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The Crowd Funding Comic Book Scam That's Like A Virus

Comic creators Ken Lowery and Robert Wilson IV found themselves victim to a particular nasty scam, regarding their Kickstarter project, Like A Virus.

Yesterday, I received the private message through Bleeding Cool;

Dear Rich Johnston!

My name is Ken Lowery. Together with my friend, we have created a fundraising project for our new comic. We would like to ask you if possible to write a few lines about the project in the news section, thereby contributing to its success.The project aims to reach $ 4,000, until May 17, so we have only one month to success. Read more about the project and the Comic:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/like-a-virus-a-comic-by-ken-lowery-and-robert-wilson-iv

thanks

Now, Ken isn't exactly my biggest fan. I found this appeal rather peculiar, and considering the link was dead, I asked him if it was really him? I wondered if it was some PR bot gone rogue.

Like A Virus - Indiegogo 01

No, it was a scam. Someone using Ken and Robert's appeal on crowdfunding site Kickstarter (they've already reached their target) and replicated it onsimilar site  Indiegogo to siphon off people wanting to donate to the pair.

Like A Virus - CBR

And then set up accounts on a variety of message boards and sites to promote the scam version, as well as duplicating their promotional video on YouTube and Tweeting it up.

Like A Virus - Comic Vine

Ken and Robert were able to remove the Indiegogo copycat after receiving a Google Alert. The question is, were they individually targeted by someone with a grudge, or is this more widespread?

If you are running a Kickstarter campaign, it my be worth doing a little extra vanity searching to see if anyone is taking your donations away from you. And then stop them.

And maybe give a proper donation to Ken and Robert if you want. 17 days to go…


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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