Beware of backer pranks
  • User avatar
    MartinT
    -- Senior Member --
    -- Senior Member --
    Posts: 54
    Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 12:41 pm

    Beware of backer pranks

    by MartinT » Sat Oct 04, 2014 1:47 pm

    Hi,

    I think I've been the victim of a bad taste prank.

    The day I launched my Kickstarter http://bit.ly/arpinboard I posted in an Indie Game Developer group in facebook anouncing my launch. I explained in the post that, among other uses, this technology will enable to run augmented reality video games on virtual screens. In the kickstarter I only talk about a virtual pinboard, but I have a pending patent that, among various uses, describes an augmented reality platformer game running on these type of virtual screens.

    The post was removed, probably deemed not relevant enough. That's fine.

    However, a member of that group named Torin Freimiller pledged to my project at the highest reward tier (£5,000, about $8,200) on the first day of campaign. Then he asked me to be facebook friend. I accepted and send him a message thanking him for the pledge and asking him to talk more about his interest. He never replied. I was suspicious because the guy seems to be 18 years old, and unless he is rich, $8,200 seems quite a bit of money at that age. A couple of days later he changed his facebook profile photo to an image of an owl jumping on his ass, coincidence that my company logo is an owl. Now he cancelled the pledge. The campaign has been very quiet during the last week and cancelling the pledge now takes away any hope of recovery. To be honest I think this guy is a bit sadistic and the whole action seems to me like some sort of “revenge” for my post in the facebook group (I haven't had any other interaction with him).

    So beware project creators, if someone doesn't like you or your project for someone reason (reasonable or not) it's really easy for them to mess with your campaign. Really sad.

    Martin


    Augmented Reality (AR) Virtual Pinboard in Kickstarter http://bit.ly/arpinboard
  • User avatar
    sbriggman
    -- Veteran Member --
    -- Veteran Member --
    Posts: 3488
    Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 6:49 pm
    Location: NYC

    Re: Beware of backer pranks

    by sbriggman » Mon Oct 06, 2014 4:49 pm

    Wow, that's pretty messed up. :/ Thanks for the warning.
    Learn how to succeed on Kickstarter: here.
    Submit a free press release for your Kickstarter campaign here.
  • User avatar
    Cybele
    -- Junior Member --
    -- Junior Member --
    Posts: 30
    Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:02 pm
    Location: Wilmington, DE
    Contact:

    Re: Beware of backer pranks

    by Cybele » Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:45 pm

    That sucks! What's the point in doing that? Sorry to hear about it...
    Extending technology foundation with trend-setting innovations
  • User avatar
    nixiart
    ___________________
    ___________________
    Posts: 67
    Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2014 9:52 pm

    Re: Beware of backer pranks

    by nixiart » Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:26 pm

    That guy was vindictive. Not sure why he felt the need to be so mean, but hopefully you get some sincere backers. Good luck on your campaign, don't let him get the better of you it's not over until it's over.
  • Jenjay
    -- New Member --
    -- New Member --
    Posts: 5
    Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2014 9:23 pm

    Re: Beware of backer pranks

    by Jenjay » Fri Oct 10, 2014 5:25 pm

    My gosh what a terrible thing to do. Well what goes around comes right back around. Nevermind.
  • AleishaGore
    ___________________
    ___________________
    Posts: 70
    Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:25 pm
    Location: LA
    Contact:

    Re: Beware of backer pranks

    by AleishaGore » Fri Oct 10, 2014 5:50 pm

    MartinT wrote:Hi,

    I think I've been the victim of a bad taste prank.

    The day I launched my Kickstarter http://bit.ly/arpinboard I posted in an Indie Game Developer group in facebook anouncing my launch. I explained in the post that, among other uses, this technology will enable to run augmented reality video games on virtual screens. In the kickstarter I only talk about a virtual pinboard, but I have a pending patent that, among various uses, describes an augmented reality platformer game running on these type of virtual screens.

    The post was removed, probably deemed not relevant enough. That's fine.

    However, a member of that group named Torin Freimiller pledged to my project at the highest reward tier (£5,000, about $8,200) on the first day of campaign. Then he asked me to be facebook friend. I accepted and send him a message thanking him for the pledge and asking him to talk more about his interest. He never replied. I was suspicious because the guy seems to be 18 years old, and unless he is rich, $8,200 seems quite a bit of money at that age. A couple of days later he changed his facebook profile photo to an image of an owl jumping on his ass, coincidence that my company logo is an owl. Now he cancelled the pledge. The campaign has been very quiet during the last week and cancelling the pledge now takes away any hope of recovery. To be honest I think this guy is a bit sadistic and the whole action seems to me like some sort of “revenge” for my post in the facebook group (I haven't had any other interaction with him).

    So beware project creators, if someone doesn't like you or your project for someone reason (reasonable or not) it's really easy for them to mess with your campaign. Really sad.

    Martin


    How weird. All I can think of is my quote I have been making myself put in my heart all morning... "Never let miserable people occupy valuable real estate in your mind." Because I sent my very heartfelt letter to a group of filmmakers along with a video and my link plus an advance apology if it is annoying to anyone and I got a very nasty email back from someone that said it had nothing to do with him (hello, he's a filmmaker and maybe wants to be employed like other filmmakers) and didn't belong in the list. I personally know he had a failed campaign before (that he sent to the list) and all I want to do is be able to pay people to make a really great movie. We're all artists and who can survive on doing free films all the time? So, I keep telling myself not to let him take up the space in my mind, that's reserved for beautiful and happy people and good things.

    Good luck!
    Aleisha


    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/al ... r-than-sex
    Aleisha Gore
    Writer, Director, Producer, Chocolate is Not Better than Sex
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/al ... r-than-sex

    All I want for you is Happiness. :)
    Show the world you are made of love. The world will shine.
  • ca1288
    -- New Member --
    -- New Member --
    Posts: 4
    Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2014 7:27 pm

    Re: Beware of backer pranks

    by ca1288 » Fri Oct 10, 2014 7:34 pm

    can't believe that, so sorry that you have had that kind of problem.
  • User avatar
    Dave's Meat & Nuts
    ___________________
    ___________________
    Posts: 63
    Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 10:09 pm
    Location: Napa Valley California
    Contact:

    Re: Beware of backer pranks

    by Dave's Meat & Nuts » Fri Oct 10, 2014 8:38 pm

    That truly sucks but hopefully you will be able to recover. I am not sure if there is anything you or anyof us could do.
    Perhaps start a list of big and then cancelled backers....?
    Good luck.
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/15 ... nd-flavore

    All natural awesome flavors of Beef Jerky & Roasted Nuts, now live on kickstarter.
  • Digirat
    -- New Member --
    -- New Member --
    Posts: 5
    Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2014 12:53 am

    Re: Beware of backer pranks

    by Digirat » Sat Oct 11, 2014 1:16 am

    That is just terrible.
  • asum
    -- Junior Member --
    -- Junior Member --
    Posts: 33
    Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:42 am

    Re: Beware of backer pranks

    by asum » Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:21 pm

    Thanks for sharing and the warning. I appreciate your honesty... it's sad how nasty ppl can be...

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests