Ok, so this is right up there with the weirdest thing we’ve ever seen in our past almost-three-years as bloggers. Recently a reader (thanks Sara!) wrote alerting us that she had seen photos of our living room and guest bedroom on a vacation rental site called Airbnb. And apparently the “landlord” was claiming that they were photos of their house in Pasadena- and charging $48 a night with priority to anyone who booked it for one or two weeks straight (to the tune of $336 to $672) since they “received so much interest.”
Isn’t that weird???? What happens when people get there and it doesn’t look like that? Or maybe it doesn’t get that far because it’s all a scam and this person takes the money and runs without providing an address? Either way we were adequately skeeved out. And of course we contacted both the webmaster of the site along with the “landlord” to let them know that those images were ours and they were firmly planted in Richmond and not for rent. Pretty soon thereafter they were removed. Whew. But so odd right?!
It ranked up there with the time that another reader (thanks Michael!) wrote to us shortly after our big bathroom reveal to tell us that they saw some girl named Amber on Rate My Space claiming our bathroom after photos as hers.
The good news is that it was getting great feedback. But the bad news was that it wasn’t her bathroom! The funniest thing about that situation was that Amber was answering questions about the paint color and where she got things (all of which were wrong, so we were totally confused to see her claim that our $100 Overstock sink was a $400 splurge from Kohler and that the walls were some shade called Cucumber Dream instead of the actual Dune Grass hue that we used). Isn’t that weird? Of course we just commented under the post with a link to our site saying “Wait- that’s actually our bathroom! You can see where we got everything and how it all came together by following this link.” Literally within a minute the post was removed.
Actually now that we think about it, the Rate My Space thing might have been stranger than the room rental incident because the room rental person seemed to be in it for the money, so the idea of a scammer stealing a photo and trying to make some loot with it kind of makes sense. But isn’t it odd that someone found a photo of our bathroom and thought it would somehow be rewarding to claim it as their own on Rate My Space (where there’s no dough on the line)? Maybe she didn’t feel like redoing her bathroom so she thought using our photos would be a shortcut? Or she thought it would be funny? Consider us stumped.
Thank goodness for all of our lovely readers who have eagle eyes and thoughtfully email us every time they see our casa somewhere that it doesn’t belong. We’re used to hearing that our pictures are on eBay or Craigslist when someone’s trying to sell an identical rug or duvet. And we even saw before and after photos of our front yard on some landscaping guy’s website in Texas (so crazy, right?!). But the latest Rate My Space and vacation rental listing have been the most odd by far. What do you guys think? Can you figure out some ulterior motive for the Rate My Space thing? Have you ever seen your photos somewhere they didn’t belong? Do tell.
Maureen says
Despite feeling creeped out and just a tad violated, I think it’s awesome that you guys haven’t decided to change the way you do things at YHL. Obviously because the creeps can find ways around watermarks, etc., but also because you don’t want to ruin it for the rest of us that like to save your photos for inspiration! You guys are the best.
colleen says
This reminds me of the time that I wrote about my mom’s yard sale on my blog (she lives in NJ). She was selling my sister’s sequined pageant dresses:
http://freshvintage.typepad.com/freshvintage/2008/06/post-4.html
A few weeks later, my sister-in-law in SEATTLE, was checking out the yard sale listings on Craigslist and someone had used my photo of those dresses in their yard sale listing! As if those hideous gowns were really going to draw crowds! Anyway, my ballsy SIL actually went to the yard sale and said she wanted to buy the dresses. The homeowners got all nervous & giggly and said they already sold.
Colbey says
My husband and I were recently looking for an apartment on craigslist and we ran into this scam. We found a gorgeous apartment at a great rate.
We contacted the person who had the post. We put their information into google and it turns out to be a common scam. They are either trying to get you to fill out a credit report, someone trying to make a quota, or trying to get you to send a deposit because they are out of town.
amy goodhouse says
Wow, I am totally creeped out after reading this! I agree that some can get around the watermarking and blocking the cut-and-paste options. However, it may stop some of the less computer-savvy out there.
Re: Tellaluca: It’s sad to have to worry about this sort of thing, but I agree.
Jenny says
Ok #1 way I know that vacation rental is fake? (Besides the fact that I know that’s your place?) Its WAY too cheap for Pasadena. $100 a night would be way too cheap!
Keresa says
To bad people take something so amazing and turn it into something that is NOT theirs or a scam…boo on weirdos!
