Help : Someone Stole my website

30 replies
hi warriors,

I just came cross a website that replicated my website. They even still have my website logo and it is linked to my domain.

This is the replica : bespaarshop.net

According tho Who.is, this website is hosted in Netherland :

bespaarshop.net Whois - be spaar shop - Who.is

I want to take an action against this website in order to shut it down.

What can I do in order to shut the website down immediately ?
#stole #website
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    You can issue a DMCA to the host, however since it is in Netherlands, the host may or may not have a DMCA policy.

    You can also issue a DMCA to google to delist it in the event that it doesn't work out with the host.

    Removing Content From Google - Google Help
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    • Profile picture of the author onegoodman
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      You can issue a DMCA to the host, however since it is in Netherlands, the host may or may not have a DMCA policy.

      You can also issue a DMCA to google to delist it in the event that it doesn't work out with the host.

      Removing Content From Google - Google Help
      Thanks. I checked but it seems DMCA is limited to U.S. but there is a similar law in Netherlands for copyrights, I just not sure how to proceed.

      Thanks for Google link, I will contact Google and ask their help to remove that domain from their search engine.

      The website seems to be hosted under the theft company. So, i don't think I can bring the hosting down from here. However, the registrar company seems legitimate enough and located in Germany. I don't know if I can ask for suspending the domain through them or not.
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by onegoodman View Post

        Thanks. I checked but it seems DMCA is limited to U.S. but there is a similar law in Netherlands for copyrights, I just not sure how to proceed.

        Thanks for Google link, I will contact Google and ask their help to remove that domain from their search engine.

        The website seems to be hosted under the theft company. So, i don't think I can bring the hosting down from here. However, the registrar company seems legitimate enough and located in Germany. I don't know if I can ask for suspending the domain through them or not.
        Usually the host will have their copyright policy on their site and instructions on how to send the complaint. I use ▷▷ Who-hosts.com : Easily find out who hosts a web site to find out who the host is.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by onegoodman View Post

        Thanks. I checked but it seems DMCA is limited to U.S. but there is a similar law in Netherlands for copyrights, I just not sure how to proceed.

        Thanks for Google link, I will contact Google and ask their help to remove that domain from their search engine.

        The website seems to be hosted under the theft company. So, i don't think I can bring the hosting down from here. However, the registrar company seems legitimate enough and located in Germany. I don't know if I can ask for suspending the domain through them or not.
        Well, governments realized that copyright laws were DUMB, so they had agreements to give them teeth. Basically, you can't expect another country to support you, if you won't support them. In that case, what is the point. SO, for the netherlands:

        Netherlands and Possessions · Bilateral Nov. 20, 1899; Berne
        (Paris) Nov. 1, 1912; UCC Geneva June 22, 1967; UCC Paris Nov.
        30, 1985; Phonograms Oct. 12, 1993; WTO Jan. 1, 1995; WCT
        Mar. 14, 2010; WPPT Mar. 14, 2010

        The Bilateral and Berne agreements apply here.

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author housewarrior
    Sorry to hear that. I had the same exact thing happen to me one time. Everything was cloaked. No way to get to the thief. They must have used some kind of IFrame to steal it. Way past my capability. I'm no help. Sorry. Just wanted to let you know that your situation is not unique.


    [QUOTE=onegoodman;7493516]hi warriors,

    I just came cross a website that replicated my website. They even still have my website logo and it is linked to my domain.
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    • Profile picture of the author onegoodman
      [quote=housewarrior;7493878]Sorry to hear that. I had the same exact thing happen to me one time. Everything was cloaked. No way to get to the thief. They must have used some kind of IFrame to steal it. Way past my capability. I'm no help. Sorry. Just wanted to let you know that your situation is not unique.


      Originally Posted by onegoodman View Post

      hi warriors,

      I just came cross a website that replicated my website. They even still have my website logo and it is linked to my domain.
      Thanks, actually I was wondering how can they copy the website that far. Clearly whoever copied it didn't spend enough time on it and this why it still link to my website pages. It is terrible to find out that someone can actually copy the website content without having an access to the site backend.
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    • [quote=housewarrior;7493878]Sorry to hear that. I had the same exact thing happen to me one time. Everything was cloaked. No way to get to the thief. They must have used some kind of IFrame to steal it. Way past my capability. I'm no help. Sorry. Just wanted to let you know that your situation is not unique.


