Amateur Adult Website Scam sydneymarks.com And Others *Consumer Comment
A disturbing trend among a few amateur adult websites has been discovered that threatens to undermine the integrity of legitimate home-based, non-professional adult entertainers. As you are probably aware, personal interaction plays a significant role in the appeal of amateur adult websites. Whether it be through email correspondence, live chat sessions, or cam shows, you can generally assume that the person you are communicating with is the same person who has control and influence over the direction of the website.
Some individuals prefer adult sites devoid of personality, while others enjoy dealing with an actual person whose image extends past a computer monitor. Amateur sites possess a niche in the marketplace that the pros can't fill. However, because of market saturation or perhaps simple greed, a handful of amateurs have adopted a less than forthright marketing strategy designed to generate traffic and dupe guys thinking with the brain in their pants. Basically, what it boils down to is purchasing content from a provider like matrixcontent.com; repackaging it; and then trying to pass it off as a quasi amateur site to produce hits. Here is a list of the offenders and the sites they have fabricated:
Kristina (kristina@kristinasworld.com):
sydneymarks.com, sexyshade.com, gaugexxx.com, pussykatkafe.com, badassamateurs.com
Georgia (sweetgeorgia@sweetgeorgia.com):
michellesplaypen.com, hotsandy.com, bustydavia.com, vanessarae.com
Mandy (mandy@princessmandy.com):
littlesydney.com, hotlittlepepper.com, laceyholiday.com, skylopez.net, mandysmaidens.com
You can confirm this information at register.com. They've probably got a few more plates on their respective tables, but these are the sites I discovered after falling victim to one of the scam sites. One indication that these sites are meant to be perceived as officially sanctioned is the use of first person pronouns like "I". For example, at Mandy's littlesydney.com, you can find statements by "Little Sydney" like, "I love to show off my body" and "I have one cat named Banana (don't ask) that I just couldn't do without". Maybe I'm crazy, but use of the first person usually indicates to me some level of personal involvement.
If this were meant to be perceived as anything but official, statements like "Little Sydney loves to show off her body" should have been used. Mandy has even gone so far as to claim "Little Sydney" as her "Best Friend". She's also set up a supposed fan site at sydneymoon.net that directs traffic back to littlesydney.com. When I contacted Mandy about this, she said that most guys prefer content to personal interaction. I told her that if that was truly the case then she should move the purchased content to a page within her own amateur website and use it as a membership incentive/privilege. Using it as a lure to reel people into Amateurland is completely deceptive behavior. She should stop using intermediaries to generate traffic and let her personal site sink or swim based on its own merits.
Most of the professional models whose images have been appropriated are aware of the misdeeds being perpetrated in their name. However, they have no legal recourse against these fake sites because a standard release with Matrix Content was signed relinquishing all rights to the photographs. Many of them were under the impression that the pictures would be sold to webmasters who would in turn use them as content on their own sites. However, the models could not forsee unscrupulous people like Kristina, Georgia, and Mandy buying the photos and setting up fictitious websites expressly designed to fool the unsuspecting public. They were paid a flat fee for their modeling services and will receive no further compensation. How fair is that? Not only are these amateur porn moguls ripping off horny guys, but they're taking money that, in a broad sense, doesn't rightfully belong to them.
Perhaps the single worst act of deception involves Kristina's sydneymarks.com. This site is an outright, bald-faced lie. First of all, to get things straight, there is no "Sydney Marks". Kristina's vivid imagination has her livin' la vida loca in South Florida; exhibitin' her personal assets for all to see; and gettin' jiggy with her boyfriend. In all actuality, the photos that appear on that site belong to Playboy and Perfect 10 model, Sydney Moon. Presently, Ms. Moon's website is not up and running, but a preview of it can be found at her friend's site, sandeewestgate.com/sydney1.htm. Eventually, a permanent home will be created at sydneymoon.com. What makes Kristina's ruse so insidious is that she has the gall to proclaim her fake site "The Official Website Of Sydney Marks". How can a nonexistent person have an "official" website? Also, if it is an "official" website, wouldn't you expect "Sydney Marks" to have a significant amount of involvement? Sorry Charlie, she doesn't and never will. If you spent money on the chance that you might communicate with her, you're out of luck dude. Also, the site tour vividly implies that pictures and video of "Sydney Marks" engaged in hardcore sexual activity are to be found within the member's area. Photos depicting oral, anal, and vaginal intercourse with "Sydney Marks" are promised upon subscription. This is yet another fabrication established to purposely pilfer money from those unaware of the fact that Sydney Moon has NEVER been photographed in sexual situations that involve penetration of any kind. Check out sandeewestgate.com/aboutsyd.htm where Ms. Moon explains that she has no plans to cross the line into hardcore pornography. The coup de grace of Kristina's chicanery is that she has "Sydney Marks" listed as a friend on her personal website. Man, if this is how she treats her friends, I would hate to be an enemy.
