Post by: tacit on June 29, 2014, 08:54:21 PM
The eBook does exist, but it has only been released to folks who backed the crowdfunding campaign to make the book happen, so naturally my first thought was one of our backers must have leaked it somehow.
Turns out it's a bit more nefarious than that. The scammers are claiming to offer a free download of the ebook, and the Web site makes you fill out a "survey for a free offer" to get it (naturally, they make money every time someone completes one of these "surveys")...but when you do that, the file that downloads to your computer isn't our book. It's a Windows executable disguised as an eBook.
So basically the scammers are making money, and spreading malware, off of our name and book. Which is really annoying.
I wrote a detailed analysis of the scam on my blog. To say that I'm annoyed is a grand understatement.
Post by: krissel on June 29, 2014, 11:30:29 PM
Post by: Xairbusdriver on June 30, 2014, 09:26:40 AM
QUOTE
at least for now your ebook has not been compromised [emphasis added]
Of course, not! That would be illegal as well as deceitful and less than human! 
Never ceases to amaze me at how much mental effort some people will expend to deceive and defraud. Think of all the advances we might have by now if that effort had been put into solving problems.The Internet is both a blessing and a curse, just depends on what is done with it.
Post by: tacit on June 30, 2014, 05:22:15 PM
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jun 30 2014, 02:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Never ceases to amaze me at how much mental effort some people will expend to deceive and defraud. Think of all the advances we might have by now if that effort had been put into solving problems.
Amen to that.
I give a great deal of my writing away for free. Most of the stuff on my many Web sites is available under a Creative Commons-like license; people are free to reproduce it as long as they give credit and a return link. Yet every six months or so I have to file a whole bunch of copyright complaints against Web sites that take the stuff I write and fail to credit it (or, worse, claim it was written by someone else). I don't understand what motivates people to steal things that are available for free.
The book represents a years' worth of work and a big financial investment; we actually started a publishing company to publish it (and we have three more books lined up for the next year). We've gone deep into debt to finance starting this publishing company, so the fact that people would be willing to steal our work is very disheartening.
Post by: sandbox on July 21, 2014, 02:59:19 AM
If you don't mind I'll pass along your detailed experience to others that may find it useful.
http://tacit.livejournal.com/592207.html
Post by: tacit on July 21, 2014, 05:50:32 PM
QUOTE(sandbox @ Jul 21 2014, 07:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I've received the email-links and pre-releases, never suspecting they were from anyone but you.
If you don't mind I'll pass along your detailed experience to others that may find it useful.
http://tacit.livejournal.com/592207.html
If you don't mind I'll pass along your detailed experience to others that may find it useful.
http://tacit.livejournal.com/592207.html
If you got the prerelease information from Mailchimp or Indiegogo, that was us. The offer of a "free" eBook to non-backers is fake.
Post by: jcarter on July 23, 2014, 11:57:15 AM
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 23, 2014, 01:37:42 PM
QUOTE
Thats really scary, what they wont think of next!
Thievery? Nothing new about that! 
Been around even before the interweb! 
Post by: jcarter on July 23, 2014, 01:41:17 PM
On a different note, high heat and humidity, and here are our dogs after a swim, tired for sure.
Post by: krissel on July 24, 2014, 12:50:01 AM
QUOTE(jcarter @ Jul 23 2014, 02:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
... here are our dogs after a swim, tired for sure.
Too cute.
They look like they're doing the sidestroke or dreaming that they are.
Post by: jchuzi on July 24, 2014, 06:07:36 AM
Post by: jcarter on July 24, 2014, 09:45:36 AM
Ive got some funny videos of them dreaming.