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Scammer Alert: M. Hirtes

By Dragoneer, 8 years ago

Just an FYI - we found and re-banned Michael Hirtes (mhirtes) tonight from a secondary account called stealthy. Michael is a somewhat notorious scammer, and has financially impacted quite a lot of artists on this site (to the point of being perma-banned from FA originally several months ago).

The Freehaven board sums it up best...

Freehaven wrote:Originally posted:
http://dammitfreehaven.com/comm/res/2.html#5

Michael Hirtes has a long history of cheating and abusing artists in addition to his other abrasive behavior, going back almost a decade or more. His usual method is to ask for constant sketches to see the progress and make sure the commission is going as he wants it. He will ask for these sketches and numerous revisions (many infamously involving more and more elaborate toe rings) until either he has had enough sketches and simply abandons contact, or the artist becomes frustrated and calls off the commission.

A secondary tactic of Hirtes' seems to be to actually complete the commission, then find something that the artist did (posting the image in their gallery being one example) to demand a full refund lest he file a grievance with PayPal.

Whatever happens... whether the artist drops the commission, whether they cease to play along, or in any other method when Hirtes sees that he is not going to be able to abuse them into continuing to do as he wants, he will attempt to play the wronged party, making numerous public posts (both under his own name and anonymously) to attempt to vilify the artist and make them out to be the cheat.

Advised Action: Do not interact with Michael Hirtes in any fashion. While this will not fully protect you (he may try to say that you are rude or standoffish for ignoring him), it will insulate you from becoming more thoroughly involved in the drama and anger he creates. Accept a commission from Michael Hirtes at risk to your money, time, effort, and the quietude of your online journal.

To this day we continue to get artists coming to us about being ripped off by Mr. Hirtes. Given we continue to hear about artists being continually damaged by his actions, I'm officially tossing down the flag and making this post public.

Consider yourself warned.

381 comments

User replies

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Can you do a I.P Block to keep him from making new accounts?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

IP addresses are dynamic, and Hirtes is using a service to keep his IP private so that his actions can not be tracted back to him.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

well there are also static IP addresses as well.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Compulsive scam artists cover their tracks, otherwise they wouldn't be very good scammers. Most residential ISPs (and even some low-end business services) don't use static IPs ever, to prevent users from hosting websites from their homes and not paying for bandwidth usage. Static IPs are usually only given to people who are running businesses with the intent of serving up some kind of domain services. Unless this guy is running a website out of his home, his IP address will continue to change every few days.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Compulsive scam artists also grow cocky and the internet never covers your tracks completely. It just takes a network administrator smarter than you to find you. With the right tools you can pierce any veil of secrecy. Computers don't like to lie to each other. It makes them act funny. They leave tracks, signatures, and other tell-tales. Just have to know where to look.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

He's likely behind an anonymous proxy server. It's not hard to find hundreds of the damn things, since 99% of them don't require any kind of login/pass to use them.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

He may keep it private, but it's static according to himself on lulz.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

He might have one of those things that constantly changes his IP address to a fake one.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Dialup?

Dialup does that. =D

#link Posted: 8 years ago

or a proxy

#link Posted: 8 years ago

as a computer guy cannot resist correcting this:
Dial-up cycles through a list of valid addresses, if you have a log of the time and IP the ISP can link it back to the account through their billing logs(unless they are too lazy to track proper IP billing logs)

The only thing that can reliably mask your IP address from being logged and still allow you to communicate with the internet is a proxy service, and many of these are still back-traceable.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

As a computer guy too, no.

This is why AOL is STILL IP-block-banned from many online games and MU*s, due to their having such a wide range in their IP blocks (and lack of logging, monitoring, shell accounts, etc.) that using AOL Dialup is effectively like using a proxy.

I can confirm this first-hand from my days of being repeatedly banned from SPR. =D

#link Posted: 8 years ago

One ISP's lazy habits does not make the technology bad. Go vent that at AOL if you still use their 'service'.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Also. SPR and Furrymuck both did a block-ban in 1999 of Bellsouth dialup for the same reason.

AFAIK only Furrymuck lifted the ban.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Really?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

TOR

#link Posted: 8 years ago

i'm loving it.
( i stopped counting the FA account i created since 2006. )

#link Posted: 8 years ago

never could get the ole Onion Router to work right for me.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads up near, im not an artist but an active commissioner, i wonder if thats even his real name.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Damn, what an asshole.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

i love your icon XD ahaha thats classic! not like those stupid ''DAT AZZ'' icons -_-

anywho yeah this guys an asshole xD and just wanted to compliment your icon

#link Posted: 8 years ago

i second the above comment ;)

#link Posted: 6 years ago

I third that

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I dont get these guys.... Commission work shouldnt be so cheapened. :<

#link Posted: 8 years ago

You know you really gotta watch your ass with someone when you see one of these warnings.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I don't like issuing these kinds of warnings. But you know what I don't like even more? Seeing lots of good artists on this site get burned due to a dude like this.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I feel you on that one. I've heard his name floating around before. Either on TGFB or ED. Not quite sure. Did a little bit of research at the time. The guy's another person with Lupine Assassin Syndrome. Not in terms of commission himself homeless, but in terms of just not quitting when he really needs to.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Lupine Assassin Syndrome? What's that?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

The ability to make the entire or majority of the fandom hate you in a short period of time. First diagnosed by Dr. P Dragoneer, PhD in subject "Allan".

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Lupine Assassin, AKA Allan. He'd open a journal every so often asking for donations "or else he'd be homeless", then suddenly turn up with new commission art about 2 weeks later.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I hear that he once robbed an orphanage to feed his commission addition.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

T__T Arg.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Yeah, i remember that guy

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Hirtes is far worse.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

wow, lupine has really made a bad name for himself if people are actually coming up with fake official terms xD

poor bastard ._.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Grrrgh. When I heard the news about Lupine, I just felt dirty. I had faved so much of his music....ever seen the scene in Ace Ventura when he burned all his clothes and cried in the shower? Yeah. I FELT like that. (Goes to listen to "The Crying Game" due to just thinking about it). AND adding insult to injury, his avatar were two things I liked: music related and a black cocked black wolf. God I need a shower.... x.x

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thank you very much for having the courage to expose scammers.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Ah, good old Hirpes. Still up to his old stunts, I see. Feh.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

He's one of the worst in the fandom. Hands down.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Well, I've spread the word on my journal as well. Him, we don't need. I've had to deal with his crap for going on 20 years now, and it ain't any more amusing now.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Then why the hell hasn't any criminal charges been filed against the fucker? =P

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Mainly because the individual offenses are penny-ante from a legal standpoint, I wot.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Try mail fraud.

