me;

--

Complaint - smcevoy
Senior Member
Gallery: Latest Photos
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1771

Warning: Circle of Photographers

I enthusiastically entered what I thought to be a legit photo contest at circleofphotographers.com. What I got back was:
"We have chosen to publish your photograph in the 2005 edition of Photography vibes. Your photograph was selected out of 8523 entries. Your work below was appreciated for the assymetric composition and light mix used throughout:"

Sounded like something to be proud of until what came next was... "As a contest finalist and for a limited time, enjoy the manuscript for only $59 (regular price is $69). This offer expires on Oct-13-2005 (or until stocks expire) and the next contest will only be in November 2005."

I 'Googled' it (which I thought I did beforehand but must have been sleeping) and found numerous hits identifying it as a scam. Several people have been done out of their money. Paypal will no longer remit payments to them.

As a small community of photographers here, I just wanted to share and warn you all.

Thanks

__________________
Suzan...
--

To be so obvious I will submit the email you personally sent to me in congratulations of the 'apparent' publication;

--
- Show quoted text -


Circle of Photography’‚’‚‚‚¦‚¾’‚‚

Publication of your photograph

Dear Benjamin Comiskey,

We have chosen to publish your photograph in the 2005 edition of Photography vibes. Your photograph was selected out of 8523 entries. Your work below was appreciated for the assymetric composition and light mix used throughout:
Blind Sight
A beautiful morning, Enjoy! Benjamin

As a contest finalist and for a limited time, enjoy the manuscript for only $59 (regular price is $69). This offer expires on Oct-16-2005 (or until stocks expire) and the next contest will only be in November 2005.

Click here to take advantage of this great offer now as we are finalizing orders. You can view sample selected pictures of fellow finalists by clicking here

Paying members who order the 2005 manuscript also qualify for the $5000 grand prize as a thank you for helping us to craft and print the manuscripts and to support our team. They will also receive an invitation to the global photography conference.

Our own manuscripts are 9 1/2" X 11 and are made of high quality, bounded paper with a 12 point high quality laminated cover. Manuscripts have over 300 pages of leading photographs and professional illustrations as well as several sections of photography techniques written by leading experts. They make terrific coffee table books and great gifts to friends and family! Of course, your work will be published in this manuscript along with your name.
cover of the manuscript --- Great nature cover of the manuscript --- Great nature cover of the manuscript --- Great Nature

Sample cover designs, actual covers renewed every year.

You can also have your biography printed in the book to highlight your work or your experience.

Finally, Circle of Photography lets you commemorate the publication of your photograph with a certificate in your name printed on a walnut-finished plaque. The plaque measures 10 1/2" X 13".

The plaque will include your name and your photograph:

cover of the manuscript --- Great nature

These are sample photographs selected in the 2005 edition of our manuscript:


Orders are only available until Oct-16-2005 (or until stocks expire). The next contest will only be in November 2005. To receive a copy (copies) before reserves run out, please click here now

Note, to order, you can also cut and paste this link in your browser:


If you do not have a credit card, please mail your check or money order as soon as possible to:

Circle of Photographers
7461 St-Jacques Apt.7
Montreal
QC
H4B1W7
CANADA

All $ are US $. Please add US $8 (or US $18 for international) to the amount of the book for shipping. Else the book will not be shipped.

For help, support, and enquiry, please feel free to contact us at help@circleofphotographers.com


Note: If you don't want to receive any further news from us, please click here to opt out. Or just send an email to cancel@circleofphotographers.com.


Please note that due to high demand and limited supplies, manuscripts are available on a first come, first served basis.


The Circle of Photography team

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I myself looking into this have gathered more than enough information and evidence to formally place complaint on your site, exposing it internationally.

Regards,

Benjamin Comiskey - BjC

[bernabeu]

well.....................................duh !

if one should win a photo contest, one would expect either payment or a prize

[BjCnMxS]

You are uninformed!!

Benjamin

[SMcEvoy]

bernabeu, I don't expect a prize or money when I enter every competition. Several are just for the recognition. However a scam is when you have to pay for your 'prize' and several other people are told exactly the same thing as you.

[BjCnMxS]

I've spoken to quite a few abou this, I also posted in my 'DeviantArt' Journal as warning, it's hard trying to get in contact with paypal but have done!!

Thanks!

Benjamin

[Camp Girl]

I too was selected as a "winner" in their contest. I did not send in any $ for the manuscript. Sounded fishy. I thought I'd wait to see if they would send me the Certificate on a Walnut Finished plaque. If they did that maybe they were legit. It never came. They are still e-mailing me to buy their book. It's cheaper now. Their e-mail follows.

