Adlife - Extortion Letter Small Business

[jcrcary]

Hi,
I setup my father's website for a small business and I am so disgusted by what I have been reading about this crook!  I have been able to obtain a proof of purchase from istock photo and I have also told them they really need to make their website more clear about past purchases.  I panicked for a day, doubting if I actually purchased from istock photo (It was purchased several years ago) but then I came across this forum and the woman who wrote on her blog about how it didn't show up in the purchase history.  PHEW!  My question is, should we even respond to this letter?  Or will they just start to harass us more?  It was just the standard "You owe us $8,000.00" letter.  Would you recommend reporting to RI Attorney General?

[stinger]

If you do not report it, the AG will not know it occurred.  What happens is that only a small percentage of people being trolled actually reports things like this.  That makes the government not understand the true scope of the problem.  I would report it.

Whether you communicate further with them is up to you.  They will likely continue to send scary notices your way.  Having the self confidence of knowing that you did legally purchase the image will be enough for some.  Others will try to communicate to stop the scare tactics.  That may or may not work.

In my mind, if someone is accusing me of committing a crime that I know I have not committed, I likely don't really want to have any kind of communication with that person.  Once you communicate with them, they know they have a "live one" on the other end.  Who knows what else they might accuse you of.  What they know is that you are a conscientious person who plays by the rules.  If they can convince you that you broke some rule, they might be able to garner funds from you. 

If it were me, I would ignore them and anything they sent my way.  It is highly unlikely that they will sue for one image anyway.  If they do and lose, they have far more to lose than you.  Can you spell C-o-u-n-t-e-r-s-u-i-t?

[jcrcary]

Stinger,
Thanks!!!  I was going to respond and started the email but then I thought they would do exactly what you said "We have a live ONE!"

Do I contact the AG in RI or the AG in my father's state or BOTH?

[Matthew Chan]

Write one letter and address to them both. I have written letters in the past and put in several addressees within the letter. Then you photocopy it and send it separately via snail mail. It sometimes carries more weight when the parties know that there are several parties reading the letter.

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Matthew has a good idea, however, be sure to research what is required from both states, as it sometimes varies. some states have an online complaint form...such as Rhode Island..

And to the OP if you purchased it from IStock and have proof of purchase, I would not bother contacting them..don't waste your time,and let them waste theirs.. If they sue you file a counter suit, they will loose the initial suit and most likely the counter suit, and you just might come out on top.

[jcrcary]

Thank you everyone.  I won't have my father bother with a response to Adlife.  I will craft a letter for him to send to AG in RI and his state.  Thank you.