Possible scam?

[geronimo_appleby]

I sent a reply and got no return from the address or the trace i put on it. It was a dead end.

ditto - less the trace.

dammit, 8 dollars a pop would be handy over the next few months.

 

[janiexx]

Hmmm...so glad I checked on here as I also received this email as well. I have no intention of replying now!

 

[sr71plt]

Still interested in what the scam value is--if the reply e-mail is a fake (apparently it was given in variations and TxRad says his trace back to a valid e-mail didn't carry). That's a lot of effort--finding a specific story title to cite--without any potential payoff.

 

[PennLady]

Still interested in what the scam value is--if the reply e-mail is a fake (apparently it was given in variations and TxRad says his trace back to a valid e-mail didn't carry). That's a lot of effort--finding a specific story title to cite--without any potential payoff.

Well, no one said the originator was smart.

 

[SydneyBlake]

I feel so blessed to be part of such an elite group!

Because I also got that email. But come on! Dark was offered $20 while the rest of us only $8??? I mean, my tits are worth $20. Sheesh!

 

[mynameisben]

Because I also got that email. But come on! Dark was offered $20 while the rest of us only $8??? I mean, my tits are worth $20. Sheesh!

Don't sell yourself short, Syd. I'd say your tits are worth $20 each.

 

[TxRad]

Don't sell yourself short, Syd. I'd say your tits are worth $20 each.

I'll second that.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Quote:
Originally Posted by sr71plt
Still interested in what the scam value is--if the reply e-mail is a fake (apparently it was given in variations and TxRad says his trace back to a valid e-mail didn't carry). That's a lot of effort--finding a specific story title to cite--without any potential payoff.

Well, no one said the originator was smart.

Assuming it is a scam, and I think we all agree it is, the payoff would be the bank account or Paypal info needed to make the payment. We confer with each other and conclude it's a ripoff, but an author who doesn't come here might not know it.

I was put off by the paltry offer. If it had been for more, I would have investigated it.

 

[sr71plt]

Assuming it is a scam, and I think we all agree it is, the payoff would be the bank account or Paypal info needed to make the payment. We confer with each other and conclude it's a ripoff, but an author who doesn't

But . . . but . . . if their e-mail address is a fake, nothing is going back to them.

 

[Darkniciad]

Odds are that it's one of the "throwaway" emails offered by yahoo and gmail.

You can have several throwaway addresses that are delivered to your main inbox, but can be tossed at any time, causing all mail from that point forward to bounce, never reaching your inbox.

It's supposed to be for signing up for forums, newsletters, and such, allowing you to toss the email addy if the place you signed up for suddenly starts spamming the hell out of you.

Unfortunately, spammers are now using it as a tool to get around the bans and controls of forums/blogs/etc.

I don't think those will resolve as real email addresses when checked, but mail sent there will get to the sender/spammer/scammer.

 

[sr71plt]

I''ve received a follow-up message, citing Bare Entertainment in Atlanta, and saying they pay via Paypal.

Anyone else getting followup?

 

[geronimo_appleby]

I''ve received a follow-up message, citing Bare Entertainment in Atlanta, and saying they pay via Paypal.

Anyone else getting followup?

yes.

and, by coincidence, i'm in atlanta on the 8th of feb. i've asked for a face-to-face meet.

 

[Darkniciad]

Yep, got the follow-up. Looks to be from the "base" address this time, which could mean that the others were simply a precaution against spam. The email looks a lot less spammy, and has more details.

Non-exclusive publishing rights, which means you don't have to take your stories down from Lit or anywhere else. One time payment per story ( amount not mentioned this time ) via paypal.

Alternatives are mentioned if you don't have paypal, but nothing specific.

The only other request was for a full name and address to send the contract to.

Mine had a little bit of information about submitting stories beyond the one picked out in the initial email. Also mentioned 18+ only characters, and "I won't publish your stories on any sites that contain porn, hate or anything illegal."

Which made me chuckle, because I consider the story from the original email to be porn But, I'm assuming that means videos and such.

Looking more like a start-up site now. Still don't know if I'll go through with it, because I don't have paypal, and I don't really feel like setting up an account just for it ( highly recommended, because if linked to a primary bank account, horror stories abound about wrangling with paypal over disputes. )

On the face of it, it doesn't sound bad. You get a 1 time payment, and no restrictions.

 

[Leon_k]

ofcourse, this is too good and easy money.
How much can a startup erotic story website earn via ads and subscription ?

If they wish to give ya 20$ a story, imagine what would be the subscription rate for viwers? 500$ a month?
which fool is gonna pay that high in the time of recession?
Even the most famous porn and cam-girls are having hard time getting subscriptions for live-videos and on-demand custom-POV style movies!!

do you think they can really afford offering such sweet deals, by keeping a free site and earninig on ad-Revenue?

impossible.
trash the mail in spam folder.

 

[Darkniciad]

Yah, that's the main thing that makes me wonder. Even at $8, that's going to add up quickly as an investment that will need to be recouped.

About the only way it would work would be if it was added/teaser content for something like a cam-girl's personal site to encourage sign-ups for the primary income generator. As a story-only site... That's a long road.