Jenny @ DIY Newlyweds says
I’ve heard of the rental scam before. My friend was looking for an apartment and found an ad on craigslist for a place that looked great, beautiful photos and super cheap rent. When she googled the phone number in the ad, she discovered it was a scam. They try to get people to put down security deposits on rentals that don’t actually exist.
I don’t know about the girl on Rate my Space though. Wishing to live vicariously through you perhaps?
D says
People are crazy!
magnoliatreephotography says
Right click disable!!!(!!!) Also check out Copyscape–you can search for images/text that might have been hijacked.
I’ve had a lot of people stealing my images and it is NOT cool. I’ve actually removed the bulk of my images from my site because of it.
As for the psychology behind it I can tell you this: more often than not people that feel compelled to live other lives generally have some sort of borderline personality disorder traits (of which there are several).
Regardless, it’s creep, invasive, and disturbing. I’m sorry y’all are dealing with this.
Amie says
What a bummer…That woman who put your bathroom as her own was probably just one of those psycho people who can’t have what they want, so they live vicariously through other peoples’ homes (like yours). Even though people are really commenting on how wonderful YOUR bathroom is, to her it’s like they are saying it’s hers, in her twisted little brain. It’s like a backhanded compliment for you guys though…just a pain.
Amanda says
I think the weirdest thing I’ve seen is when I looked up my townhomes on the interwebs (don’t judge me, I like my silly computer terms!) to send a link to family members so they’d have an idea of what we were buying, and the model with photos online has a complete bar in it where our garage should be. The rest of the photos were pretty accurate, but it wasn’t even on the options list of things you COULD have done to your unit. (Not that I’d have put one in, but…still..weird.) I mean, I guess it’s not false advertising, but why have photos up of something that won’t be there?
Kim says
The Pasadena thing is totally a scam. Sadly, a very common one on Craigslist. Our friends almost fell victim to this same scam. It’s ridiculous. And they always post it for super cheap amounts so that people don’t ask a lot of questions b/c they think they’re getting an amazing deal and want to get it before someone else does.
I had someone steal a photo of my son once a long time ago before blogs when women used to post on message boards instead. It was creepy. I would be careful of pics of baby P for this very reason.
Renee says
This is totally absurd!! Like more absurd than that time you had to change the name of your blog!
I love that you post pictures for us to use as inspiration and the source lists and that you let us in on such a big part of your lives. Thank you for keeping us in on your projects and thank you for the inspiration.
If I were to use your photos for anything other than online viewing I would have to say it would be for putting it in my design inspiration folder (which I hope to create one day). I’m totally eeked out by this photo plagiarism!
Pamela says
Brigid Schulte wrote a piece for the travel section of the Washington Post last Sunday about this house rental scam. It’s a good bet that that “property” doesn’t exist and the “owner” lives in a non-English speaking country. What you are going to have to be on the lookout for is the same pictures appearing on a different website soliciting for another “property.”
Kelly says
Ugh, stealers are the worst :( And that rental? That is so creepy!!
Watermarks are a good idea, but even the most intricate ones can be photoshopped out :( I think the best idea is just to keep on your toes about things!
Sparrow says
Ah, I can sort of relate to the Rate My Space thing. No one has ever used *my* photos, but I totally know someone who has used photos and pretended they were of her!
Someone I went to high school with (oh, the wonders of Facebook) says she is a model and posts these gorgeous pictures of “herself” – curiously, with her face always completely or partially obscured. The people she claims to be look nothing like her. Nothing! And she takes total credit for all of these pictures. I have no idea why someone would enjoy the compliments of others for pictures of someone else! The praises aren’t for her work at all, so what can she get out of them, you know?
The interwebs are full of weirdos. Ick.
Sara @ It's Good to be Queen says
oh my word, that is freaky. people. are. weird.
Lindsey says
Have you read the book “Bump in the Road” by Maureen Lipinski? I know you probably have nothing but time to read books but it is about a blogger and has some funny stories about the creepy people she deals with. It’s a cute book about a couple who are having a baby. Anyway, your creepy stories reminded me of that.
Meredith says
Wow…there really *are* some weirdos out there. (I’m a lawyer and this post prompted me to review your YHL Disclaimer; I love it! Most Disclaimers are not that fun, nicely done).
magnoliatreephotography says
I meant “creepy”. Man I get aggravated when I misspell!
Lauryn says
I cant stop laughing! All of that is SO crazy!! I certainly is a compliment, although completely ditasteful!
erika says
It’s hard to believe that dishonest people like that really exist, but I guess that’s a fact of life…sad, but true.
