Strange incident at Epcot today

[Krazyaboutmykids]

I'm new to the DIS boards but am on here because of an unsettling incident today. At epcot I was taking some photos of my child and as I was leaving, a man with who appeared to be his wife and approximately nine year old daughter, approached me and asked for my email address. I was confused at first but then he showed me photos from his camera with a long telephoto lens... Photos of my child. He said he'd like to email them because he happened to see the perfect shot. The few pics I saw were lovely and much better than my amateur eye. He said I'd get an email from Tommy after I gave him my email address. I thanked him and thought how nice, right? So I get this email from a Tommy Hilsinger tonight and it appears to be a marketing scam...

Has this happened to anyone? In the subject it reads sorry. Maybe the guy has a conscious but I'm just a little unnerved he has photos of my kid and is using this to get people's email address. I didn't click on any of the obvious scam-like links but as a protective mother, I'm a little worried. Should I report this to Disney?

Thanks so much... any advice is appreciated.

 

[quirty30]

It all sounds suspicious - I'd be unnerved. But what the heck does this have to do with DVC?

 

[funatdisney]

Geez, quirty30. She is a first time poster. A little kindness and patience would be in order here and would go a long way.


Krazyaboutmykids. if you are at WDW, I would report it to Guest Relations. You just never know what Disney security may or may not know about this individual. In my experience, it is better to report something like this as soon as it happens, though. If at home, use this form from their website. Ask a question regarding where you would report your story. Maybe that will help.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Since this post is not DVC related at all, I am moving it to our Community Board. Thank you.

 

[kathleenj]

First of all, you should have reported the incident immediately and never given out your email. No one should be taking photos of your children.

You can still report this to security. Call your resort front desk and ask to be connected to Guest Relations in Epcot. Tell them the date, the approximate time this happened and a description of the individual who approached you. Anything you can remember of him, the woman, and child he was with will be helpful. Hopefully Disney will have the individual on camera and be able to identify him.

You can also google the email address his message came from. And see what comes up.

At any event, this should have been reported immediately. This is terribly inappropriate.

 

[stepmommyof1]

If a stranger took photos of my stepson while we were out someplace, not only would I be very creeped out and "on guard", I'd also be PISSED.
You can't help getting other people in your photos since it's a crowded place, but that is completely different from specifically taking a photo OF my child.
In my feelings/opinion on the subject, nobody takes pictures of my stepson without my permission (or his fathers permission, obviously).
(editing in to say that when I re-read my post I realized I had written "my child". That might sound weird since he is a teenager and I am not even a "real" parent, I'm just the sort-of-new stepmom...but I guess that just proves how this incident can draw out "mom feelings"...I don't even have kids of my own and I instantly felt protective and said "my child" thinking of someone taking pictures of him without us knowing.)
If I were you I would DEFINITELY report to Disney and also trace the email if possible.

 

[Agri]

I'd report it to Disney AND the police (call their non-emergency number).

I'm sure they'd both LOVE to know that some creep is using pictures of children to try and scam parents.

 

[kathleenj]

Also I agree with Agri. Call the Orange County Sheriff and report this to them as well.

 

[Tink888]

First off, Welcome to the Dis.

Secondly, don't beat yourself up about giving the guy your email. You assumed the guy was being kind. Could've happened to anyone.

Definitely report it to Guest Services, either at your resort or one of the parks. While I've never experienced this particular situation at Disney I have seen people enter the parks and try to pass out flyers, etc to promote their business. WDW does not allow this practice and if caught, at a minimum those people will be escorted from the parks.

I'd wait to speak with a Disney representative before deciding whether or not to involve the police.

Sorry this happened to you and hope the rest of your trip is wonderful.

 

[funatdisney]

Since this post is not DVC related at all, I am moving it to our Community Board. Thank you.

Thanks, Carol.