Maybe as an attempt to start an e-publisher. I've seen that one play out once already. Starts as a free site, moves into e-pub and signed up enough authors to be viable, and then the free site went away after a while.

Or, it could just be naivety about the realities of adult websites. Lots of people have the impression that they all generate bazillions right out of the box, when the truth is that most fail miserably, and fast.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

ofcourse, this is too good and easy money.
How much can a startup erotic story website earn via ads and subscription ?

If they wish to give ya 20$ a story, imagine what would be the subscription rate for viwers? 500$ a month?
which fool is gonna pay that high in the time of recession?
Even the most famous porn and cam-girls are having hard time getting subscriptions for live-videos and on-demand custom-POV style movies!!

do you think they can really afford offering such sweet deals, by keeping a free site and earninig on ad-Revenue?

impossible.
trash the mail in spam folder.

Group MVP use, and pay for, stories that i have up on lit. this arrangement as specified by 'carol' is plausible; of course a degree of circumspection is advisable.

that said, i ain't giving no bank details out

... and from 1st of feb i have no 'home' address since i'm walking the earth and having adventures.

 

[sr71plt]

The only other request was for a full name and address to send the contract to.

This is the kicker for me. I handle all of the erotica through multiple layers of cutouts. If they wouldn't fall in with this, they wouldn't be worth the effort.

I don't see why such a site wouldn't want original material rather than reposts of what is already available. But maybe they plan to work toward that.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I did email the person back and got a response too about how they have no link as of yet to offer me to view, but they wanted everything to be handled via PayPal and I would need to sign a contract and other stuff too...

I explained that it wasn't that easy and that I would need to see more proof to the offer. I also explained that the offer was being discussed among the writers of Lit. and that many offers such as hers were deemed fraudulent when no proof is ever truly given.

I'm curious as to what will happen next. Will said person make an appearance, plead their case, or slowly let those that fall for it trickle in... either way, I'm not signing a damn thing without a better gut feeling than the one I have now. lol

 

[MadeYaLook]

Sorry for "hijacking" this thread, but I got a similar email today only hours after my first story was published - similar because it's from a different site and it doesn't offer me money, but I'm not really sure if it's spam or "common practice". This is what my email looks like:

I am truly impressed with the story you wrote and submitted to literotica. With respect to your story copy-write, I would like permission to post it in the RateXpics {dot} com large erotic library, located at http:// ratexpics {dot} com {slash} story {dot} cfm, where your stories do not currently exist.

I am sure our thousands of daily readers would truly enjoy access to your writing.

I would like your specific permission to post your story on RateXpics {dot} com. If you would allow me, simply email me at webmaster {at} rateXpics {dot} com with a brief sentence like this:

"I'm MadeYaLook, and Yes, you have my permission to post my stories."

When your stories are posted, you will receive an email from me with links to your stories.

I hope to hear from you...

(FYI, I changed all the email addresses and urls, as I don't want search bots to rate this site higher because it was posted on lit)

Since I'm new to all this, I don't really know how real that is. It looks a bit auto-generated, though. Anyway, I checked out the site and didn't plan on publishing it there anyway.

Did you get email from ratexpics dot com as well?

 

[SydneyBlake]

I''ve received a follow-up message, citing Bare Entertainment in Atlanta, and saying they pay via Paypal.

Anyone else getting followup?

I responded to the original with a "no thanks," so no, no follow-up.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

My second response back from them was them reassuring me that they aren't trying to scam anyone, they are starting out on a small budget, etc.

I told them I still would not be interested until I saw a copy of a contract and still haven't received one.

Even with a contract I still don't know if I'd trust the person. I'm still leaning toward scam and the only thing that has tipped the scale to the other side is the person writes legibly in the email communications, but many scam artists can speak and write very well. That is what makes them believable.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

i too had a second response. unfortunately caro won't be in atlanta the day i'm there ... hmmmmmmm?

take it as far as you feel comfortable and keep your eyes open.

since i won't have a home address on my travels, and since i don't have a paypal account ...

it's a no from me.

 

[masked_maiden]

I responded.

I got one and responded. the firs e-mail back said that they would pay me with pay-pal but wanted to send the contract to my address. IF this is for a website why don't you just e-mail me the contract?

When I e-mailed that back they sent me this link for new way they are going to pay me https://www.docusign.com/

does any one use this website? or is it just a way to get our banking info?

 

[masked_maiden]

yahoo the addresss in the e-mail

At The foot of the e-mail I got there is and address
Bare Entertainment
2625 Piedmont Rd Ste 56
Atlanta, 30324

I did a yahoo search on it and got

bare EVENTS
2625 piedmont rd ste 56
atlanta, 30324

I know bussness change their names sometimes but I think this is fishy

 

[mynameisben]

At The foot of the e-mail I got there is and address
Bare Entertainment
2625 Piedmont Rd Ste 56
Atlanta, 30324

I did a yahoo search on it and got

bare EVENTS
2625 piedmont rd ste 56
atlanta, 30324

I know bussness change their names sometimes but I think this is fishy

If it walks like a fish, quacks like a fish, and smells like a fish, it probably is a fishy.