The behavior of these women and their reckless disregard of how their actions affect others is completely appalling and deserves serious scrutiny. They should stop using professional models as fishing lures and concentrate on building their businesses in a more ethical manner. Personally, I feel they are selling themselves short and that trying to establish a customer base in such a deceiptful manner will only foster contempt.
One final note, the site forbidden-erotica.com/Sydney-Moon/menu.htm also advertises oral sex pictures and videos of Ms. Moon. This is an absolute lie.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Retraction
#60
Wed, October 03, 2001
On September 29, 2001, I received the following letter via certified mail from Lawrence G. Walters of the law firm Weston, Garrou, & DeWitt.
September 7, 2001
Our firm represents www.SweetGeorgia.com, and has been retained to conduct an investigation into potential claims against you for defamation and/or tortuous interference with protected business relationships. We have obtained a copy of your email, dated August 26, 2001, wherein you make various derogatory references to my client's Web site and business activities. While the majority of your communication appears to be directed at the business practices of other Web sites, you list my client as one of the offenders and claim that their Web sites are fabricated.
SweetGeorgia.com has expended significant resources in the effort to build goodwill and establish a positive business reputation. The type of reckless and defamatory statements made in your email correspondence damages that business reputation. Furthermore, disseminating this email to others with the intent to interfere with my client's customer relations constitutes an actionable wrong, subjecting you to potential liability.
While we have the right to immediately pursue legal action, my client prefers to offer you an opportunity to clarify this matter by issuing a retraction, and publishing the retraction to any individual or company to whom it was originally disseminated. It also goes without saying that the publication of any similar communications in the future will not be tolerated, and will result in the institution of legal proceedings against you.
Please forward me a copy of your retraction letter within the next ten (10) days. If you have any questions or comments regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me.
Therefore, in order to comply with the terms set forth in the above letter and bring this matter to a resolution, I have drafted the following retraction and sent it to the parties affected by the dissemination of the original email message in question.
September 30, 2001
Please forgive my delay in responding to your letter dated September 7, 2001, but in light of recent tragic invents in our nation's capital and New York City, my attention has been focused elsewhere. I am truly sorry for any misunderstanding my comments may have caused and I harbor no ill will toward http://www.sweetgeorgia.com. I wish Michael Schultz and Georgia nothing but the best and hope that they have continued success as amateur porn stars.
In accordance with your letter, I hereby retract my statements regarding the creation of single-model dedicated websites using purchased content as a lure to generate traffic, i.e. http://www.hotsandy.com, http://www.bustydavia.com, http://www.michellesplaypen.com, http://www.vanessarae.com. Although the models pictured have no creative input, the sites owned by Michael and Georgia are not deceptive or misleading in any fashion. My comments were fraught with jealousy over not having thought of such an ingenious marketing strategy myself.
I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused.
P.S. Just out of curiosity, who answers email inquiries sent by aroused individuals to sandy@usmodel.net, davia@usmodel.net, michelle@usmodel.net, and vanessa@usmodel.net?
Retraction
#60
Wed, October 03, 2001
On September 29, 2001, I received the following letter via certified mail from Lawrence G. Walters of the law firm Weston, Garrou, & DeWitt.
September 7, 2001
Our firm represents www.SweetGeorgia.com, and has been retained to conduct an investigation into potential claims against you for defamation and/or tortuous interference with protected business relationships. We have obtained a copy of your email, dated August 26, 2001, wherein you make various derogatory references to my client's Web site and business activities. While the majority of your communication appears to be directed at the business practices of other Web sites, you list my client as one of the offenders and claim that their Web sites are fabricated.
SweetGeorgia.com has expended significant resources in the effort to build goodwill and establish a positive business reputation. The type of reckless and defamatory statements made in your email correspondence damages that business reputation. Furthermore, disseminating this email to others with the intent to interfere with my client's customer relations constitutes an actionable wrong, subjecting you to potential liability.
