Someone is Using my Username on Ebay

[starryssketches.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm not sure if I should be asking about this on this comm as it's not so much 'artist' related but this is worrying as this could probably have an effect on me.

I've used the net handle of starrypawz for five or so years, it's the name I go buy on deviantart, my blog and well the internet in general so most people know me as starry or starrypawz. I'm a member of the My Little Pony Arena and recieved a message saying

"Hi there,

just wondered if you were also Starrypawz on Ebay? If you are, you've purchased one of my Dolly Mix ponies, and I've heard nothing from you in nearly a month. Please let me know if you want it.

Kerry (*angelberries* on Ebay)"

Now. I've never joined Ebay and don't have any intention of doing so, this has set off an alarm in my head. I've found this person and they joined on the 15th July 2010 and have 20 feedback with 1 neg. Can you offer any advice to me? I can't contact this person or Ebay unless I use my brother's account and I don't know if Ebay can do anything to help. It's quite worrying as my username isn't one you'd probably see copied (if I had something like starry92  that would be likley)

So, can I do anything, apart from just inform the internet that 'starrypawz on Ebay is not me!'?

Comments

[astraldescent.livejournal.com]

It might affect you, since obviously people can make the connection between you and that person easily, but I don't think there's anything you can do besides informing people that you're not that individual.

It does seem odd that it'd be copied in that way and that they'd be buying my little ponies when you belong to such a group. I dunno what's up with that.

I don't know how eBay handles "name theft" or even if they do, so I can't help you much there.

[starryssketches.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess it's just a strange bunch of concidences.

It does seem odd though that she's using 'my' name, collects ponies, she apparently likes the scene/emo/goth/metal culture (her words not mine, I'm more into Goth/Metal), likes bands like Paramore and Metallica, likes stuff with skulls on... it's just weird.

[mandyseley.livejournal.com]

Not really.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. A lot of people don't use the same username everywhere online, and I think it's pretty well accepted that having the same username doesn't guarantee you're the same person. Even for "uncommon" names, it's pretty common to have duplication.

For stuff like this, a polite "no, sorry, that's not me" takes care of it just fine. I'd only worry or try to get eBay involved if this person starts deliberately TRYING to pass themselves off as you.

[hollowzero.livejournal.com]

Put in your sig in bold on the Arena "starrypawz on Ebay is NOT me!"

I believe another Arena member (pinkkittywinks) has that in her sig as well. It's the best you can do.

Angelberries is very nice though, she'll understand.

This

[nekomata.livejournal.com]

You might also add this to profiles on various sites, just to avoid contact through them.

[starryssketches.livejournal.com]

Yeah she was quite understanding about this. I've taken a look at her profile and she does apparently live in the UK like I do, but she lives somewhere else and she's older than me. I think though this starrypawz has done a runner on Ebay as Angleberries has been unable to get a hold of her for the last month even after sending invoices and the like.

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

Best advice I can offer is, try ebay first. Don't talk to the person themselves. Internet confrontations usually don't end well. Just state your case and hope for the best, although I don't koow if they'll act against the other person.

Until then, you might want to just inform t he internet for now that yes, the starrypawz of ebay is not you.

[foxhack.livejournal.com]

eBay will not change the username of that other person, regardless of what happens.

There's this Foxhack guy there, and he's not me, and it's irritating because it's a Chinese squatter that only used the name once.

[korth-dono.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry too much unless you draw or something, and they start trying to sell things while pretending to be you.

Aside from that, just tell people that it's not you if anyone asks.

[starryssketches.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I doubt that will happen. I'm more worried if she say is a 'bad buyer' as someone may go 'hey, I've seen this on the Trading Post or Arena, I will give them bad feedback/complain' thankfully angelberries messaged me first before doing anything.

Seems this person is pretty flaky though. The seller that contacted me has had nothing back from this person for a month even after sending Ebay invocies and stuff...

