New Kickstarter Scam - Cloning a Current Indiegogo Project (but the tells are damn telling)

This isn't a scam I had seen before, and I'm kinda surprised by that. I actually stumbled across this with a suggested YouTube video while watching YouTube. I guess Google knows me well at this point ;)

Here's the video in question:

Here's the long story short. Vinnie Tartamella is an independent comic book creator that has 5 prior projects under his belt at Indiegogo. His latest, Shadow of the Kraken is currently funding on Indiegogo. The project launched at least 15 days ago, so around January 3rd, 2021, judging from the oldest comment on the page. Note, Vinnie's location comes up as Weston, United States.

On January 9th, 2021, Shadow of the Kraken launches on Kickstarter. Now, the Kickstarter account is named "Vinnie", but the account owner is Sergey Erentsenov.

Where is Sergey from? Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Something is rotten in Kazakhastan I think.

Now, is there ANY likelihood of the Kickstarter clone of Shadow of the Kraken funding, thus defrauding the 5 backers (of which I am one, in for a buck). None whatsoever, as Kickstarter is an "all or nothing" funding platform. What is sad, and telling, is that the creator of the above video reached out to Kickstarter, and they saw nothing wrong.

I'll be sharing this post with Kickstarter. I expect a similar automated response.

Now, just as an FYI, the Kickstarter page copies the Indiegogo page word for word, except for the Risks and Challenges section, as Indiegogo doesn't have such. It appears Fake Vinnie used our very own long time Kickstarter Scammer Whitless Whitman to write it:

Kickstarter scams in 2021: a new year, a new scam, and an indifferent Kickstarter, as usual.

Update - 1/20/2021 - The project is suspended on Kickstarter

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Repackaging Freely Available Stock Art for Money - Arcana Stock Art

A few days ago a new company popped up on OneBookShelf - Arcana Stock Art. Now, I live grabbing stock art even if I rarely use most of what I have rights to - simply awesome to have when I want to get creative.

Sine Nomine (Kevin Crawford) released the art from his Kickstarters to the public domain. Guess who has repackaged the color pieces from the various Kickstarters and put it in a single bundle (PWYW with a suggested price of $4.99?) You guessed it - Arcana Stock Art. Alright, you don't need to pay for it and it is convenient.

But then I looked deeper.

They have other stock art bundles. All composed of pieces of art released under various Creative Commons Licenses. These bundles aren't free. These bundles cost anywhere from 5 to 10 bucks - to buy art that is already out there for free.

It might be legal but it certainly feels sleazy. If they were all PWYW, its a convenience and you can tip the guy who bundled it as such it wouldn't feel like a con. Charging flat out for the bundle of otherwise free art? Shit, look the art up with a reverse Google Art Lookup and grab it from the artist as was intended.

Art and license from Chtulhu Art Pack 2

Yep, those are affiliate links above. DON'T but the art linked but do feel free to look at the "publisher's page" and see what I'me referring to first hand. If you buy something else later from OBS I'll be happy to see change go in my tip jar, just not from this "publisher".

Troll Lords sends a Fishing Email - I'm Not the Only One That DIDN'T Back This Kickstarter That's Asking for a Response and Offering a Supposed Reward

This email feels really slimy. Really. Slimy.

And look, when I click the link it shows my pledge level at $0.00

Yep. Nothing waiting for me, but I can add stuff to my order. Which I never made.

Fishing?

Bait and switch?

Another example of a Troll Lords fuck up?

I've received numerous reports of others getting the same email.