While we have the right to immediately pursue legal action, my client prefers to offer you an opportunity to clarify this matter by issuing a retraction, and publishing the retraction to any individual or company to whom it was originally disseminated. It also goes without saying that the publication of any similar communications in the future will not be tolerated, and will result in the institution of legal proceedings against you.
Please forward me a copy of your retraction letter within the next ten (10) days. If you have any questions or comments regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me.
Therefore, in order to comply with the terms set forth in the above letter and bring this matter to a resolution, I have drafted the following retraction and sent it to the parties affected by the dissemination of the original email message in question.
September 30, 2001
Please forgive my delay in responding to your letter dated September 7, 2001, but in light of recent tragic invents in our nation's capital and New York City, my attention has been focused elsewhere. I am truly sorry for any misunderstanding my comments may have caused and I harbor no ill will toward http://www.sweetgeorgia.com. I wish Michael Schultz and Georgia nothing but the best and hope that they have continued success as amateur porn stars.
In accordance with your letter, I hereby retract my statements regarding the creation of single-model dedicated websites using purchased content as a lure to generate traffic, i.e. http://www.hotsandy.com, http://www.bustydavia.com, http://www.michellesplaypen.com, http://www.vanessarae.com. Although the models pictured have no creative input, the sites owned by Michael and Georgia are not deceptive or misleading in any fashion. My comments were fraught with jealousy over not having thought of such an ingenious marketing strategy myself.
I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused.
P.S. Just out of curiosity, who answers email inquiries sent by aroused individuals to sandy@usmodel.net, davia@usmodel.net, michelle@usmodel.net, and vanessa@usmodel.net?
Retraction
#60
Wed, October 03, 2001
On September 29, 2001, I received the following letter via certified mail from Lawrence G. Walters of the law firm Weston, Garrou, & DeWitt.
September 7, 2001
Our firm represents www.SweetGeorgia.com, and has been retained to conduct an investigation into potential claims against you for defamation and/or tortuous interference with protected business relationships. We have obtained a copy of your email, dated August 26, 2001, wherein you make various derogatory references to my client's Web site and business activities. While the majority of your communication appears to be directed at the business practices of other Web sites, you list my client as one of the offenders and claim that their Web sites are fabricated.
SweetGeorgia.com has expended significant resources in the effort to build goodwill and establish a positive business reputation. The type of reckless and defamatory statements made in your email correspondence damages that business reputation. Furthermore, disseminating this email to others with the intent to interfere with my client's customer relations constitutes an actionable wrong, subjecting you to potential liability.
While we have the right to immediately pursue legal action, my client prefers to offer you an opportunity to clarify this matter by issuing a retraction, and publishing the retraction to any individual or company to whom it was originally disseminated. It also goes without saying that the publication of any similar communications in the future will not be tolerated, and will result in the institution of legal proceedings against you.
Please forward me a copy of your retraction letter within the next ten (10) days. If you have any questions or comments regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me.
Therefore, in order to comply with the terms set forth in the above letter and bring this matter to a resolution, I have drafted the following retraction and sent it to the parties affected by the dissemination of the original email message in question.
September 30, 2001
Please forgive my delay in responding to your letter dated September 7, 2001, but in light of recent tragic invents in our nation's capital and New York City, my attention has been focused elsewhere. I am truly sorry for any misunderstanding my comments may have caused and I harbor no ill will toward http://www.sweetgeorgia.com. I wish Michael Schultz and Georgia nothing but the best and hope that they have continued success as amateur porn stars.
In accordance with your letter, I hereby retract my statements regarding the creation of single-model dedicated websites using purchased content as a lure to generate traffic, i.e. http://www.hotsandy.com, http://www.bustydavia.com, http://www.michellesplaypen.com, http://www.vanessarae.com. Although the models pictured have no creative input, the sites owned by Michael and Georgia are not deceptive or misleading in any fashion. My comments were fraught with jealousy over not having thought of such an ingenious marketing strategy myself.
I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused.
P.S. Just out of curiosity, who answers email inquiries sent by aroused individuals to sandy@usmodel.net, davia@usmodel.net, michelle@usmodel.net, and vanessa@usmodel.net?