 

[cglaura]

I'm new to the DIS boards but am on here because of an unsettling incident today. At epcot I was taking some photos of my child and as I was leaving, a man with who appeared to be his wife and approximately nine year old daughter, approached me and asked for my email address. I was confused at first but then he showed me photos from his camera with a long telephoto lens... Photos of my child. He said he'd like to email them because he happened to see the perfect shot. The few pics I saw were lovely and much better than my amateur eye. He said I'd get an email from Tommy after I gave him my email address. I thanked him and thought how nice, right? So I get this email from a Tommy Hilsinger tonight and it appears to be a marketing scam...

Has this happened to anyone? In the subject it reads sorry. Maybe the guy has a conscious but I'm just a little unnerved he has photos of my kid and is using this to get people's email address. I didn't click on any of the obvious scam-like links but as a protective mother, I'm a little worried. Should I report this to Disney?

Thanks so much... any advice is appreciated.

I'd definitely report it, and as pp posters said, this is a good reminder to all, never give out your email or personal info.

 

[merbobear]

I would report it to Disney and possibly the police, but for the scam factor only. It's not illegal to take pictures of people out in public, but if the guy is truly attempting to defraud people, that is illegal.

 

[Krazyaboutmykids]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I am reporting this asap in the morning. Sorry I posted this on DVC boards... I only did so because we are staying on DVC property and heard that DVC members have all the inside scoop. My apologies!

Oh...and yes, I was taken back that the guy initially had photos of my child on his camera but the equipment he had was definitely professional and I just assumed they were some nice family. I mean we are at WDW... Happiest place on earth. Not creepiest?!

 

[sjaakie]

Don't forget to send the email and the address.

 

[MICKEY88]

there is a real possibility that the 2 events are purely coincidental.

If the photographer is on vacation with his family, odds are he wouldn't be emailing pictures until he gets home from vacation.

 

[Keli]

As someone who's email has been hacked four times right in a row (finally got that virus taken care of!) I can tell you that people that I have never sent a personal email to but were in my address book for one reason or another (usually so professors' emails to me wouldn't get thrown into the spam file by yahoo) got all kinds of spam mail from me.
Then I had to go back and apologize to everyone just like this guy did. I seriously doubt this is his system for collecting email addresses. Way too much work when he can buy lists for pennies per address from companies.
Gotta think this was a coincidence.

 

[fishermouse]

(editing in to say that when I re-read my post I realized I had written "my child". That might sound weird since he is a teenager and I am not even a "real" parent, I'm just the sort-of-new stepmom...but I guess that just proves how this incident can draw out "mom feelings"...I don't even have kids of my own and I instantly felt protective and said "my child" thinking of someone taking pictures of him without us knowing.)
If I were you I would DEFINITELY report to Disney and also trace the email if possible.

Step Parents are PARENTS, my father died when I was young and I only really knew my "step" father who came along when I was a teen. It's a hard job when they can throw the your not my mom in your face, but kids can be mean and don't always say the right thing.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I would have grabbed a quick photo of him on my phone camera!
I trust no one!

 

[Bertie9396]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I am reporting this asap in the morning. Sorry I posted this on DVC boards... I only did so because we are staying on DVC property and heard that DVC members have all the inside scoop. My apologies!

Oh...and yes, I was taken back that the guy initially had photos of my child on his camera but the equipment he had was definitely professional and I just assumed they were some nice family. I mean we are at WDW... Happiest place on earth. Not creepiest?!

Sadly, there are creeps everywhere these days. Even the happiest place on earth.

I'm sorry this happened to you but I immediately would have been suspicious of a perfect stranger asking me for my email and taking pictures of my child. I would have probably have flipped out on him and demanded he delete the picture and reported him to security.

 

[stepmommyof1]

Thanks fishermouse that was sweet i know what you mean about stepparent BEING the parent, stepsons mom passed away but even when she was alive she was not really in his life. He is very nice to me though, other people have said stuff like that to me but never him- he even gave me jewelry for mothers day with "mom" engraved on it. Made me cry. I am glad that you had such a nice relationship with your new dad and it was heartwarming to read about.