\n\t\t\t\tOK, this is nothing new. Typically, an email like this ends with a demand for payment. Not in this case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The “guys” here wanted me to put a link to their client in my content. If it wasn’t done in five days, they would sue me under the DMCA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first impression was a bit of a shock. The images on my sites have been paid or AI for the last few years, the older ones were always free photos. But what if\u2026?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I checked the “company” website. And immediately it was a bit clearer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ugly graphics, no real contacts. But the lady “Amy” who emailed me had a profile and a photo on the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I typed her into the image search, her face popped up in the photo library of AI-generated faces. And it was clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAmy, the laywer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAmy, the generated person<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are better options how to create a face online without being traceable, by the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were also no references to the “company” on the internet. After five days the website is no longer running. Their webhosting company cancelled their account.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBut it was a cunning plan. According to the photo bank, the image has been downloaded more than 10,000 times. Finding addresses where it’s being used and sending a threatening message isn’t difficult or expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And since they didn’t want money, but “just” a link, it might have worked. Currently, according to Ahrefs, they have already acquired 9 referring domains this way.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIn link building, you have to give people a reason to link to you. Threats and scams don’t belong here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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