My own personal plan is a lot more direct and very very permanent.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

three words. Class Action Lawsuit.

And no, I don't know anything about the legal system really, I just assume a whole lot of artists could band together about the whole thing

#link Posted: 8 years ago

True, but:

1) Artists have better things to do with their lives, and

2) Hirtes has jack-all to make a suit worthwhile.

Criminal charges of fraud, demonstrated by extensive pattern, might put him in jail, but again not that many people care about him enough to bother.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Can you have mail fraud when no mail is involved? Does it apply to email? Forum posts?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

unfortunately "breach of contract" would be the only really valid thing to file against him, and it wouldn't hold up in court.

$dragmon$

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Gotcha!

I wonder how handsome his fursona is

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Oh shit... what an asshat. >:C

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads up.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanx, good to know. I personally haven't had that problem yet. But I do appreciate the info.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Good information to know.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I think information on his paypal email address would be useful. knowing someone's paypal email address isn't violation of privacy I don't think

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Due to user privacy (as much as I hate the guy) I can't give out his e-mail.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I guess we'll just have to ask it from the person who he scammed :3

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Along with that, it would cause one hell of a shit storm ):

#link Posted: 8 years ago

What about reporting his e-mail address to PayPal, if he's using that? I doubt PayPal would take too kindly to hearing that one of their users has been scamming people left, right, and center.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I agree with this.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

As do I.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

^ this.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

You assume Paypal cares.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

well if you mentioned that he bought porn they would!

they ban for just saying the word porn XD

#link Posted: 8 years ago

actually as much as i hate to say it. Paypal turns a blind eye to anyone that still pays off their fee's in a timely fashion. now if i was a artist who got nailed o nthe wall by this guy i would issue a greivance back at him for failure to pay and request paypal rectify the incident. If paypal does not handle the issue i would personally hire a lawyer to issue a subpoena to paypal requesting his information be released pending a civil court suit.

ntoher trick is to send out a black list of the name on the internet sometimes ISP's will get the drift and even denie services to the guy if they can prove who he is.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

i've known several people that got banned for buying porn using paypal XD
i still think that would work XD
though he'd just use some other excuse to artists :(
since paypal is only the way he's paying and he rarely pays

#link Posted: 8 years ago

see thats the key. if he is paying that means Paypal has his bank information which if in a time of a civil court action they are required by federal law to comply and reveal. Afterwhich you can easily inform his personal bank of his misdeeds and in the interest of saving their skins from a class action suit from tons of artists they will terminate his account on bad terms making his credit a nightmare and he would be lucky to get another account anywheer i nthe US

#link Posted: 8 years ago

but you'd never get enough artists to band together, so you'd be just bluffing XD

#link Posted: 8 years ago

The real nitty-gritty of this is he can say he isn't scamming. In a real legal sense he isn't and if he has dozens of completed transactions with only a few charge backs all he has to say is he is picky and the artist he commissioned didn't do what he was paid to do to his satisfaction. We know he is scamming but a judge can only see the "facts" placed before him and proving Hirtles got what he paid for and is satisfied is basically unprovable. It's like proving someone likes cherry ice cream, you can't. Although someone may buy 3 cartons a week of cherry ice cream, you can't prove that they like it. (example: they may be collecting the cartons, it's cheaper, under doctor's orders, etc.) You can only prove that they buy it and it isn't the same thing. Paypal can't determine if a customer is truly satisfied unless they say so, no one can and if there isn't a firm contract in place then their hands are tied for the most part.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

my point exactly :)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I'd assume they wouldn't want their service utilized by a scammer, certainly not one who's been doing so for an extended period.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

He can switch E-mails.
It's easy.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

He can switch e-mails, but the PayPal account stays exactly the same - The only difference is that he's changed his contact details.

PayPal have to authorize his bank account too. It's one thing to change an e-mail address, but changing to another bank account for the sole purpose of getting PayPal to work is extreme. If his PayPal account is closed, I'd assume his details would be put on PayPal's blacklist (or something similar), to hinder his chances of getting another account with PayPal.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Or create a whole new paypal.
I did, I have two different bank accounts, one had issues with Paypal, so I used another...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

My point is, if he is going to be as obsessive as he seems to be, with new e-mails.. then, why not alt pay pal, e-mails, etc..

#link Posted: 8 years ago

If he gets an alt-PayPal, and is discovered to be the same person, then you report the alt with evidence, and the alt is closed. Repeat process until he either finds himself in deep shit for it, or gives up.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thank you for the warning. =)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Real bastard, as if artists don't have enough to deal with. Probably loaded with commissions and this guy keeps pestering them for this one and completely wastes their time.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I must remember to keep an eye out for this mofo. You guys can't ban his IP I assume, as he must have an IP address which changes constantly.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Well thanks for the warning.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the headsup 'neer

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads up.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I hate people like him. He's just going to keep doing it,. until he does it to the wrong person. Then we will never have to deal with him again

#link Posted: 8 years ago

And the person he did it to will get life in prison.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

...but I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers....

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I wouldn't condone the killing of even a jerk such as this.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Neither would I. Killin' wrong.

...kneecappin' with a tire iron, however, is funny as hell!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

OUCH!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

You have peers? There is more than one samurai tribble? Actually though, you do not have a right to be tried by a jury of your "peers" in the US, it is a British thing... Since the Constitution states quite clearly "All men are created equal" everyone in the US is your peer. Which is why large corporations and predatory lawyers love to hold trials in Bumphuck Hicktown USA where easily swayed and easy to confuse "peers" can be found. Just be sure to have a mop handy to deal with the drool in the jury box...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Well, alrighty then! And the More You Know.....