Suddenly sydneymarks.com No Longer Official
#60
Wed, September 26, 2001
About a week or two after I posted the original report above, the owners of sydneymarks.com (kristina@kristinasworld.com) decided to remove the Official Website Of Sydney Marks title from their satellite cash cow website. I don't know if my posting of this rip off report had anything to do with their decision, but I did forward it to as many of Kristina's Nasty Friends as I could. However, Kristina's nascent conscience is a little too little, a little too late. I still think she's ripping people off with her descriptions of content involving Sydney engaged in hardcore activity in the member's area. Also, the misleading photos of Sydney superimposed over hardcore penetration pictures smack of false advertising, plain and simple. The content at this site has never changed and it never will. You're better off flushing your money down the toilet. When I contacted Kristina about this, she threatened to turn the matter over to an attorney and sue me for slander. The only problem is I haven't spoken one word about this to anybody. I have attempted to document her underhandedness, but that's merely my opinion of her and her cohorts. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a personal point of view can be considered libelous.
As for Sydney Moon super fan Princess Mandy (mandy@princessmandy.com), it appears that she has decided in her own feeble way to throw Sydney a bone. The woman who misleads the public with her site littlesydney.com has provided a link to Sydney's official site on her faux fan page sydneymoon.net. Check it out for yourself. Next to the link she states, This is her official website. It's still pretty new and it's not fully operational yet but it looks like it will be a really great site (when finished). Her half hearted complement is absurd when you consider what she has done to Sydney. She must be extremely misguided to profess such a profound appreciation for Sydney while at the same time stabbing her in the back. Then, just below the link to Danni's Hard Drive, Mandy's self interest gets the best of her. In the caption next to the link to her dummy site, littlesydney.com, she states, This is her official website. It's still pretty new and it's not fully operational yet but it looks like it will be a really great site (when finished). It's not her official site but who really cares. There are tons of (at least 1000) full size, high res pictures of her there. I even found some downloadable video clips. Who really cares if it's not her official site? I would imagine that Sydney Moon really cares that you are using her image as a fishing lure to generate traffic and that she doesn't see dime one of the money she garners for you. As for the content of littlesydney.com it will never change and of course you found some downloadable video clips, you purchased them from matrixcontent.com and put them there yourself.
Nothing new to report on Georgia (georgia@sweetgeorgia.com). Her quasi amateur faux sites are still up and running, generating wads of cash at the expense of gullible fools. Someone did use a picture of Georgia without her permission for an escort ad in the Dallas Observer. Isn't that ironic?
Finally, Sydney Moon's official site is fully functional. Check it out at sydneymoon.com and frequent it often. With its launch I hope that the coffers of those who have profited at Sydney's expense completely dry up.
It is really easy to spot a real amateur site
#60
Thu, August 30, 2001
This email is a rebuttal to RipOff #6319.
It was sent by Stephani at steph@steph.com.
Amateur Adult Website Scam sydneymarks.com And Others (#6319)
They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:
Their email: steph@steph.com
Their name: Stephani
Their relationship to the company: Advocate
Rebuttal:
I have run my own amateur site out of my house for almost a year. The only thing that is shocking to me about this report is that it is not already common knowledge. I would estimate that 90% of all "amateur" sites that you stumble onto while surfing the web are exactly what is described in this article.
What actually constitutes an amateur is a source of great debate in the amateur community. Most agree that if the girl featured on the site has a hand in the creation of the content and answers the mail that she can be considered an amateur. Some would argue that if a fee is charged it can not be considered amateur.
When you consider that just the monthly bandwidth bill for a small single girl site can easily exceed $150 it is easy to see why the people who are enjoying the content must share in the
expence of providing it.
Having spent almost a year playing by the amateur rules it is easy to see why so many operators stray out into the areas you speak of. While my site has never lost money it has never made a great deal of it. I am supported almost entirely by 30 dihard members paying $10 a month.
I will not name my site here because I really do not want this to look like a commercial. I will tell you that your chances of finding a real live amateur site out there are pretty slim. You will most likely never find mine because I dont spend a dime to advertise it.
It is really easy to spot a real amateur site. First off, it is not done very well. A real amateur does not have access to the best photo processing equptment and software on the planet. If when you go to the join page you are happily informend that by joining this site you also get access to 23 other great sites. Now really, what are the odds that any women out there would have 23 close friends who also happen to want to get naked on the internet. If you dont see any banners linking to other sites,
it is because they are buying tons of bulk traffic, not a good sign.
Real amateurs must rely on link exchanges with other sites, there are usually banners all over the place. The best know adult link site on the net will not list me. Why? because they sell that space, and make millions doing it. Every other link list I know of does the same thing, many just flat out own half of the sites that are featured on their list.
I hope I have not shattered the illusions of to many of you but thats the way it is.