International Society of Photographers Convention and Symposium
Attention Everyone! If you brows the Internet and get to the following photography challenge, don’t participate, it’s a scam!!!
It’s about one big symposium of seminars, workshops, and lectures in 22-25 March 2007 so get ready!
Get ready for exclusive presentations of the finest photographers, get ready to improve your artistry and get ready to compete!
Ok, you now know when and what but where? Welcome to Las Vegas! Welcome to one of the richest and most extravagant amateur photography contests in history! You Could Win this:
$25,000.00 in cash and prizes will be awarded, including a Grand Prize of $10,000.00,
A Second Prize of $2,500.00,
three Third Prizes of $1,000.00,
five prizes of $500.00 each, and many additional prizes!
“So our 2007 Convention will offer them some of the most talented faculty we’ve ever assembled. We are particularly pleased to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly, famous celebrity photographer Bob Gruen, and Time Magazine photojournalist Robert Nickelsberg. They will treat us to very special and inspiring displays of their award-winning photography. We will also have Panel Discussions so photographers will have the opportunity to personally interact with our distinguished educators. Each attendee will also receive a massive amount of educational material that has been specially created for this historic event.” – ISP (International Library of Photography) Educational Director Craig Foster
Here’s the fake 2007 Convention Registration Form
To: Craig Foster
I received your letter today Mar 19, 2007 in regards for permission to display my photo “HER MAJESTY”. You have , unfortunately the mail is not fast enough. Thanks, I am most grateful.
VIP 1852409
Dear Craig,
I received your belated letter of winning (Final Notice)today, about my submitted entry titled “Cheerful Children”, I give you the permission to display it in future convention as this March 2007 convention is already passed before I was notified. I did not receive any earlier winning letter.
I am delighted to be a winner, an accomplished amateur!Ha!haa!! haaa!!!
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Henry A. Akinnibosun
Hi, I summited a photo to picture.com, they responded with an email saying that I had won and award and the photo will be displayed, however I am unable to contact them to ask questions other than internation phone call which I am unable to do, can you tell me if they are in fact the real deal or a scam.
I’d have to agree with everyone else. I summited a picture to picture.com and I just got an email from them today saying how I won 2 different awards and they want 169 dollars to present it at future conventions along with another 18 dollars for shipping my awards. I just would like to know if this is real or a scam..
I agree also. I received the email yesterday about my photo “Splish Splash”. I’m reluctant to send $169 for an award to be displayed at a convention over 2 months ago, that I could have attended since I actually live in Las Vegas.
I recieved a package in the mail about picture.com and my Motion Catagory entry of “Freedom”. I also recieved an e-mail about the Society of Photographers Convention and Symposium that occured 2 months ago. However, my photo, according to my memory, was submitted after the convention date. I will not pay for an award that I “won” at an event I was not even envited to and then could not recieve in person. If I really won an award, I should have it shipped to me without the $169 charge. Aspiring artists, like myself, work hard to be recogniged in this world. However, this smells scam in the worst sence of it. Please help each person here find true acceptance of our work and show us evidence and proof that our work was “awarded”.
First of all this was just a news and I’m sorry for your inconvenience. Photoaxe.com and me are not related in any manner with this contest. I have no idea why this is happening. Photoaxe just simply announced a contest (not a scam). The contest ended now. For details about the e-mails please contact the organizers (picture.com).
This is the link of the contest:
https://www.picture.com/convention/register.asp
In my opinion is very possible that some one is trying to scam the participants and the best practice is to ignore it or report it.
I entered picture.com I couldn’t submit my picture “rock chick and music man” due to numbers given and I have not received any prizes they keep emailing me but i email but and send back this email
this every time are they a scamming organization they do not have an official website
System Administrator
to me
show details
7:35 pm (3 minutes ago)
Your message
To: email@picture.com
Subject: Re: Kristina, welcome to the International Society of
Photographers!
Sent: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:34:23 -0400
did not reach the following recipient(s):
email@picture.com on Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:35:08 -0400
The recipient name is not recognized
The MTS-ID of the original message is: c=us;a= ;p=watermark
press;l=EXCHANGE0709180935Q571ZMXT
MSEXCH:IMS:Watermark Press:Circa Press:EXCHANGE 0 (000C05A6) Unknown
Recipient
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: kristina.cacic@gmail.com
To: email@picture.com
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:34:23 -0400
Subject: Re: Kristina, welcome to the International Society of Photographe rs!
are you a real company or not as I can not find the society’s website what
is this all about?
On 9/18/07, picture.com wrote:
>
> If you are having an issue with the images and links or if you want to
> view this email as a web page, open here.
> To ensure you receive emails from Picture.com, please add
> picture@picture-email.com to your address book now.
>
> *From the desk of:
> Craig Foster, Chairman*
> ——————————
>
> *Dear Kristina Cacic,*
>
> It’s something we don’t often do, but after viewing and discussing your
> photography, the Editorial Advisory Board of the International Library of
> Photography has nominated you for membership in the most exciting
> photography organization in the world – the International Society of
> Photographers!
>
> The Editorial Advisory Board wholeheartedly agrees that your photographic
> abilities warrant nomination into the International Society of
Photographers
> – a photographic organization that is world-renowned and dedicated to
> recognizing photographic talent such as yours. As Chairman, I want to
> personally inform you about all the new benefits of membership, and I did
> not want you to miss out on this opportunity. Kristina, I know that after
> hearing what we are about, you will join us as a member of our society -
the
> International Society of Photographers!
>
> You’ll receive many tangible benefits when you become a member. There are
> three levels of membership, and I am positive there is one that will fit
> your photographic needs. Whatever membership category you choose, we look
> forward to your participation in our organization for many years to come.