      Originally Posted by onegoodman View Post

      hi warriors,

      I just came cross a website that replicated my website. They even still have my website logo and it is linked to my domain.
      This also happened to me in the past. I contacted the host (check DNS, then visit the nameserver's website). They were helpful and the site was delisted.
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  • Profile picture of the author GailTrahd
    If hackers and spammers spent just a fraction of their time and energy on a legit pursuit they'd be successful. It's amazing how much energy people will expend to 'get something for free'!
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  • Profile picture of the author sabluuk
    had this too a couple of times. It really sucks, If you need anything translated into dutch, maybe I can help you
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  • Profile picture of the author Martinsee
    You can't drop them !
    Sure that.
    There are many autoblogs that steal contents from others. How can you report all of them ?
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  • Profile picture of the author Gengis
    Wow that's ludicrous how someone can copy it exactly like yours. I hope you get them shut down.
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  • Profile picture of the author HKSEO Jonbones
    Good luck, man, you'll need it dealing with anyone across the pond.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fredbou
    Originally Posted by onegoodman View Post

    hi warriors,

    I just came cross a website that replicated my website. They even still have my website logo and it is linked to my domain.

    I want to take an action against this website in order to shut it down.

    What can I do in order to shut the website down immediately ?
    The only way I see that your site can be copied like that is by someone having access to the backend of your site, your database and/or your web hosting account.

    The copied site doesn't have valid links to stores, so I don't know what the point of copying yours is.

    I would ban their IP from access to your site for a start, using your HTaccess file. That might cause them to close it, because many of the images won't show.

    They are also linking to your security certificate on GoDaddy. GoDaddy might help you ban their IP from access to that certificate.

    PM me if you need more help.
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    • Profile picture of the author RabbitAnimate
      Originally Posted by Fredbou View Post

      The only way I see that your site can be copied like that is by someone having access to the backend of your site, your database and/or your web hosting account.

      The copied site doesn't have valid links to stores, so I don't know what the point of copying yours is.

      I would ban their IP from access to your site for a start, using your HTaccess file. That might cause them to close it, because many of the images won't show.

      They are also linking to your security certificate on GoDaddy. GoDaddy might help you ban their IP from access to that certificate.

      PM me if you need more help.
      True. someone rip your site from the server. I still cant imagine how they can "clone" your website. hope you find the best solution then.
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    • Profile picture of the author housewarrior
      There are other ways to copy a site verbatim other than hacking the original. I have NO idea what the method is but that's what happened to me.

      I was concerned that they were ripping off my sales. Turned out they weren't. At the time the duplicate may have actually helped the cause with more traffic! I got my first clue checking my stats and seeing traffic coming from the bogus site. Any good that may have come with the theft would have evaporated with Panda. (My issue took place well before that.)

      My host couldn't help. My affiliate place couldn't help. Everything was hidden on the pirate end. Just nobody to help.

      From time to time I would take a look. As I recall, from what I could piece together with research (WhoIs, etc.) this guy sold out his operation. At least it changed hands. He had a ton of domains. I suspected what the theft was about was some kind of scheme to enhance his domain portfolio. Just guesswork. Eventually, the new owners, whoever they were, took the bogus site down. That's the only way I got relief.

      Norm

      And PS.... No doubt there are people right here on the WF that DO know how to accomplish this mirror site thing...but they wouldn't be telling.

      Originally Posted by Fredbou View Post

      The only way I see that your site can be copied like that is by someone having access to the backend of your site, your database and/or your web hosting account.



      PM me if you need more help.
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  • Profile picture of the author onegoodman
    Thanks Fredbou, I will contact GoDaddy to request banning his IP Address, I will do as well ban his IP through the htaccess,

    I have been searching up and down since the owner owns a dedicated server in France under his company name which gave me some hard time to find who is hosting the dedicated server.

    I got in touch with the ISP Provider and waiting for their response before I go ahead and taking any further action.

    I tried to request from Google to remove the link, however, it seems that Google would like me to contact the domain owner to remove the content before they consider removing it? which I am not sure why would I even waste my time doing that, this is not some copied content. It is a stolen content with enough evidence to lock the owner up . Contacting the owner would probably be my last option.
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    • Profile picture of the author Fredbou
      Originally Posted by onegoodman View Post

      Thanks Fredbou, I will contact GoDaddy to request banning his IP Address, I will do as well ban his IP through the htaccess,

      I have been searching up and down since the owner owns a dedicated server in France under his company name which gave me some hard time to find who is hosting the dedicated server.

