[kictanet] IP Theft, a scam or both?

[Francis.Hook at gmail.com]

I saw a facebook ad about pencil sketches and followed it since I have been  
thinking of getting one done of my Mum.

http://www.pencilportraits.co.ke/index.html

Hmm...looks good...at the back of my mind I thought "How sure are we the  
sketches are not photoshopped or paintbrushed or whatever graphic-apped...  
you could do a scan, render a black and white, add pencil effects, smudge,  
smoothen, etc.... Price range between kshs 4000 and 12000....so I decided  
to click on the "Letters from clients link"

http://www.pencilportraits.co.ke/letters_from_clients.html

Then I knew for sure it was a rip off after reading the quote at the top of  
the page....can't be original. So I took an excerpt of the quote and  
googled it...and voila...two results: that site given above and

http://www.pencil-portrait-drawing-artist.com/pencilportraitclients.html

A near verbatim reproduction of it (the letters from clients are identical  
except for the names and cities).

Being someone who earns part of his living off original work, I have  
written to both addresses and given both links in one email...

It may be that one is imitating the other....it may also be that BOTH are  
doing photoshop portraits.

Having said that, I will rasterise, vectorise, smudge and smoothen your  
pictures at 400 bob each incl 50 bob postage. To make it look real, I'll go  
over it with an HB2 pencil....
Special offer for the first 10 clients I will enhance any body features you  
desire ;-)
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