Dealers Beware: Is Your Website Content Being Cloned?

By Kimberly Dacka, Flags USA


FINDING THE COPY CATS

A couple of weeks ago another flag dealer owner called to inform us that there was a website using Flag USA’s copyright product descriptions to sell products at a fraction of our listed prices. There wasn’t a phone number or a valid address on the site. 

She found the issue by going to her own Google merchant center to see how competitors were pricing their products only to discover items on another website that are exclusive to her company. After digging deeper, she found more products with Flags USA’s information on different websites, plus other dealers’ content copied on additional sites. 

Once we learned our information was taken, we started the process of filing the necessary claims to shut down the sites. We filed a cease and desist letter and abuse claim with their host and domain companies, as well as claims with google. I was able to successfully get one website shut down. 

THEY BLOCKED US

Minutes after I received the message that the claim was closed, I realized I could no longer access any of the other websites. After some research, I found these sites were owned by the same company, and they had blocked our IP address so I could no longer visit them. 

We recently began having issues accessing our third-party chat plugins on our website; we couldn’t login due to malicious activity. We also received notification that a complaint was filed against us on the same day we had the first fraudulent website taken down. We do not believe this was a coincidence. 

HOW WE CAN BE PROACTIVE

Since discovering that our intellectual property can be copied and pasted into a new website, our time has been devoted to staying on top of this problem. I volunteered to share this information because other NIFDA members should be aware of what is happening. We all spend a lot of time, effort, money, and sleepless nights building our businesses, and it is not right that someone can steal our information with little consequence.

I do not believe anything can be done unless we band together as a united front – a front made of flag dealers, NIFDA, manufacturers, FMAA, and our customers. I am prepared to do what I can, but this is not a fight that one person can tackle on their own. I know a few flag dealer owners who feel as passionately about this as I do and have done what they can to make that difference. 

Here are some ways I feel we can learn more about what is happening in our industry, and pass on this information to others:

  • become more involved with NIFDA 

  • become a member of FMAA

  • educate the public about imported flags

  • share deceptive practices in the industry, like labeling/titling flags as “made in the USA” when are not

  • call out marketing that falsely claims a manufacturer selling made in the USA flags

  • continue researching websites that are stealing copyright content 

  • be aware that once these websites have claims filed against them, they can block your IP address, so seek alternative ways to keep researching them

STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU EXPERIENCE THIS

At the end of the day, I have so many other things that need my attention. I thought I could make a difference alone, but I believe we will need to work together to make a dent in this industry-wide problem. I have created a list of the steps to take if information is stolen from your website:

RISK OF RETALIATION

*** Beware*** Be advised that when you report copyright infringement and request content removal, your information will be shared and retaliation from the perpetrator may follow.

LIST OF FRAUDULENT WEBSITES

Here is a list of websites fraudulently using American Flag Dealers’ information:

https://www.saleusflags.com (we shut them down on 4/23)
http://onsalenkitebords.com/
https://www.salearmyflags.com
https://www.navyflagsshop.com
https://www.flagssalesshop.com
https://www.onsalegovernmentflags.com/
https://www.saleflagpoles.com
https://www.nationalflagsale.com/
https://www.onsalenavyflags.com/
https://www.americanflagsshop.com/
https://www.dealsflags.com/

EDIT 5/23/24 - ANOTHER DEALER REPORTS COPYCATS

We have been notified by another flag dealer that they discovered website copycats as well. The person working on their website ads found the fraudulent website domains connected to their Facebook pixel account within Meta Business Suite Events Manager.

She said it's hard to tell where these amoebas might have started from.

She suggests checking your Traffic Permissions under Settings to see if there is unauthorized traffic being sent. Here is the path: Meta Business Suite > Data Sources > Pixel > Settings

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