Protecting Your Collection Online

[frankykeno]

The staff here at BPNet has been discussing something of growing concern within our online herp community. With the advent of such clear digital photography and programs like Photoshop, it's become far too easy for images to be stolen, manipulated and used in scams.

We'd like to suggest you consider the following....

1) Watermarking all images you post online. There are a number of very easy to use, free programs that can help you place a watermark on your collections pictures. If you need any assistance with either finding one of these programs or learning how to use it, please let a staff member know.

2) Be careful about posting breeder paperwork. The sad fact is that a person looking to do a scam can take that clear picture of the paperwork you posted on a public forum, manipulate it to change the snake's picture, identification, whatever and within moments, they've created a fraudulent paper trail on a snake that either doesn't even exist in the first place or doesn't carry the stated genetics from the stated breeder.

3) Keep your own records of each snake in your collection including clear pictures from various angles and any markings that are unique to that snake. Keep copies of both watermarked and unwatermarked pictures in your files of your collection. Should the need arise, this will allow you to prove that a picture stolen from you is of a snake in your collection and is a picture you took of your own snake.

4) Do not believe that only big breeders get their pictures ripped off. Recently the trend seems to be to go after pictures from smaller breeder/hobbyists whose snakes might not be as quickly identified by the general snake community. It has happened to our BPNet members, don't let it happen to you next.

5) If you see a picture of a snake for sale and you believe this snake belongs to another person, follow it up with that person. Direct them to the sales ad so they are made aware that there is a possibility of a problem with the picture used.

The fact is that we can't stop every scammer who lifts a picture from the web but we can strive to make it more difficult for them to run their scams.