I Made The Semi-Finals

[Tatanka001]

A few weeks ago I entered my photo "Gabby" Bytephoto.com photo title "Profile" ( http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/s...rofile&cat=all ) in the cutest pet contest I was notified today that my photo was selected to the semi-finals.


Important: Your Semi-Finalist # is 100373309

Dear Leonard Pagel,

Thank you for recently entering the Cutest Pet Photo Contest co-sponsored by CutestPetContest.com. Good News! The votes have been pouring in for your photo causing our judges to sit up and take notice! Our judges have compared the other photo entries to yours and have unanimously selected your photo of Gabbie as a semi-finalist in the contest! You have a great chance of winning one of many prizes, including a $1,000.00 Cash Prize! Your photo has automatically advanced to the final round of judging to take place soon. I'll keep you posted on your standing as the contest progresses and wish you the best of luck.

[RTaylor]

Leonard,
Sounds exciting, but please be careful.
This isn't really a legit contest. What they do is have people send in photos and tell them they have won or been in the finals.
They then try to sell you the book.
This has happened to a few members here on Byte going back as far as 2003. I can't remember the names of the other photo contests, but some are probably called Cutest Kid and many other names that some members here might remember.
This company is making money off of your photo whether your photo wins or not.
If you read the fine print on their website, it says they sell the book on Amazon but don't tell you how much nor do they tell you the ISBN.

This is a quote from their website.

If my photo is selected for printing how can I give permission to print the photo without making a purchase?

If your photo is selected for printing and you do not want to purchase the book, please send us a letter via postal mail giving us permission to print your photo along with your signature.

If you go to amazon.com and do a search on Cutest Pets Around the Globe, you will find they are trying to sell a 2007 book "new" for $69.95 which is probably what they will try to get from you.


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...sprefix=cutest

What this company is banking on, is the non professional photographer that would get excited about having one of their pictures in a book and willingly pay the $69.95

Where Is Your Office Located?

Our company is a true internet company to the core. We were started by pet loving web designers working from their homes and have continued to work from our homes as the website has grown. Many people make up the ownership of the company but we all maintain our personal freedom by not being tied down to a 9-5 schedule like your local baker or candlestick maker. Our phones are answered by humans (when we are not too busy) and emails are usually returned in a timely fashion unless they find their way into our bulk folder and are lost forever. We do not respond to emails if the answer is obvious or can be easily found on our website. Our phone lines are reserved for customers only so please do not call us to inquire about a contest entry.

After seeing this paragraph, this truely tells me that they are in it to grab the money and run. Notice it says they do not respond to emails.

If I were you, I would not sign anything.
I have a feeling the minute you sign something, its proof to them that you agree to purchase the book and they will send you the bill and not send you the book until they receive the money.

This type of scam has been around for years, but it keeps popping up in different forms and company names so newer photographers don't recognize it.


PS: I have a feeling you might have seen this link to the contest from a Google ad here on Byte?
I have to find a way to eliminate those bogus contests so members don't get sucked into buying the books

[RTaylor]

I found the link here at Byte where one of our members Suzan was scammed back in 2005 but a contest exactly like the one you entered, but it was not pet related, just the same company under a different name.

Warning: Circle of Photographers

[Tatanka001]

thanks for the info I was not going to purchase any book Nor will I sign away my work.

[RTaylor]

glad you didnt :wink:
These scams just keep re surfacing under different names all the time.
I think I found a way to block those particular ads
99% of the Google ads are legit, its just that one with the contests trying to get people to buy books that we want to block.

I think also in the small print, you are not eligible to win the prize until you buy the book.