SCAM Sites Really Pi$$ me off! My daughter-in-law had her heart broken on here.
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
United States
April 14, 2007 6:35pm CST
Poetry.com is one of the most vicious sites that I can think of. Not vicious in the sense that it is going to cause escalation of crime. Not vicious in the sense that it will lead to racism or hate wars. Not vicious in the sense that children will grow up without kisses or hugs goodnight from their parents; or not even vicious in the sense that it will increase homelessness.
No, it is not this type of vicious that I am talking about. It is the viciousness that causes the wounding of the spirit and the scarring of the romantic heart.
My daughter-in-law wrote a very romantic poem to my daughter (yes, they are a lesbian couple and have been together for almost 8 years and are raising a son together). She had seen the site poetry.com when surfing the internet and wanted to surprise my daughter with something from her heart. The day that she got the letter from them telling her that her poem had been accepted for publishing she was so excited and brought it to me right away. After reading it, I knew it was a scam, just wanting her to purchase their leather bound book and keep buying more and more and more as long as she would - the hook had landed in the right place.
Following is the piece of "trash poetry" that I submitted and got the same response. Although my sweet daughter-in-law was disappointed; my daughter was so happy to read the poem her love of so many years had written words of such depth and caring that it was like the beginning of a new relationship period for them.
Again, here is the crap that I wrote:
Untitled
Where does the candle go
I want to know
Where does it go
After the glow?
It sits upright and burns just so
But then it's gone
Where did it go
It leaves no trace above or below
Speak up someone, please if you know
And answer this question
Where did it go?Please, if any of you have not heard of this site, and are lovers and writers of poetry with big dreams, take heed and stay away! They are not looking out for your best interest.~Donna
19 people like this
31 responses
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
15 Apr 07
They do get a lot of people I know. I was also "published" by them. No I never bought the book or anything else. I can say I'm a published author but that's about it. I have never heard of anyone winning their monitary prize either although I did read about a someone who was investigating them. It was a while ago. I think they should be shut down. They are a scam in the worst way. There are others out there also, one is a photo contest one. Same thing "You won and your photo will be published in our book". Yeah right. I can do that as well. I can go to cafepress and create my own books if I want. It's just very irritating and you are right. They do a lot of damage to people. They hurt their dreams and hopes. That can be more damaging then anything.
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
16 Apr 07
Sidoney, Thank goodness that I posted this the day that I did! Sometimes we just know when to post a discussion. This has been on my mind for weeks now and I just haven't made the time. I'm sure you have a great poem. Start a discussion and ask others where to find a legitimate site, dear one. ~Donna
1 person likes this
@Tsferrets (421)
• United States
15 Apr 07
picture.com is the same way. I submitted a puppy picture to them through another site and got the same kind of letter. Then they want me to purchase this leather bound book with it in it and go to some convention in Las Vegas of other people that have posted pictures and see if I win the "GRAND PRIZE". By this point I knew it was full of it. The book with my puppy ics in it would have been bad enough (I didn't want it- why I have the puppies and the original pic). But anyway sorry your daughter-in-law got hurt through them. I sometimes wonder if theres anything out here in space legitimate... Tammy
P.S. Your candle poem may not be the worlds greatest but its cute!
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
15 Apr 07
At least people will know about this site thanks to your post. I always assumed it was a place where you could post your writings, I never knew they tried to push you into buying things. Heh, I'm about as cheap as them come so they'd have a hard time getting a penny from me. If I can do it on my own (printer, silk screen etc) then why pay someone else. But that's just the way I think.
Have a happy weekend :]
2 people like this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Hi donna,Yes i also wrote a poem and sent to them, i was excepted too....I have been writing poems for a very long time,and i know that mine was good...Im sure your daughter in law had a very good poem also...They wanted me to buy this leather bound book and then they have a plaque you can buy..My granddaughter also is very good at writing poetry,and they accepted hers too,and she got a plaque,she ordered it....I have just been wondering if they are taking these poems and publishing them ,actually stealing them from us? I wonder if we could find out? as you said you wrote a crap poem just to send them and they accepted yours,but like your daughter in law hers was very good you said and i just wonder if they are stealing them? I am sure that alot of people like your daughter in law is sincere and they do good work...and since they have them they could easily steal them...Anyway you are right to warn everyone...
2 people like this
@sapphirain (27)
• United States
12 Jul 07
Well, it says on Poetry.com that everything you post (IE your poems) are copywrited for/by YOU. So in that sense, you are safe.
@dprice218 (17)
• United States
10 Jul 07
Yeah, poetry.com is a very unethical enterprise. I've seen their mailings: they paint a picture that leads you to believe your poetry is good, authentic, and worthy of publication.
Then they ask for 49.95 or something to get it published in this crappy looking book of poems from other people that were duped.
They are very misleading and I believe they should be reported to the Better Business Bureau.
1 person likes this
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I'm sure that they do something that keeps them within the bounds and protects them from being illegal. So many people get their hopes up though. What a shame!~ Donna
@zuri25 (2125)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Like so many others before me, I got sucked into this scam too. I was devestated when I realized that they never really cared about my poetry, but only wanted my money. Unfortunately, that was AFTER I had already purchased two of the "anthologies" that my two poems were to be featured in (one was a tribute to my sister). Only one of the two was actually included. Looking back now I realize that it was a learning experience for me if nothing else. I'm alot more wary of these things now. I bet your daughter can say the same thing and, hey, something really wonderful came out of all this; she and her girlfriend bonded through the poem even if it didn't get published in a prestigious book.