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I never accept commissions from people who's accounts are completely blank of activity. U8 does that help?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I'd say so, yeah. And to be safe, you could always, with the commissioner's permission, confirm this said commissioner's loyalty with other artists he's worked with.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

very good advice!!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Kk.

My grandmother, a commissioned appraiser, said that another good idea is to put big ugly obvious watermarks over every WIP and finished product until the person has paid, and then give them the version without the watermark. That way, if they don't pay, the art is practically worthless.

Whats more, the watermark could say "THIS COMMISSION WAS NOT PAID FOR, THE COMMISSIONED ARTIST WAS <name>, AND THIS WAS NOT PAID FOR", so if they show it off they'd be in trouble. :3

#link Posted: 8 years ago

You know those 'drag and drop' features available on Photoshop, GIMP, MS Paint, etc? Somebody could easily color over the watermark through similar methods.

8/

#link Posted: 8 years ago

You make it a large, non-transparent, obtrusive watermark...and, if it's an adult work, censor the good part! xD

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I think I see what you're saying. That might work. ;3

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Gotta love these people who don't have anything better to do with their lives

#link Posted: 8 years ago

thanks for the heads up

#link Posted: 8 years ago

*nods* Thanks for the warning, Drag.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads-up, man!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

How ironic that his username was stealthy, yet he got caught once again.

I hope that one day we'll find a more effective way to deal with his kind than ignoring him.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

We almost always find these people. They think they can hide, and sometimes they manage to get away with it for a while, too... but generally, they do something to slip up and fuck up.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Old habits die hard as the saying goes … and he’s as subtle as fireworks in a hospital zone.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

this is where premade contracts are incredibly useful :) (i.e., say all before hand " you get ONE preview sketch, after that payment is required, i get all freedoms with the image beyond choice of pose scene and character... so composition, and style, basically... then you get the final picture, no major retouches :) )

;)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

While those are nice from what I head this guy ignores those and still says there's a breach in the contract so he can get a refund.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

then he gets a lawyer slapped on his ass >:3

#link Posted: 8 years ago

If the artist can afford one.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Find one who's doing pro-bono work. Open and shut cases like this, where the artist specifically had a contract that is open ended in favor of the artist, are ideal for pro-bono-working lawyers because they're short, not stressful, and still count to their volunteer hours.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

i like this plan :)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

unfortunately it's people like him that force artists to have to restrict WIPs.
I am a good but picky commissioner in someways, i give good details and most artists get the positions right the first try, but i also don't commission artists that refuse to correct the picture more then once because i've seen some artists that just can't seem to understand simple directions XD

#link Posted: 8 years ago

this is also why livestream is my method of choice for commissioners to see what's being done, and give /live/ information about the image... helps a lot more i think :)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

ah! that's a really good idea :)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

it works /really/ well :) and gives the extra bonus of commissioners being able to watch you finish their pic ^^

#link Posted: 8 years ago

and no need for wips :)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

yep ^^ if they want a copy of the final revision before colours, they can have one :) after they pay me :)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

XD fair deal!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

*gives cookies ^^*

#link Posted: 8 years ago

*nom nom nom's cookie* thankies!!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

you're welcome ^^

#link Posted: 8 years ago

THE BANHAMMER COMETH

#link Posted: 8 years ago

It demands blood.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

And Paaaaaaaain.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

...Why am I suddenly picturing 'Banhammer' as the finishing move of a professional wrestler called The Administrator?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads up on the incoming fail boat!

*shakes head* I cant help but comment how sad it is though, I remember a time you could trust furs to keep their promises on things like rides, rent and commission pay... (I myself being cheated outta ride money once...) it just sucks that this fandom is attracting the common sleazes instead of just the nerdy/fanboy/spiritalist types only like it use to.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Rides?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

giving furs car rides to events and such

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Oh. I thought it meant...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

ahah XD well ya never know.... im sure some firs have made a lill spending cash that way XD

#link Posted: 8 years ago

furs*

>.=.> though im sure fir trees can be good prostitutes too...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Not likely. Too spiny.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I bet!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

That period never really existed. In fact, Hirties has been around longer than most folks have been in the fandom.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

True, I just mean as time goes on we are seeing more and more of them. >.=.<

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I dunno, I been here since the early 90s and there was dickwads back then too. Hirtes was one of them!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I see, yeah I wouldn't doubt it o.=.o

#link Posted: 8 years ago

In numbers, perhaps, but as a percentage of the fandom? No. It's just that the fandom has grown quite a bit since I first got into it, beyond the small network where it was easier to police ourselves.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

If he pays through paypal getting funds from an account and he files a.grievance.to get back money he didn't really. Lose and if its his real name report him for credit.fraud

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the warning as well. This guy is an idiot. x.x

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for feeding my bad habit of looking up and reading about terribly dysfunctional people! Also thanks for the warning.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

(he may try to say that you are rude or standoffish for ignoring him)

Lol. Not everybody is nice, and this is the internet. Suck a nut bro :3

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads up, this has been happening for a decade or more? Has nobody filed real legal action with this guy? With someone who works for a living, I'm sure within a decade somebody has to have taken legal action! Is there any word?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Who's going to file legal action for $40?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Well you did say some finished pieces were involved as well, rarely do they go for under $50. All it really takes is somebody who is strong enough or determined enough, especially when someone's doing it for no reason (like this guy). Its surprising to me, because that would be my first plan of action IMO.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Quite possibly, but then there's time it takes, some people have jobs... it's more of a hassle. And that's a shame, really, but...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Take it to the People's Court!

