Scam Alert! Individual requesting product for photo shoots
Last week, an individual decided it would be a good idea to pose as a photographer on assignment for Backpacker magazine, SNEWS has learned. His requests for product for the photo shoot are a complete scam!
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Last week, an individual decided it would be a good idea to pose as a photographer on assignment for Backpacker magazine, SNEWS has learned. His requests for product for the photo shoot are a complete scam! It’s a good bet he (or other yahoos with a similarly sized brain) will try again, and likely use other magazine titles as well.
His first attempt was to Osprey packs via email:
“Gareth, Thanks for the quick reply.
My name is Bill Cahill, I work for Pederson studio in Los Angeles. We are doing a photoshoot for Backpacker magazine June issue. The article is called Tools of the Trade. They will be featuring two of Osprey backpacks. I would like to talk to you about getting product for photography. We need the Crescent 110 in medium size, and the Luna 75 in extra small. The only color consideration is not black if possible.Please send to:
Bill Cahill
C/O Pederson Studio
7401 Jellico ave.
Van Nuys CA 91406
Please email or call at 310-497-3567Thanks for all your help”
The genius then called Jill Pagliaro at The North Face. Naturally, he changed his name deciding this time to go by Bill Henderson of Henderson Studios. Of course, the numbnut still used the same phone number — 310-497-3567. His request was a vague one asking for various tents, packs and sleeping bags for a Backpacker photo shoot.
Dennis Lewon, Backpacker’s equipment editor, contacted SNEWS with the following message: “If anyone in the industry gets a suspicious product request in Backpacker’s name (that is, any request not from a known editor/contributor), we welcome calls to verify the request. Contact: Lewon at 610-967-7595 or by email dlewon@backpacker.com.