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
16 Apr 07
After the last, "Where did it go?" The Please take heed line...was that part of the poem? Because if you included that with the poem and they send you a letter accepting it...Oh! That would be totally hilarious!!!!!
Yes, there is a site one photography that does the same thing.
And one that also sells your photos to companies...but then when you send photos, they tell you that they have enough in that area. Or another sites sends you something in the mail to purchase their book also.
I really wish that they made legit sites for us starving artists. :)
Sorry you daughter n law was hurt. But at least your daughter loved the poem. :)
1 person likes this
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
15 Apr 07
I thought that was a legitimate site. I have never posted anything on it, but know a few people that have. There are so many scammers out there that I think there must be a school somewhere that teaches how to be one. One thing for sure, the crooks will never live in true peace and with each dollar they steal, move farther away from true prosperity and riches.
1 person likes this
@APMorison (424)
• United States
16 Apr 07
been there - got suckered several years back
sigh
1 person likes this
@dbeast (1495)
• India
15 Apr 07
thaths really sad but that is the way of the world nowadays.people trying to scam others and pull money out of innocent people.and your poetry was not bad at all.:-)coming to the matter.it was nice of you to bring this scam site into the lite.i hope it benefits the users here.i would have been definitely elated if i got a letter stating that my work would be published and later only to find that it was a scam.i would certainly be very disappointed.i just dont understand the extent people can go to scam others.anyway thanks for shedding some light buddy.
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Any site that requires you to spend money in order to have something published is a scam. There are many sites like this. My son is a high school senior and he got a letter in the mail telling him that he was nominated for the American Who's Who in High School. At first, it looked legimate, but after careful perusing, they indeed wanted us to buy the leather bound book for some ridiculous amount of money.
1 person likes this
@elizabethbathory (1132)
• United States
20 Apr 07
I was scammed by the National Library of Poetry back when I was a teen. This was well before the days of the Internet, so you can imagine how excited I was to receive that letter in the mail letting me know that I was to be published in an upcomming anthology. Like a fool, I paid the $40 and bought the book, no . . . not a book, but a TOME! When it arrived, it was this enormous, cumbersome volume that had thousands of other poems in it, all about the size of the print in the Oxford English Dictionary, which is to say that they should have provided a magnifying glass for those purchasing it to be able to read it.
They kept sending me offers after I fell for the first one. Oh, I could have had my poem on napkins, or towels, you name it. They did send me another offer that I just couldn't refuse, and that was to have some so-called professional recite my poem on audio tape. I think I paid $25 for that, but I simply had to as I knew it would be a blasphemous joke. While I knew I shouldn't give them another dime of my money, I figured with the tape, I would be able to laugh about it years later and I did--I do! But, wow, was I crushed at the time.
@sammylind (187)
•
10 Jul 07
i was invited to las vagas to read out my poem but i had to pay around £1000 to get there so i never went!
1 person likes this
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
11 Jul 07
After all this time, I received an email yesterday telling me that "my time for being famous is running out"! Wow! I am really worried now! ~Donna
@icequeen (2840)
• Canada
15 Apr 07
Yeah...I have had dealings with them since I also write poetry and I have even submitted to them and apparently been published. However...I always recieve emails and letters wanting me to buy stuff and I never have and never will....so tell your daughter's partner not to be upset. If she is truly into writing then submit to more reputable places and sites...there are many that great.
@JC1969 (1224)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Poetry.com goes under several different names, and has been a well-known scam for ages (so many years). Go to the BBB and search them and you will see the numerous complaints.
Here is a link to one of my favorite writing forums: http://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?t=1118&highlight=poetry+com
There are numerous threads about the infamous poetry.com scam.
If your Daughter-in-law wishes to find legit places to public poetry, she should definitely invest in this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Poets-Market-2007/dp/1582974330/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4920883-6628021?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174735887&sr=1-1
This book contains real companies, magazines, online venues, etc..that will pay and publish your poetry.
Sorry your daughter-in-law, became another member to the list of many that have been suckered into thinking that poetry.com is anything else but a scam.
Rule of thumb in the writing industry, you must research the company before you send them your work. That is why the book I gave you the link to is very helpful, as it has already done the research.
1 person likes this
@lifeiseasy (2292)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Yes i have had anexperience with this company as well . My daughter wrote a poem and sent it in also and got the same thing . Its very mean of these people to get others hopes up , they are so proud of their work and then to have someone come in like that and basically just bash the begeeezes out of them . There is another one like this too its about students becoming the "Student of the Year" ...its all the same rouitine ... I wonder how these companies feel and the end of the day ??? I wouldn't be able to hold my head up or even walk down the street ...such a shame but I guees its all about money not peoples feelings . Tell your daughter-in-law to hold her head high and keep writing ... don't let some company like that stop her..if anything hopefully it can inspire hereven more to write and get hger work published so she can laugh at that company ....best of luck to your daughter
@eshuniki (132)
• India
15 Apr 07
It just not good wat they do for their own interest,i hope the scammers like this just dissappear frm the face of the earth.It must be such a heart break for ur daughter-in-law,but i guess since her message has reached its destination,it doesnt matter.But it was nice of u to raise this topic and warn others here.
1 person likes this
@Writerbob (572)
• United States
15 Apr 07
The biggest market for these "vanity publishers" is schools, where they pretend to select "winners" from submissions, and then get the proud parents and assorted relatives to pony up $50 for the book featuring 100's of other similar scam-ees.
They tried this with my daughter, I wouldn't budge despite the attacks that I was being a hard-a$$. When one of her friends family's go their books that they had spent $100's on, they had edited the poem and had butchered her name. I got an apology from all concerned, but sadly this she-ite goes on and on!
1 person likes this