It'd brighten up my favorite daytime TV show >>;

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Well, you can go to court for any amount over 20$, I learned that in school.
it just doesnt seem very cost-efective to do so, with legal fees and such :/

#link Posted: 8 years ago

....oooo...point taken... that's gonna be hard

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for that warning Neer. I'll be sure to pass on the word.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

What kind of artwork does he usually request anyways? Is it M/M, M/F, certain fetishes, etc.? It would probably be helpful for certain people who do that kind of artwork if it was noted.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Arabian-style harems. He loves harems.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

And toe rings.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

and constantly changing little details that don't suit his exact specifications. he really gets off on that.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

It's really terrible that people like him try to pull stunts. What's worse is when the artist depends on commission work to make rent or buy food to survive. This bastard needs to be shot out of a cannon into the sun.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

That would be too humane.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I agree

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Nahh, fuck that.He just needs to be shot.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Why kill him? Rock-salt shotgun shells are much more agonizing.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I second this.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the info, Neer. These type of assholes need to be rooted out.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the warning o:
A shame that someone can take advantage of a community with usually such decent commissioners and prices.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Glad I could be of help, 'Neer.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

As I read this, I was listening to the remixed version of Gold vs Red and for some reason, it matched up...
......... ..........
......... ..........

Im pretty sure somebody out there will do lasting damage.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Oh damn, thanks mucho for the heads up. :0 I'll keep my eye out for that guy.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Yoko Beaumont.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Wait i read something on ED about this person.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Also: I'm submitting an official slogan:

"Hirtes Hurts".

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I prefer Butthurtes.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

~~Damnit~~Touche Freehaven.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Don't you mean Butthirtes?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Same difference.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

if it's the same then how can it be different?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

It was rotated 360 degrees.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I lol'd

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Butt Hirtes

Also, thanks for doing your part to ban this guy. I was the artist burned in question when Chill had to deal with Hirtes.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for posting this up, 'Neer.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Look out for toe-rings. Check.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Toe rings? o___O

#link Posted: 8 years ago

One of Hirtes' trademark requests for his commissions is elaborate toe rings.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Man fuck, you beat me to it.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

He's known to have a fetish for female characters dressed in harem outfits, and emphasizes artists to draw them with a bunch of toe rings.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

From the Freehaven stuff you quoted: "He will ask for these sketches and numerous revisions (many infamously involving more and more elaborate toe rings)"

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Oh, right, duh... =P I'm tired!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I didn't know that such kind of assholes could ever exist.

God damn...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

And he's been doing it since at least 1996 when I got on the net and he has been a constant pain in the ass within the fandom.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I am 45, Yes... Ass holes come in many styles and degrees.
I've had far too much experience with the ilk.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

dang! alright neer thanks for the info!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Must suppress urge to hunt down and de-kneecap evil, cunting sonofabitch!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

*thumbs up* :)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Heh.

Heh heh heh.

Delicious shadenfraude.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I'm safe. I never get commissioned anyway.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Don't be too sure. Sometimes they'll go for someone who doesn't get many commissions because they'll be so exited they may fail to check up on it.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I mean it jokingly.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I wish he were.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

wow...this...I...just...

WOW.

what a jerk. Thanks for the heads up, 'Neer

#link Posted: 8 years ago

what, no white knights yet?

no matter how disgusting, how despicable, how downright deplorable someone is... there is always some asshole who shows up to go NO YOU GAIZ YOU DONT KNOW HIM/HER LIKE I DO

i've heard about him. i dont do the type of art that he likes but i sure as hell dont work until i've at least received a deposit.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I don't believe I have ever seen someone else try to defend him, not even jokingly.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

The problem is, he CAN/Will pay you. Then after its drawn all he has to do is complain to paypal and they will take the money from your account and put it back into his. If it is adult, they will also lock your account and hold all your money if they don't just outright take it all.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

ohhh THATS right!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

no, guy doesn't even have any white knights. but he has been known to post anonymously on some imageboards (TGFB and lulz, at least) to try and show how cool this he is and how he shouldn't have to pay for commissions before he actually gets them, citing X example.

so yeah, he's pretty much a complete idiot.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

i have seen him on lulz, yes.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

After a decade, I'm surprised no one has tried to organize a class action lawsuit against him. I mean, a lot $30-$40 commissions can pile up to a big sum, not to mention compensation for emotional distress for having to and cost of commissions lost because an artist is too busy working on his.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the alert. Did Hirtes run a fanzine I might have contributed to?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Was it called Furplay?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I can't remember now but maybe it was. It was a long time ago.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Furplay and Midnight Sands were the two fanzines he did for a while. He stopped when he ticked off an artist who realized that selling those fanzines meant that Hirtes was engaging in welfare fraud.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Yeah..I have some stuff in both those zines.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

That fucker don't have shit on

fostermartin

#link Posted: 8 years ago

What did he do?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Won my fursuit auction in October and has yet to pay me. Disappears every few weeks.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I hope he pays you.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

If he doesn't, he's getting a call from a JAG and the Federal Trade Commission.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

JAG?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Judge Advocate General aka military lawyers. Its also a federal offense to cheat a government employee.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

You're in the military?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Somehow... I hope he will not pay you, because if you are really able to do that, the guy will get caught this time. As everybody says here in this journal, commissions he never paid were just too low to engage any action, and he certainly knows that. THIS seems to be different.......

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the warning. I'd been hearing bad stuff about him since the '90s, but I didn't know specifics. Luckily I wasn't one of the affected artists.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Oh, I'd take a Bat to him for hurting the Roxi.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Better yet, an incendiary grenade.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads up man.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

thanks for the heads up neer!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

that idiot still at it?
its clear how many people NEVER CHANGE their habits to scam..
Allan, Hirtes, Stacey, Natasha, the list goes on...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Who are Stacey and Natasha? I know the first two well.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Stacey Paine.

She's notorious for creating tones of fake accounts online (pretending to be real, famous artists) and posing as them. Then after she's established herself for a while, the artist will open up commissions. We're talking artists who can net $200-500 commissions due to their skill.

