Support for Photo Stealers

In 2012 I started a blog called Photo Stealers  after seeing a need for a place to call out photographers who were stealing other photographers work and using it as their own.  Often requests for takedowns go unanswered and many photographers just repost after getting hit with a DMCA takedown.  In the past 8 years I've listed over 250 photographers publicly on the blog and MOST comply with taking down the images and not using others work when moving forward.   

Typically, I support this passion project of mine solely out of my own pocket and supplemented by donations and Google Ads (which is about $30/month).  I did have a very successful Go Fund Me about 5 years ago when I was dealing with another thief and those funds went directly to lawyers.  Since then I've been able to keep up with the fees from my lawyers and various website needs but this year it got a lot more wild. 

In the dumpster fire that is 2020, not only did that past thief cause more trouble but I gained a new one that has opened a case against me.  The lawyer fees so far for this have been almost $15K.  Sadly the $100/month I get via Google Ads and Patreon  isn't putting a dent in that bill.  

I believe that due to running Photo Stealers I've been targeted in many various nefarious acts, aimed at trying to hurt me financially via my business and personally which is why I had to hire lawyers.  It's became an ongoing fight since beginning Photo Stealers but this year has been even worse than normal. 

In May someone created a fake Craigslist Ad stating there was a sofa available for free at my home.  Many people showed up (address was listed) and called/texted for this couch.  



A day after this ad was placed, my website was hacked so that any inquiries coming to my website via a search result on Google, Bing, Yahoo or any other major search engine was redirected to a spam website selling Viagara .  Since I only ever go to my own website via the direct URL I was unaware of this until September, missing out on unknown inquiries. 

I have received fake inquiries, been blamed for hacking a past thief's Twitter solely to post racist comments, fake reviews, comments mocking my weight and my skill level and dozens of other small annoying things that have required my time, effort and the assistance of lawyers. 

This has all culminated with a barrage of about 50 1 star reviews left last week for my business on Google acting like clients of mine that had been unsatisfied. 

I know this is a painful year for all of us financially and to ask the community to donate anything is a lot.  However, if you support honesty and integrity in the industry and have a spare $5 to send if I've helped you in any way, I would greatly appreciate it.