I got a big scare related to this blog yesterday – a fake blog which is identical to this (an exact mirror image) has sprung up in the last few weeks. This person has copied all my content, including my profile photo(!), blog posts from ten years, descriptions of all my journalism work and ever single thing that this Itchy Feet blog has. I did some research and found that they have bought the url using my first name – and on the fake name, my name gets linked back to the url of the fake site. They have even copied my line asking for writing assignments based on the strength of my work, giving their email id. I have complained to the url provider but I have no other way of dealing with this.
I am writing this blog post now also to check if this gets picked up immediately on that site.
If you have been a reader of this blog, or if you like this blog – I request you to go to that site and leave comment asking them to remove that blog immediately. Any other suggestions or ideas from you also most appreciated.
Update: October 27
It’s been about three weeks now since I discovered the fake blog and I have taken a few steps. My direct request to the site owner did not get any response (I can’t really say I was expecting any) and strangely enough, the url provider (godaddy) and the hosting company (Host Key) did not respond either. I have not yet sent a DMCA complaint but tried other measures to get the site off. The fake site has been taken down in the last few days and I hope it stays that way. I have moved my travel blog to my own domain and installed security measures (closing the stable door after the horse has been stolen, I know). I’ll now be keeping my eyes open!
Send a mail to Google. Then thay will not index the fake site. If Google is not indexing there is no point of keeping the site
Thanks! I am going to place a DMCA complaint if the site shows up again…
This is quite scary! I tried looking at the website but it does not open…
Btw did you write to google? Any updates?
I know! The site seems to have been taken down in the last few days but I hope it is permanent and does not reappear. Not yet sent a DMCA complaint but I will if the site pops up again.
I’ve been a long time follower of your blog, and I feel really awful for you that a fake site can steal your work so blatantly. I googled it and looks like it’s back in business. http://charukesi.com/
Is this the one? Just wanted to let you know.
Thanks, Aroha – really appreciate your concern. The fake blog was a copy of this Itchy Feet blog. http://charukesi.com is my own domain 🙂