So people buy into it thinking they're potentially getting art from a Warcraft or D&D-level fantasy artist. Instead, they just get burned.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Don't think I've ever heard of her.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

because dragoneer as keep a big eye on her.. her behavior is well known and repetitive.
here she tried to act as darknatasha and xianjaguar if I remember correctly. also her IP blocks never change.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Yep! I got my account here at FA thanks to good ol' Stacey. She created it in my name, and Dragoneer, bless his keen eye, noticed it wasn't me registering for the account, and he alerted me...bumped her, and viola! I got the account.

Wasn't the first time she's impersonated me. Argh! When will she EVER learn? D:

#link Posted: 8 years ago

she as been on this for like.. 10 years?
I swear she as been longer than I have been on the furry community, and that is saying quite a bit.. D:

#link Posted: 8 years ago

At least 10 years. The first time she got me was creating an archive under my name on some anime site...that was....7 year ago? 8 years ago? And she ALREADY had a huge rap sheet by then. I just can't believe it's one person. She would have gotten bored by now. Part of me thinks that "Stacey" is actually a group of people, doin' it for the LULZ. For "one person", she sure gets around.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

nah, I remember its a mentally challenged old lady.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Really? Oh wow, I never heard that. I wonder if it is true! That's pretty sad.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Lawsuit perhaps?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

The problem is the money involved is usually too low to justify any legal action and he knows this. About the only thing one could do is file a small claims suit if he scammed someone local enough to make the trip to small claims court. Not only that but it's generally smut and finding someone willing to go before a judge and say they didn't get paid for drawing dirty pictures is real hard...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

LESS FAIL PLZ KTHX

Damn stupid scammers, ruining the fun for everyone. :<

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Danke for the heads up.

Also, whoever was responsible for the "Banned for being Hirtes" on his profile gets a brownie. X3

#link Posted: 8 years ago

i think it's time the fandom adopted "commission and payment referrals"

#link Posted: 8 years ago

ebay does something similar..why not here?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

But we do.
It's called Artists_Beware.
http://community.livejournal.com/ar.....beware/profile

Of course, you need an LJ account. A lot of artists belong to that community.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

er.. i was thinking more along the lines of "so and so can verify i am able to pay, reliant, won't scam you, etc."

when i first began commissioning artwork, i started small, building up my referrals and asking several artists to act as references.

I'd end every commission request with "in case you'd like to verify my ability to pay on time and my integrity, please contact

for example.

it's common courtesy really. on a resume you list reliable, honest people who can verify you're not a scam-artist, we should have a similar system here on FA...ideal as it sounds, it certainly would save a lot of artists wasted time as with Hirtes and his shenanigans.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Ah, I see. That would be this LJ community: http://community.livejournal.com/artistrecommend/
It's for recommending both good commissioners and artists.
Of course, it isn't quite like the system you described, and it isn't nearly as populated or active as the Artists_Beware community. Folks are more likely to bitch about bad experiences, rather than recommend good artists and good commissioners. Sad part of human nature. But I do see where you're coming from.

If the artist or commissioner is on Furbid or Furbuy auction sites, those sites have a Feedback system, like eBay's. So you can look people up there and see their feedback. Of course, this is limiting too, since not everyone has an account, and not everyone is under the same name, making it harder to easily find Feedback.

So it would be nice if FA had a Feedback system as well, eh? I wonder how that would work since no official tracked sales are made on this site. What would prevent people from abusing a feedback system here on FA (ie, randomly leaving bad feedback for people for the LULZ, or leaving false bad feedback for people they just don't like... or leaving super-good feedback that is not deserved for their friends?)

Or do you mean we should all list our contacts manually? That can be a bit of a hassle, and not everyone wants to be listed or inconvenienced by people noting them asking about so-and-so.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I will have to check this out! Thank you nonetheless XJ!!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

You're welcome! It's a good community. :)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Okay..but why can't it be on here? Instead of going to another location..? Just sayin'.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Never mind that..I got mixed up there..
Carry on.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

And this is why I send money STRAIGHT to my bank account when I recieve it in paypal.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

^This

This is also why I never have a problem with Paypal. If my account is "frozen"; who cares the balance is $0.00 anyways.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Some refund amirite?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Hmmm, doesn't the account have the ability to take charges against it? I mean, even if it is at $0 when the chargeback occurs then the account goes into the negative and then you can't use Paypal until it's paid? Then you get your credit messed up? If the Paypal account is tied to a bank there really isn't any way to stop that from happening right? With overdraft protection you could be looking at a bunch of charges too.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Withdraw money, close account, Or let your bank know some one decided to scam you and to freeze your account and don't approve any charges. It's VERY easy to drop a bank account via pay pal.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

But you won't know until AFTER the money is withdrawn, that's the thing. You don't get a warning, he doesn't announce he is going to do a charge back. You find out usually by the money's absence.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Well with the way I run business, it'll snag my paypal first, I give paypal a persona call, let them know what he purchased and so on. Since i've never had this happen I can't say what would happen nor what I would do. But calling paypal is better then trying to win an internet dispute

#link Posted: 8 years ago

With banks, you have more rights in your favor because it's a BANK regulated by stuff.

If PayPal charges, you can file a complaint via your bank and have them reverse the charges usually.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

:-P

#link Posted: 8 years ago

This made my night....

All that bitchin' was fun to read.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

The fact that he's been doing this for around 10 years makes it all the more sad.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

There's not been enough communication in the fandom to stop it, sadly.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

This needs to be rectified, some how. >.<

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Wow, good on You Neer, lets try to expel this guy from the internet since he has proven to be such a douche bag!
*high five*

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thank you for the warning, Dragoneer. If he ever tries to commission me (Which Luckily I can't draw squat XD) then I'm going to report him immediatley.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

So... I just got a commission from this guy, completed it, and now he's paid me for two more. What should I do??

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I'd refund your current commissions. Seriously. :|

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Alright. Sounds like a plan. Thanks for the advice. :D
Has he commissioned you too?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Actually, he has but they were $10 sketches I was doing to make some quick cash to help my sister pay bills.