Glad you were able to catch some of them :) Serves them right!
Megan says
I used to be a fan of Rate my Space but it seemed that the more I looked, the more it appeared that the spaces weren’t real or they were staged from designers. There were that seemed real, with all the necessary info on their pages (like what you all do with where you buy things). I don’t know why people would steal other people’s pictures… maybe you should include a signature on your photos so they aren’t copied. Or invest in some html/code type thing that can keep people from borrowing images. I used to know how to do that but have been out of the business for awhile… good luck with the weirdos out there!
Constance says
I haven’t, but Jim of the excellent blog http://www.sweetjuniper.com found a picture of his daughter used in an advertisment without his permission! He tackled that head-on and wrote very well about it if you feel so inclined to find that particular post or email him.
Krys says
Reading through this, I couldn’t help but admire how humble you two are. Here’s something you worked so hard on, spent your hard earned money, did the dirty work yourselves… and here some poser trying to steal your art! And yet, you guys take each other’s hand and head up the high road.
Simply amazing.
The epitome of grace!
Love the site.
Love you guys.
Stephen says
I am from Richmond, VA and now live in Pasadena. I love the blog and wouldn’t mind if your family had a summer home or offered advice for savvy shopping here on the West Coast. Don’t worry, I’m not the guilty party…
Speakaboo says
The Rate My Space theft actually doesn’t surprise me that much, as sad as that is. I used to frequent parenting discussion boards about 7 or 8 years ago when I was pregnant, and it never failed that a couple of times a year, women would sign up to the message boards and try to pass themselves off as pregnant for 7 or 8 months, usually very dramatic and difficult pregnancies resulting in stillbirth, miscarriage, or multiple births…always with pictures used that were later identifed as stolen when the actual parent would pop up and say “Hey, those are MY triplets!!” This actually isn’t totally unheard of. Very sad, very strange, but not as rare as one would think. Maybe it’s for attention? I have no idea. But in light of this, I agree that maybe limiting baby pictures would be a good idea. There are some creepy folks out there, for sure.
Jen @ New Shade of Green says
Woa! That would totally creep me out, well actually I’m creeped out that there are people out there that pull these kind of scams. It doesn’t surprise me unfortunately…
Love your blog and what you guys are doing. Thanks for keeping it up and not letting the weirdos ruin it for everyone.
Tracey says
. I understand using your place to make some dough but the Rate My Space thing is so bizarre I can’t even wrap my brain around it. That is so beyond weird that I think she might have a slight case of the crazies.
I once saw a picture of Cindy Crawford used to advertise an escort agency. If I knew who to contact I would have ratted them out.
DemMom says
I saw a picture of your laundry area and entry way in the magazine “Secrets of Getting Organized.” I’m a regular reader (and a Richmonder), and I never emailed you about it or anything because a) I figured you okay’ed it with the mag and b) I honestly felt a little creepy because I recognized it as yours. I was embarassed that I remembered your space well enough to spot it in a magazine! LOL
YoungHouseLove says
That was legit! BHG owns the rights to that photo because they shot it for Do It Yourself magazine last fall. Thanks for the heads up though!
xo,
s
Sarah says
Someone from Richmond just came into my bakery (we live in Ohio) and when she said she was from Richmond I got excited and said my favorite bloggers are from her neck of the woods! I basically described you as my friends!! Hope that wasn’t creepy!! I read your blog every day!
To try to find a silver lining to what happened to you, all I can think of is “copying” is at the very least a form of flattery. Please clearly love your work!
:)
kelly says
that is the scary part of putting so much on the web. people are SO weird. never post your address and keep that baby safe, we don’t want her getting sold on craigslist too:) !!
Lessons in Life and Light says
How weird! Right before I saw this post, I had emailed WordPress about blocking an IP address on my blog. I have an unwanted visitor. Boo! It must be Creepy Blog People Day.
Anyway, that is SO weird. I hope you guys have a lawyer or someone in the legal profession that can help you out in a jiffy if something like this were to ever get serious. You guys are so great, I hate seeing others using you or ripping you off.
YoungHouseLove says
No worries! My mom is actually a lawyer so we can always call her in if anything ever gets serious! Our experience has been that people are mortified when we contact them so things disappear immediately, which is great!
xo,
s
caitlin says
Now that you mention these things, … you guys should definitely put watermarks on all your photos. I mean, I know it makes them look odd sometimes… and i guess they could be cropped out, but think about it. Maybe there is a tricky way that it would only show up when people try to take them. I am sure someone already suggested this, I haven’t read all the comments. I do it for my org via Picasa, where any photo we put up gets our website in the lower left corner.
