Phoenix AZ web design blog

Using copyrighted image without consent scam

  • By Ian Shere , on June 25 2020 15:19
  • 2 min read

I'd hoped this may have died and gone away on its own, but it seems that "Melanie" (or whoever she or he really is) is a persistent little scammer that's working hard to screw you over. I've seen this email appear in various clients' inboxes. Always exactly the same format with the site URL changed and he/she uses slightly different names, but the scam is always the same. Get some poor sucker to click on a link to "check out a document listing supposed links to images which are copyrighted". There's a linking to a Google Site. I don't know what's at the end of that, and, frankly, I don't care nor have the time to bother finding out. But you can guarantee it is NOT a list of copyrighted image you are using illegally.

Shock! My site is using copyrighted images illegally!

Don't get me wrong, using copyrighted image without permission is WRONG! 100%. And it CAN cost you money if you do it and get caught. That's why we are carefully about where we source images to ensure they're legit.

But back to the email...

It starts off legitimately sounding. Some poor, hard-working photographer is upset that YOU used

Read more

Braveheart on life

  • By Ian Shere , on December 07 2018 15:10
  • 2 min read
In the classic, but alas, factually incorrect film "Braveheart", on the eve of his execution William Wallace utters a very stirring line, "Every man dies. Not every man really lives." And Mark Twain said, "Sing like no one's listening. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching. And live like it's heaven on earth!"

But do we? Do we truly live or are we just going through the motions of life? Do we fail to act because we're concerned about what others might think? Life should be full of adventures, love and laughter, and here are some ways to make it so.

1. Learn the value of everything and also learn that they will never be with you throughout your lifetime.

2. Do things now. Is there something you've always wanted to do, but haven't. Don't make the mistake of waking one day and realizing that there's no time left to do it.

3. Always tell your family members and friends that they are important to you and you love them. Never leave a loved one after an argument without reconciliation - there may be no time to do it later.

4. Do random acts of kindness. It
Read more

Credit card processing woes

  • By Ian Shere , on June 25 2018 12:03
  • 2 min read

When we began CitrusKiwi 9 years ago, no merchant processor would touch us. No surprise really. Brand new company, owner brand new to the USA, no credit history. We had a lot going against us. So we went with PayPal. And, for 9 years, they have provided reasonably good service. Yes, they're expensive; yes, their reporting is a joke; yes, their search and filtering is an even bigger joke. But at least they gave us an account and they've improved from when we first signed up. But, finally, it was time to move on.

So, we signed up with Total Merchant Services. Setup was slow - well over a month to get the account in place and connected with Authorize.net. On top of that, we were never sent any documentation regarding our account - didn't know how to log in even! So, we processed a few transactions, and, despite the initial issues, business seemed to be working. Until last week....

I had a couple of clients say they were having issues setting up their payments. Then I began to get declined emails - Error code 38 - "The Global Payment System identification numbers are incorrect. Call Merchant Service Provider." 

Read more

Page 1 of 2