He hasn't tried to swindle me...yet, but yeah.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Mm, same. He paid for one 13$ ink which I completed, then paid for two other 10$ inks just this afternoon. I'm glad I read this journal. :P

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Good on ya, dude. :)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Yeah, if he used Paypal or some other online/credit card service, odds are he is going to file a dispute and frankly there is little hope of you seeing any money once that happens. They almost always side with the payee even if he has a long history of doing so... best bet, refund every dime you have received so you don't have the surprise of finding the money gone at the worst possible time. If you still want to do business with this turd merchant, best thing is refund any electronic payments and insist on cash in advance and you have a no refunds policy, one preliminary sketch, one revised sketch and a final work (or however you work but you need clearly defined limits).

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Whether he'll do that with a $10 image is debatable. I think he mostly does it with more expensive images - you can really only do so many chargebacks before issues occur.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

That is true, I typed this before Illuminatii mentioned the price though.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Sometimes people make me sick.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I totally got the Turn&Burn from this guy. Then he had the audacity to talk shit to me afterwards. I had a negative experience interacting with him throughout my commission. Other artists that have worked with him before can attest to this.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

This is why I believe more artists should openly accept standard USPS money orders as payment. Paypal's policies are 100% buyer-friendly and receiving a refund, even under fraud claims, is fairly easy(as happened to me 3 years ago, when I sold something online and was scammed by the buyer, which is why I abandoned them). Perhaps easier in cases such as this as Paypal demands delivery by mail and art commissions are almost always handled digitally.

I've heard the arguments about "my time to drive to the bank/PO to cash it", well big deal. Schedule it into your errands, you have the money order and it's not going anywhere. I'll even send cash in the mail to artists I've dealt with prior(though you should never send cash as a first payment to someone you have never hired, it has no paper trail).

#link Posted: 8 years ago

That the one thing no one thinks about when the join the military "oh right I'm protecting those jerks too" but it's the good people that do make it worth while, keep it up you guys

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thank you for the warning!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Oh, that little shit! I remember tangling with his ass on usenet!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Aside from Allan, another twatfuck to steer clear from? Well goddamn....makes me wanna stop taking commissions ;__;

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Allan at least paid all the artists. Where he got the money was highly questionable. What Hirtes is doing is 10X worse, and the dude is just awful.

But this is one guy. Don't let one guy have that kind of sway over you.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Kinda hard when you never know when you will bump into him. He made one alt account, what's gonna stop him from making another one and start lurking for artists?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Just watch out for anyone asking for a large harem themed commission featuring your characters and plenty of elaborate toe-rings.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Alrighty then, thanks for heads up. And I'll follow an idea from someone who also commented here, avoid doing commissions for people with little or apparently no activity on their accounts.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

That is also a great idea.

I'd also add onto that and apply the same level of discretion towards whether or not they're watching you as well. Even if they may not have a lot of activity in their account[some people do just lurk], someone who is at least following your account to some degree would have more of an inkling of an idea about your commission practices and your art as a whole.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

And who isn't me.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

*And who isn't doodles

doodles

#link Posted: 8 years ago

wow. the first infamous FA villain i hav ever heard of.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Does he have any tells to him IE things he tends to ask for that should raise red flags if he were to say sneak under the radar again?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Harem type pictures with lots of fancy toerings :3

Also, hi Gichi xD

#link Posted: 8 years ago

LOL, so next time some anonymous FA user asks me to draw a harem type pic with toerings, best thing would be to reply with "Hi Hirtes, GTFO :3"

#link Posted: 8 years ago

HI, I would like to commission a harem pic with lots of toe rings

#link Posted: 8 years ago

OMFG IT'S HIRTES EVERYONE SHOOT HIM >8U *charges shotgun*

#link Posted: 8 years ago

OMGWTFBBQ *hides behind shoji panel*

#link Posted: 8 years ago

This guy is a serious shit stain.

I encountered - nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

It's a good thing I can't draw, otherwise the potential for commissions would be out... Now, all we have to do is keep watch, stay calm and--IT'S TIME TO KICK ASS AND CHEW BUBBLE GUM... AND I'M ALL OUTTA GUM.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

i think all artists should post some terms of service on their page or as a journal. that would make things easier!
"OI! i dont want you to do that/you did something wrong there! >:O"
"well too bad, i dont refund money once the scetch has been approved by the customer."
problem solved :P

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Oh no, not another problem causer?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Oh Hirtes.... When will he ever learn?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Never.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

People might want to check who he's watching. Those might be those he intended to scam. :B

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Wow that is really pathetic that someone that would take advantage of artists. This is kind of one of the reasons why i don't like paypal.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Wow...what a jerk, to put it lightly...I myself never get commission requests, ever...but when doing a preview picture, couldn't one just put watermark text over the sketch? Dark enough to be intrusive, light and small enough to see the picture? That's what I did with a sketch, I put three (or five) lines of repeated text, each line going down and up slightly more transparent then the line before it. That's what I would do...and if they ask, I say it's for my protection. I would also state that the picture I do will appear on FA and DA.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Watermarks are relatively easy to remove if you have motivation and some 'shop skills, plus he get the art for free so if it has a watermark, no biggie. Only way I know of is using a low rez web cam in bad light to show a preview live, but that is a hassle few will go through and even then, screen capture may be good enough for some folks.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Well, the ones I used was black text plastered across the picture with an alpha set to a certain transparency, and other text at lighter transparencies...I would have thought that would be hard to remove.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Give me an example and I will demonstrate. At the very least, they can put an additional layer over the original and trace. It all depends on how motivated they are.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

i think he'll come back later

#link Posted: 8 years ago

he probably already did. even maybe mirthes isn't his first, you know, registering an account is so simple on furaff. dynIP or proxy... and it's a go. [ even easier about paypal. ]

the furaff staff needs to review their copy. srsly if they want to stop this kind of things. but i doubt they will.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks a lot for sharing this info. I haven't dealt with this guy but I will be more aware with my commissions from now on.

This guy sounds like a grade A douche bag. I was really surprised to hear he was doing this since the 90s. How pathetic!

Thanks again for this info.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I have a feeling that these bastards are going to be harder to deal with in the future, especially when IPv6 comes out... The best weapon against jerks like this is the sharing of information."Know thy enemy" as they say.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

May he diea painfully.... and slowly...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Gawd when will the stupidity end!!!