Ericka says
Some people are so weird. That girl who stole your pics for RMS probably just really likes attention. I don’t think there is a reasonable explanation for it!
Tamara says
In addition to all your helpful readers, you might want to check out Tin Eye (http://www.tineye.com/)
It’s a service that they call “a reverse image search engine”. I’ve learned about it listening to photography podcasts, photographers use it to catch others who are using their images without permission. Give it a shot, and see what you can find.
Erin says
Both of those are super creepy! I will never understand people like that. I’ve also heard of people stealing other people’s personal photos and claiming to be that person! Who ARE these crazies??
On another note: your mudroom is in BHG’s Secrets To Getting Organized magazine. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the heads up Erin! We’re excited to check it out!
xo,
s
Michelle says
I am so weirded out about the Rate My Space thing….my jaw dropped when i read your post, I cannot wrap my head around it either and the only thing that makes sense is that she is mental.
Becky says
I don’t understand people that do that. A few years ago I had some lady take my scrapbook layouts and add her own pictures to them and post them around the internet as her own. She even posted them back to the same site she stole them from LOL
Keren says
The Rate My Space thing is just because the Amber person must have been certifiably crazy!
Susan says
I am hearing more and more about this craziness all over the blog world. Crafty and food blog people having their ideas being sold as somebody else’s – even in tutorials with fully stolen pictures/recipes and so on – even going so far as to say stupid things like, “Oh, please disregard that horrid picture of my hand, it must be the lighting!”
A dear friend Bridget, who has a normal family sort of mommy style blog, had her adorable children being used by another woman as her very own on her blog – she simply renamed them and went on making up a completely fabricated dream life – bizarre!
My feelings on this are that it is just SO SAD that people feel they have to steal other people’s happiness/success in order to feel happy or successful themselves.
I guess it’s also the tougher part of being celebrities??? Because, in the blog world, I would definitely place you all in that area now. Why don’t people understand privacy and boundaries and respect? Again, SO SAD!
Diana says
Yikes! Some people ARE weird. I had a coworker who had 6 kids (including preemie twins and two adopted). One day she sent pictures of her baby’s nursery, and by this time we were kinda suspicious about all these kids (we had only met the oldest). Well I thought about googling the pics and I actually found the pics on someone else’s picasa album! We later found out all but her oldest kid were non-existent and part of a fantasy life of hers. She used other people’s pictures of kids and even posted on message boards about them. Oh the things people will do for attention….very sad!
Amanda says
I have a friend who was searching for an apartment while in college. She found a great place, met the landlord who showed her around the place and she was so excited but said she would think about it. The landlord called her a couple weeks later and said that she had another individual interested and if she didn’t make a deceision by the next day they would rent it to the other individual. My friend decided to rent it and paid for the place (rented it for the semster so it was a few thousand dollars upfront) and she received the keys. A couple days later my friend went to move in and the key didn’t work. She tried to contact the landlord and the number was disconnected. She called the police and it turns out the “landlord” she met with was an employee of the actual building owner and this “landlord” had been doing this to lots of people around the area. Needless to say my friend was out a few thousand dollars and the lady was found and arrested (but the money was long gone). It’s crazy the extremes people will go to, to make some money!
GreenInOC says
Creeeeeepeee.
Actually, I am almost a dead ringer for Cindy Crawford and people keep taking pictures of me and they are ending up on the covers of magazines!!!!
Heather says
Wow, I guess that’s the risk you run posting pictures but it just plain blows when it does happen.
Laura@JourneyChic says
Good grief, there are some pathetic people out there. In a weird way it’s a compliment to you for how fab your place is, but I, too, would feel violated if someone tried to take credit for any of the ideas or pics in my blog. I always note the source of photos if they’re not mine – it’s important to credit people for their work. It’s sad that these people feel the need to impersonate others instead of learning from your blog and doing the work themselves.
Dana @ House*Tweaking says
I can think of a few reasons: laziness, unconsciousness, jealousy, egoism and insanity.
Maggie says
You could watermark your photos in Photoshop, or add metadata info to them that’s not visible, but is embedded in the image under File > File Info. There you can add copyright and photographer info ;) So even if someone does take it, it’s still yours and there’s proof.
Wendy D. says
What the.
That is just plain ridiculous.
I would pay much more than $48 per night.
Abby says
Where guts and stupidity collide… They are probably the same people who have college degrees because they downloaded papers and cheated on tests.