[banrai.livejournal.com]

Well, as irritating as it is, names are really a dime a dozen. With all the hundreds of millions that have access to the itnernet, you're gonna find duplicate handles. It is, however, interesting that two people in the same community would have the same name. Perhaps it would be a good idea to use your brother's account, and see what information you can get about the person. That is, send them a note and ask if they use a LJ or the forum(?) that you post on. If they do, you could perhaps ask them to make a note about it there.

Otherwise, I agree with Mandyseley - Just say, 'No, sorry that's not me.'

[cloudpouncer.livejournal.com]

Nope

[koisnake.livejournal.com]

This.

Seriously.. you cannot keep people from using names just because use it for 5+ years. Just inform inform everyone that this isn't you and you're fine.

[sawblade5.livejournal.com]

Some advice, If you really want to protect your namesake, you need to register an account at those places to protect yourself, even if you don't plan on using the site at all.

[teahound.livejournal.com]

This. Hell, there are a couple of adult sites I made accounts with my username at and put in huge letters 'this is just a placeholder' or something to that effect that stated I never intend to actually use said account.

(Of course I still get emails from it saying people are trying to friend me... Eww.)

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

All you can do really is put a disclaimer on all your profiles everywhere that the person isn't you.

angelberries should report them to ebay, but I really don't think they'll do anything about the username issue. Keep an eye on it and see if they start to try and impersonate you proper, they might do something then.

[genkigami.livejournal.com]

I agree with Banrai and Mandyseley.

I've had the same problem except it was a user with my same name being a dick to other users on another pet site I've never even heard of. When I get sent a PM on Chicken Smoothie where I use that name I just said "Nope, not me. And if all he's doing is being a dick, then fine. Once he steals my art and pretends to be the Chicken Smoothie user, let me know."

With millions of people on the internet, name duplicates are bound to happen. All you can do is just say it's not you or add a notice in your sig "____ IS NOT ME!"

[starryssketches.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, the seller got a response from 'the other starrypawz' she sounds completley nuts.

and I quote
'my feedback is hidden and know one will ever see it!!! cos its A positive!! YOU GREEDY SELLER. 99P FROM MORRISONS AND ASDA!! hahahahaha'

[marlinkhylacat]

Let's make this comment make more sense....

I'm not sure if this person is just some kind of troll, a thief, or WHAT she's up to....But with behaviour like THAT, it's definitely good to let people know you have no connections to that person! Who knows, she may be trying to imitate you if she saw you have a good rep in the MLP community. She'll likely be able to get away with ripping people off a few times before word gets out that "Starrypawz is bad" and then you take the fall. :/

[starryssketches.livejournal.com]

(love your icon XD)
Yeah she seems like a dodgy Ebay seller, the word has gone around to block this one and not to confuse them with me. It is weird though if they were attempting to 'ruin' me as I've not to my knowlege annoyed anyone within the community or the internet in general. I've always stayed pretty 'neutral' as it were and try to steer clear of drama and essentially try not to act like an ass.

[taasla.livejournal.com]

Someone registered "Taasla" on Gmail, forcing me to register "taaslapraeda" instead. Unless they're purposefully impersonating you, there's nothing much Ebay will do. I wouldn't worry.

[starryssketches.livejournal.com]

Okay, I do see your point there. It was the name I used when I signed up to Deviantart ages ago, I've only been a member of the 'pony community' for two years

[stormslegacy.livejournal.com]

Eh, it happens. I used to be Moondust (no spaces or anything else) on the Arena and trading post, catfights and everything. now there are several Moondusts, all different variations of capitalization etc. When I joined the community over 10 years ago it WAS unique, but as the community expanded, dupications were bound to happen. I'm no longer part of the MLP community for the most part, but I was a little offended when it started happening. I realized it's not a big deal in the long run though.

I hate the name now anyways...it was totally the product of a 13 year-old version of me. I much prefer the handle I use now =3

[starryssketches.livejournal.com]

True. One good thing is though that at least people within the pony community seem to be quite understanding and 'sane' as it were. Or else this could have gone real bad, real quick. This thing just still seemed odd to me as my name was 'completley duplicated' with no attempt to make it look different, the theory is that this person may have been lurking and 'liked' my name enough to use it.