SEO Image Citation Backlink Scam Explained: Avoid!
There’s a scam going around that targets website owners, especially those who care about SEO. The scammers send out emails claiming you've used a copyrighted image on your site and that you need to add a "citation" link to give proper credit.
It sounds intimidating at first, but it's not true. This is just a trick to get you to place a backlink to their website.
How the Scam Works
- You get an email accusing you of using a copyrighted image.
- They tell you to add a citation link to your site to "comply".
- Their only goal is to build backlinks and improve their own SEO, not to protect any rights.
They often try to sound official by referencing laws or throwing in copyright language, but if you had actually infringed on copyright you would receive a proper DMCA notice, not an email asking for a backlink.
Example of the Scam Email
Here's a real example of this type of scam email (personal info and URLs redacted):
Hello,
I noticed you have used one of my images on your website [redacted URL]. The photo is actually copyrighted and requires proper attribution.
To comply with copyright requirements, please add a source link to the original image here: [redacted URL].
If you need further clarification, feel free to contact me.
Thank you for addressing this matter quickly.
Sincerely,
[Redacted Name]
At first glance it might seem legitimate, but notice what they are really asking for. They don't ask you to remove the image or provide proof of copyright. They just want you to place a backlink. That's the giveaway.
What To Do If You Get One
- Don't click on their links.
- Don't add the backlink.
- If you’re unsure, double check your images. If they’re your own or from trusted sources, you’re fine.
- Delete the email and move on.
This scam is all about exploiting website owners who are worried about SEO or copyright law. Don't fall for it. Keep using legitimate images, and never hand out backlinks just because a random email told you to.
If ever you're unsure; just reach out to the community here at WA 🙌
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Guest what dale? I am presently in class that’s teaching about backlinks. The good, the bad, and the down right intelligent ones. This scam, I believe is white hat or black hat.
I forgot which one, but it would fall under the evil intelligent ones. It’s crazy how much I’m learning. I wrote a report on the good side of this actually.
Is called “Unlink Brand Mentions.” Which is where this scam comes from unfortunately. So, it goes like this. If you do all of the research for your article and create a awesome “On Page SEO” image and post it with your article so that the crawlers for Google and other search engines can find and index it,
Your content is going to rank pretty high especially if the article is well research and the image created is also done extraordinary. “Unlink Brand Mentions,” is basically a recognizable branded image that has been shared by the general public who finds the image intriguing.
With the image already crawled by Google from the original site any one who scans it or types in any keywords that is tied to the original site will pull up that page. Now with scammers they know they can’t outright ( and I’m using these words loosely) claim it as their own.
But they can get backlinks to their sites that would catapult them up the ranks in Google. Just by getting a high ranking and performing site to link to them.
Through as you shown here, a lie.
This is crazy. Won’t educate themselves on how to do on page and off page seo, but want to steal from others. This can happen to anyone, “WHO DID NOT” create 100% of their own images. So, think of all of the websites that offers “FREE” images. Everyone uses it including us here at WA.
Doesn’t matter how smart or well known the company is, most would fall for this if the image created is not their own or if they are not aware enough to know a scam email like this when viewing it.
Good catch Dale!