I am scared for the sanity of my toes-_-

Well... not really trying to make a joke of this... but man... this dude is seriously needing to get checked in the head

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Take solace in the fact they even hate him on lulz and that takes talent and skill.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Holy... that does take skills

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Nah, they hate me on lulz as well =P

#link Posted: 8 years ago

This is really scary, how can I avoid something that I can't see?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Meaning how could I tell if it's Michael Hirtes

#link Posted: 8 years ago

There are some tells.

For one, pretty much everything he commissions is harem-themed, and often involves toe rings/elaborate foot decoration. While he's hardly the only guy out there with a thing for harem girls, he's pretty much the only one I know of that regularly commissions harem-themed art.

So, if a commissioner says he wants a harem girl, be a little suspicious.

Another is that Mikey likes to get lots and lots of sketches of his commissions, to "make sure it's being done right". This is either part of his scam or just some bit of OCD that requires his porn to conform to exact specifications. So if the commissioner wants a harem girl AND lots of sketch updates, be suspicious.

The third has to do with things he asks for. He will often ask that the image not be posted by you, or that if you do make sure to say it was an anonymous commissioner, he may even be dumb enough to mention that he's had trouble with other artists and not to discuss him with them.

Any one of these alone isn't a giant red flag. Any three of them taken together is a giant banner saying "Hello, my name is Michael Hirtes, I like to rip off artists and then bitch about them not liking me!"

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the great tips :3 These well defiantly help me out in finding out if it's him or not

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I, too, like harem themes. BUT I PAY!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I also have a thing for harem girls.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

OMG YOU HAVE HIRTES

#link Posted: 8 years ago

How about this, as an acid test for determining the presence of the Hirtes virus?

Get a photo of one of Hirtes' Ultimate Nemeses, like Jim Groat or Brian O'Connell or whoever. And paste their face over the good bits of any preliminary sketches or whatnot he wants to see, and don't send the unaltered version until payment has arrived in full.

This is a double whammy, since if he sends back some rant about whoever's face you used, you know you're dealing with Hirtes. And if he does try to take the sketches and run, he'll seethe the entire time he's trying to photoshop out his Real Ultimate Enemy's face from his fap material!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I had a run in with this guy once! Back when I first moved to Texas!

This mike guy wanted some sketches n' stuff and (at the time I was on DA) but I wasn't interested in doing commissions or anything and I told him as such. What's funny is that all I do is post art, and write a journal or two. So when I offered up commission work back in '05 and I got like 2 notes asking how I could expect commissioners when I was cheating/ignoring people, I was like WTF. I don't really network, not a very social person on the internet.

Now that I read this, it all makes sense. LOL Kind of like a 'eureka' moment.

People like this are jackasses who think nothing of the world around them. Period. all they are interested in is personal gain of a variety of sorts by any means. But I find it funny when it sort of backfires like it did with me. X3

#link Posted: 8 years ago

>>I got like 2 notes asking how I could expect commissioners when I was cheating/ignoring people

Yup, that's Mikey's very unique definition of "cheating", alright.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Its so funny though, to have something that confused the hell out of you finally clarified almost 5 years later....

#link Posted: 8 years ago

He deserves the jail.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I'll buy that for a dollar. :3

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads up. Glad I haven't had a run-in with this guy yet.
Although I do think a friend of mine did a couple of years back. I'd better let him know, just in case.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Anyone wanna join in a lynching party?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

thank god nobody would ever want to commission me
but on a more serious note, I suppose everyone should be careful though, including myself :P

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Man, suddenly I'm glad to be a writer. :P

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Toe rings? o_O

#link Posted: 8 years ago

lol all the griefers and scammers are all old men it seems

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I see a trend here!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

but make sure its a hardware ban, that way he'll have to get a new computer or use someone elses to continue his lil antics lol

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Harware ban is that even possible I do know global IP bans exist but that's for extreme uses.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

You would have to implement a processor serial number program in all CPU's first to be able to do that and that was struck down a decade ago due to privacy concerns and rightfully so. Maybe the site could require MAC addresses for account registration but good luck with that. Otherwise I have no idea how that could be done.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

That's true but if he's using proxies there has to be a way to stop something like that.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I'll be goddamned.. That fucker nailed me some time ago. Wanted some wierd commission, and refused it. Kept asking for other images. I only did that one, but still...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for posting this and sending the warning out to everyone.

Personally, I think more whistle blowing like this needs to be done to help artists avoid potential scammers like this pinhead.

I'm relatively new to the whole commissioning thing, and the last thing I want to see is great artists closing off their commissioning because of a few bad apples like this guy.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

but hew seems like a nice guy

#link Posted: 8 years ago

From a lot of complaints, plus a wikifur article and this has been doing scams for a decade.

That does'nt sound like a nice person.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I think that was sarcasm, dear.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

And i fell for it too.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

in PERSON he seems like a nice guy then again I dont do business with him

#link Posted: 8 years ago

idea? draw up an actual contract to have them print out, scan and email back and put in there that they're paying for the "service" of the process of the drawing and not nessessarily the end product? i mean, if i had him on the docket and he didn't like the end result, the contract saying that i had at least fulfilled my end of the deal by the action of drawing the piece, if it was disputed, would that not be a counter point to at the least have paypal rescind any grievance he may have filed?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

err... a contract for them to print out, SIGN, scan and email back. (signed with their actual, legal name, of course.)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

You know i did a search for this person and it seems he also has a DA account.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

WOW! <:'
Thank you all for warning us. <:)
Although I feel really bad for the guy. <:' But..what you reap is what you sow. <:'

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I stopped feeling bad for him when I read the snarky shit he was pulling in a CYD and a news discussion group link someone sent me....

1994 era
http://groups.google.com/group/alt......4da3614f?pli=1

March 2009
http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/for.....pic.php?t=3559

He seems to think all artists are waiting to scam everyone, and it's up to him to scam them FIRST. And even after, he never understands why people are mad, he runs to message boards to give them all the details, then he's PISSED when people tell him he's in the wrong.

