Website Hosting Scam Targeting ABMP Member Websites

Website Hosting Invoice Scam
"Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Copyright Infringement Notification email" scam

Website Hosting Invoice Scam

ABMP members have recently shared more instances of receiving unsolicited "offers" from various web hosting companies that appear as invoices and imply that members need to pay a certain dollar amount to maintain their website listing as outlined in the news story at www.abmp.com/updates/news/web-hosting-scam-targets-massage-therapists. This confusing “offer” is simply a ploy targeting website domains including www.massagetherapy.com. These web hosting companies include Sunshine Biz Services and Domain Listings.

ABMP members get a free website with hosting as part of membership and never have to pay hosting or domain registration fees.

If you have received this type of correspondence, there are no steps you need to take; you can simply ignore the email, text, or letter.

Here is an example of this type of scam in the form of a text message, as recently reported by an ABMP member:

Here are two examples of fraudulent letters:

"Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Copyright Infringement Notification email" scam

Several members have reported receiving scam copyright infringement emails. These are fraudulent emails, and ABMP strongly recommends ignoring them and not clicking on any links requesting that you download more details. Sample text is below so that you can look out for what to avoid:

Subject: <<your website URL>> Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Copyright Infringement Notification email

Message Body:
Hello there!

My name is Mary.

Your website or a website that your organization hosts is infringing on a copyright protected images owned by myself.

Check out this document with the URLs to my images you used at <<Member website URL>> and my previous publication to find the proof of my copyrights.

Download it now and check this out for yourself:

<<URL>>

I do think you have willfully violated my rights under 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq. and can be liable for statutory damage as high as $110,000 as set-forth in Sec. 504 (c)(2) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (”DMCA”) therein.

This message is official notice. I seek the elimination of the infringing materials described above. Please be aware as a service provider, the Dmca demands you, to eliminate or disable access to the infringing content upon receipt of this notification letter. In case you do not stop the utilization of the aforementioned copyrighted materials a lawsuit will be initiated against you.

I have a strong faith belief that use of the copyrighted materials mentioned above as allegedly violating is not authorized by the copyright owner, its legal agent, or the legislation.

I swear, under consequence of perjury, that the information in this letter is correct and that I am the copyright owner or am permitted to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive and legal right that is presumably violated.

Regards,
Mary Miller