      I got in touch with the ISP Provider and waiting for their response before I go ahead and taking any further action.

      I tried to request from Google to remove the link, however, it seems that Google would like me to contact the domain owner to remove the content before they consider removing it? which I am not sure why would I even waste my time doing that, this is not some copied content. It is a stolen content with enough evidence to lock the owner up . Contacting the owner would probably be my last option.
      Have you tried the registrar for the domain name? They may be sympathetic to you and cancel the perp's domain name. It's blatantly outrageous!

      How secure is your site/account? I found your Admin easily and perhaps your password is not complex?
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  • Profile picture of the author Weblover50
    First of all, copy cats are unlikely to get any real traffic - they will get a duplicate content penalty sooner than later. Complaining to Google will really help, they are mos likely to remove such sites form their index. Netherlands is supposed to be a little easy with copyrights law, probably the reason why they chose to host their. Anyway, do complain to the host, you may find the host info below:
    http://toolbar.netcraft.com/site_rep...spaarshop.net/

    But hey, they have a different logo and slightly different design as of now.
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    • Profile picture of the author Fredbou
      Originally Posted by Weblover50 View Post


      But hey, they have a different logo and slightly different design as of now.
      LOL! They may have ripped off someone else's site now!
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  • Profile picture of the author onegoodman
    I found the ISP where their server located and contacted them. I see they changed to some script.

    Either the ISP contacted them or they realized someone is after them.

    I got enough proof : screen shots, videos, just in case they try something in future.

    Fredbou as far as my passwords, they are secure enough and i do change them very often specially the one for the cpanel.

    I know the admin page can be found easy, i will change its location today and make sure google doesn't crawl it as well

    Thanks for your tips highly appreciated
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    • Profile picture of the author Fredbou
      Originally Posted by onegoodman View Post

      I found the ISP where their server located and contacted them. I see they changed to some script.

      Either the ISP contacted them or they realized someone is after them.

      I got enough proof : screen shots, videos, just in case they try something in future.

      Fredbou as far as my passwords, they are secure enough and i do change them very often specially the one for the cpanel.

      I know the admin page can be found easy, i will change its location today and make sure google doesn't crawl it as well

      Thanks for your tips highly appreciated
      You're welcome!

      Good to hear that you're using complex passwords.

      But I still feel that somehow your database was compromised. I'm a Web developer by profession and having looked at the source code of the perp I couldn't see an iFrame, so have to assume that they had somehow copied your database.

      Glad it seems to have been resolved now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kendrickk
    That is not the best thing to hear. I actually thought that this could not happen, then again it does happen. Sorry to hear that!
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  • Profile picture of the author Auzan
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author onegoodman
      Originally Posted by Auzan View Post

      What! How they stole your website?

      I hope they will be punish.
      I am not sure how they created an exact replica of the website back few months ago (the site design wasn't changed since then but the content increase since then). I guess some software allow you to steal a website and create an exact replica.

      I was shocked as well, I didn't know somone can replicate a website without access and have it up on another server, but I guess the more we live the more we see lol.

      The first thing i suspected that the website is redirecting to mine . It got me a while to realize what is going on
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  • Profile picture of the author anandshaw
    hey onegoodman - how did you manage to find the website. how do I know that someone is NOT copying my site.
    Thanks for your time & best of luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author Fredbou
      Originally Posted by anandshaw View Post

      hey onegoodman - how did you manage to find the website. how do I know that someone is NOT copying my site.
      Thanks for your time & best of luck!
      Try Copyscape
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  • Profile picture of the author venkateshk
    Sorry to hear that, but I would really like to know how you found that your site was stolen in the first place. I mean, is there a way to sniff this out?
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  • Profile picture of the author twisters
    Web site stole is a crime. You can right protect or read only your site.
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  • So sad to see your website pirated/plagiarized/stolen. Unfortunately, the chances of having them to repeal to their crime is a little bit slim, now that you mentioned that their website is hosted offshore. You may want, however, to try and contact the Hosting Provider. I'm sure they'll assist you in any ways they can. Good luck.
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