As you know, we have chosen to publish your photograph in the 2005 edition of Photography vibes. Your photograph was selected out of a very high number of entries. Your work below was appreciated for the assymetric composition and light mix used throughout:

those EYES
As a contest finalist and for a limited time, enjoy the manuscript for only $49 (regular price is $69). This offer expires on October 15th 2005 (or until stocks expire) and the next contest will only be in January 2006.

Click here to take advantage now of this great offer (or to order additional copies) as we are finalizing orders. You can view sample selected pictures of fellow finalists by clicking here

Paying members who order the 2005 manuscript also qualify for the $5000 grand prize as a thank you for helping us to craft and print the manuscripts and to support our team. They will also receive an invitation to the global photography conference.

Our own manuscripts are 9 1/2" X 11 and are made of high quality, bounded paper with a 12 point glossy laminated cover. Manuscripts have over 250 pages of leading photographs and professional illustrations as well as several sections of photography techniques written by leading experts. They make terrific coffee table books and great gifts to friends and family! Of course, your work will be published in this manuscript along with your name.
Sample cover designs, actual covers renewed every year.

You can also have your biography printed in the book to highlight your work or your experience.

Finally, Circle of Photography lets you commemorate the publication of your photograph with a certificate in your name printed on a walnut-finished plaque. The plaque measures 10 1/2" X 13".

The plaque will include your name and your photograph:
Orders are only available until October 15th (or until stocks expire). The next contest will only be in January 2006. To receive a copy (copies) before reserves run out, please click here now

Note, to order, you can also cut and paste this link in your browser:

http://www.circleofphotographers.com/payment/shopping_cart_special.php?ContestPhotoID=11378

If you do not have a credit card, please mail your check or money order as soon as possible to:

Circle of Photographers
7461 St-Jacques Apt.7
Montreal
QC
H4B1W7
CANADA

All $ are US $. Please add US $8 (or US $18 for international) to the amount of the book for shipping. Else the book will not be shipped.

For help, support, and enquiry, please feel free to contact us at help@circleofphotographers.com

Note: If you don't want to receive any further news from us, please click here to opt out. Or just send an email to cancel@circleofphotographers.com.

Please note that due to high demand and limited supplies, manuscripts are available on a first come, first served basis.

The Circle of Photography team

[Medic1210]

www.picture.com runs the exact same scam. Stay far away from both of them.

Mike

[RTaylor]

I cant get into circle of photographers at the moment.. says i'm denied to even open the webpage. That tells me something is fishy if my company wont let me view it.

But if you look at picture.com.. you will notice many of the pictures are of poor quality and dont even have a true composition. Many of them would not even win or make it into any kind of finals for contests.
That alone should clue everyone that they accept anyone no matter how good or bad your picture is.
Its all for the money.

There is another site that does the same thing, I just cant think of the name, but Bluesky might be able to tell everyone.

[RTaylor]

see all the replies

A photograph to be published soon

[Adevlin]

It is good to see that my suspicions were right.. I have recieved many letters from picture.com saying exactly the same things.
The owners of these scams know that a lot of people out there are very eager to see their photos in print, eager enough to pay them money to do so.
A shame really because that initial feeling of thinking "Wow I have been selected......" is great for the beginner, then you read on and very quickly get deflated.
I think all scams should be shown for what they are as quickly as possible....

[kmjones]

As I read along I can just kick myself for not realizing how many scams are out there!

I have fallen prey to Picture.com last year....as an ignorant not so great, but enthusiastic, budding photographer, I jumped at the chance to win money!!! What an exciting possibility! I thought it wasn't right having to pay money for my picture to be published and so much at that! However, I thought I had a chance to be noticed. Upon receiving the book, I thought it was very professionally done. The hardbound cover was just beautiful. Then I opened it up and couldn't believe that my photographs were sitting next to some other peoples 'snap shots'. I thought that my work didn't even compare to these others and how could those pictures even win a contest?????!!!!! I was disapointed because of this and expected a lot more...like the great work that is displayed on Byte....

I recently posted some work on another site. Can anyone give me some word about them?? www.photostockplus.com
Please don't tell me they are scam artists too!!! HELP!!!


Thanks again for any information you all can find.

Melissa

[Medic1210]

What kills me is that this very site has chosen to be associated with these scam artists by allowing them to be sponsors. Personally, I wouldn't want my site to be sponsored by scam artists.

Mike