I don't think he's sorry even now, so don't waste your heart feeling bad for him.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I'm still feeling sorry for the guy. <:' I'de hate to grow up with no friends and all alone. <:' <:(

#link Posted: 8 years ago

What this is not Allen, how dare he try to replace our Allen.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

This one worse than Allan i'm afriad and he's a professional scammer.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Oh. Well they're no fun. Accidental douchebags are the adorable ones. :C

#link Posted: 8 years ago

For the record, I'm done with him.
No more.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I have a name similar to the one he's used, will people confuse me with him?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

has anyone ever seen a pic of this guy? he makes neer look anarexic. i don't think he'll be bugging anyone in another 5 years, 10 if we're really unlucky

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thank you for the heads up! :)

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Might want to also warn furs who are also on deviant art cause look what i just found on google search.

http://mhirtes.deviantart.com/

#link Posted: 8 years ago

It's only fitting he uses an image of the devil as his AV. =P

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Not to mention DA has a close account feature that already has benn exploited by trolls.

Though seriously some artists are already watching that don't know about him.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Let me rephrase that.

The new DA feature i found out that you can now close your account permantly.

Well quite a few months ago. Someone impersonated a user and had a field day for the lulz during the weekend. and then that person closed the account.

Why do i have a feeling Hirtes would take advange of this feature to continue his fraud now on Deviant Art.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I think the actual image of the devil is from some old propaganda comic calling homosexual people evil or something...

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads up, 'Neer! This creep's been infamous on the 'net and con circuit for so long, those of us who remember his earliest exploits risk dating ourselves,

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks kindly for the heads up 'Neer.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

M hirtes... that seems so familiar...

*googles it*

Holy fuck, TRIGEM?!?! *guffaws* I used to hang out with him on TAPS and chat with him on ICQ.

I knew that name sounded familiar. He was a little weird back then. Guess the vibes were just a precurser

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the warning, Dragoneer. Even though I didn't get this user's PM, I am 100% safe from these idiots who wanted to use my money. If they want money, then they can go buzz off. Even though I don't use money on someone that I don't know, and I don't use money much. I've been on this site for 8 months now, so I don't know much about this person.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

One word: LAME
Damn, but Ty for the warning. it is appreciated *check for herms with toe rings as a weird commission before accecpting and then DO NOT ACCECPT*

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Just a FYI ..PAypal can be pretty good sometimes on helping you out if scammed by someone, usually though you have to do it within 30 days. I would suggest to those that got scammed, and if any new ones... report him buying porn.. and if you really want to red flag his activity....The government seems to be cracking down on underage porn, drawn/fictional as well. I can only wonder if they will treat him the same if you put in "cub" porn. I read a article where a Manga collecter, a guy who collects anything manga he can find, not really read it.. got busted big time because someone reported that he had underage hentai in his collection, pretty much the stuff you see on 4 chan he had in paper. He got off a bit easier because he never touched or read them, jsut blindly buying it.

If you can get him in trouble for that, porn and possibly underage porn, that should get paypals attention.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I'm not here to defend the guy, but for your own sake I would advise against making a claim like that without any proof. Unless you actually have something that shows he had been collecting "cub" art, they will not only close out your claim, but then they can come after you for filing a false report.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Oh the stories I could tell you.. He was the first problem I ran into in the fandom some 15+ years ago.

=^.,.^=

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Do tell

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Why not just make a commissioner rating system based on being trustworthy and legit, similar to vendor ratings on eBay, etc.? O_o

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I like this idea, but straight up ratings can be abused. If you scam people 1/30 of the time, you could still get a 97% rating.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I agree, though it is a step in the right direction, no? Nothings perfect -- that's why improvements exist.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

I've had a person like this recently. Paying with online game currency and DEMANDING(i repeat, demanding) works in progress before peoples who had paid in REAL money. =_= Seriously, if you this 1101001000100 is more important than $22, then there is something wrong with you......

Seriously, if I get someone like this again, or even like this Hirtes guy, I will close commissions for good and keep them local.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

AND THE BANHAMMER SMOTE THE CARACK...AND ALL WAS LAID TO BURNINATION!!!!

#link Posted: 8 years ago

bur srsly...good on ya! good riddance to bad rubbish.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Well I know people,who know people,who know people that will toilet paper his house for a price.... And it is a bitch to get out of the trees Why are some people such assholes. It is people like him that drive off the great artists here. And I miss them. I also can't draw worth a shit, So I realy on the great people who share their art one FA. And want to thank you all for doing it. And hope these jerks like this don't scare you away. Thanks for reading my two cents. Wuzzletodd

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads up although I had never heard of the guy.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

so like. i accepted a commission from this dude before you sent out this warning.
completed it and...as far as i can tell have received no negative repercussions from it. Im not protecting the guy or saying he committed no wrongs mind you. Just none against me personally...that i cant see.

how can i be sure i didn't catch the gaids?

#link Posted: 8 years ago

He'll probably pull some shit about you "breaking your contract" with him in some form of fashion, and bitch to Paypal to get a refund; or maybe he won't. I don't know how that dickhead works, really.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

To be honest, this sounds alot like a guy who used to stalk Furcadia. The MO is the same. He went by the name Canis Claxis, Clax, and Xalc. There was a pretty good and lengthy article on CYD about him, but CYD is down right now.

#link Posted: 8 years ago

Actually that article located here now. http://www.vivisector.org/vivblog/
I just read it and it's pretty much sums up your point.

#link Posted: 7 years ago

It's sad to know someone I thought was a cool friend back in the day would be like this to you guys. I feel ashamed to have known him despite having gotten a few interesting stuff from him back in the early DVD-R days. He was was a friend/contact with me on YouTube but I see he ended up deleting me off his list there prior to his suspension from that site (and he had a pretty nifty video he took of his tour through Hanna-Barbera in '94 I'm trying to see if I have even saved an vid of on disc). Oh well, the things you think you knew about these people.