> Perhaps more importantly, you’ll be joining fellow photographers from
around
> the world in one of the largest photography organizations in the world -
an
> organization dedicated to recognizing, awarding, and promoting the
> photographic talent of our members.
>
> *An Organization You Can Be Proud Of!*
>
> Noted for our charitable contributions and our accomplishments in
> furthering photographic endeavors, the International Society of
> Photographers maintains a reputation for bringing photography to more
people
> and to more nations than any other organization in the world.
>
> Whether you take pictures for the satisfaction it gives you, as a personal
> way to record the world around you, or as a hobby, through your
membership,
> you and your photography will be recognized by thousands of people from
all
> over the world. Kristina, it’s a great feeling to know they’re interested
in
> you and that your photography is being viewed and enjoyed by others. In
> fact, by joining the International Society of Photographers, you and your
> photography will receive worldwide recognition from many different
nations.
>
> You’ll even have the opportunity to meet and share your photography with
> other members. As a member, I will extend a personal invitation to our
> yearly convention, which is known for bringing together photographers of
all
> ages and nationalities who share a common love of photography. These
> exciting, fun, and educational events are full of camaraderie, warm
> friendship, and mutual admiration for our photographic endeavors.
>
> *Opportunity To Attend The Photographic Event Of The Year!*
>
> This year, our conference in Las Vegas drew photographers from around the
> world! We believe this to be one of the largest single gatherings of
> photographers in history. Our members had the opportunity to meet and
> discuss photographs with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume
> Kennerly, Time Magazine photographer Robert Nickelsberg, and famed rock &
> roll photographer Bob Gruen. We’ve been entertained by such acts as The
> Platters and Lee Allen, just to name a few . . . *not to mention the
> largest single cash prize of* *$10,000 awarded to an amateur photographer.
> * As a member, you will have a chance to win your share of these cash
> prizes. No matter what style of photography you shoot, you’ll find these
> contests to be exciting and rewarding events.
>
> Join the International Society of Photographers now, Kristina, and you’ll
> become one of the recognized leaders of your craft. Your friends, family,
> and colleagues will look to you as an example of experience, vision, and
> accomplishment in the photographic world. Your society will look to you
for
> your unique perspective as expressed through your photographs. I’m sure
> we’ll soon be seeing you at our annual conventions.
>
> Go here to see the three different levels of membership.
> Go here to join us today.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Craig Foster
> *Chairman, Board of Trustees
> International Society of Photographers*
>
> *P.S.** Kristina, we accept only a limited number of members each year,
> and by accepting your invitation now, your benefits will begin immediately
> and you will promptly receive your membership items through the mail. Most
> importantly, we will welcome you as a member of the largest photography
> organization in the world – the International Society of Photographers.*
>
> This email was sent by: Picture.com – 3600 Crondall Lane, Suite 101
> Owings Mills, MD, 21117,
> To Unsubscribe: Unsubscribe
and just got this sent back
Warning: This message may not be from whom it claims to be. Beware of following any links in it or of providing the sender with any personal information. Learn more
Your inquiries and questions are very important to us. Please call us at 410-363-4800 and a dedicated customer service representative will be able to assist you.
Sincerely,
picture.com
Exact same e-mail as I got. Unfortunately my friend got scammed by them and I hate that its been happening since 2004 if not before. If anyone knows of a place to report scamming sites please let me know as I would quite happily stand up for everyone who’s getting scammed. It’s not fair that people are aloud to do this.
For anyone who thinks this is scam for which it is here are two addresses you can use.
phishing-report@us-cert.gov.
reportphishing@antiphishing.org.
I received those same exact emails and i stupidly paid money to join the international society of photography/photographers (whatever its called) and it took way longer than it said to receive my membership information after paying them between $60 and $80…i finally got it though…i kept receiving emails to submit a second picture to be published in a separate book from the initial photo that i submitted which is still listed as untitled on the website even though ive since named it but i guess they don’t update stuff like that..now that ive read all of these complaints about this site, etc im not going to make the mistake of paying to renew my membership next year…luckily i didnt send any other money to them because i figured that this was a scam in the first place but wasn’t 100% sure now i’m almost positive that it probably is…also the 2nd picture that i submitted has yet to show up on the website…when i email the site i get the same response that my email to them couldn’t be sent and then like 5 seconds later i get an email saying that you for contacting picture.com or something to that effect and to call that number to discuss any concerns or have any questions answered…thanks for posting about your experiences…i just wish i wouldn’t have sent them any money for anything and im glad that i didnt send them money for a copy of the book my picture is supposed to be published in and i dont even remember the title of the book…and also for the awards that my picture won according to the numerous emails and the letter i received in the mail about
i have recived one of those letters about nominatons to the ISP but its open to anyone to jion, and if my pictures are published in a book where was the permssion given to do this, just doesnt look legite
regards
Rodney
Ok i have been getting them too.
i will proudly stand up for anyone about this being stopped.
it is scaring me.
I have just received a letter advising you will be sending by Federal Express a trophy and medallion Please be advise I do not wish this to be sent and I would like my name taken off of your mailing list. I will not accept this Federal Express Package.
thank you for your assistance.
Julie Jamieson
It is a sad thing that it is still going on. I left this topic open exactly because I want people to find it and read before going farther and get scammed.
I am too among the many who have been scammed by these people. But I did send and email to phishing-report@us-cert.gov explaining my case. I think that it would be a good idea if everyone who has been taken advantage of will speak up. Maybe then picture.com can be shut down.
Do they still exist I can;t find them anywheres and I think that they were lonked to Pictures.com
I have paid for these books, received plaques and never came across any problems. Do they still exist as I can’t find anything on them on the web and I am sure they were linked to Pictures.com