Company Looking To Hire 'Piracy Investigators' Promising $500+ Per Night

from the or-they-could-spend-it-on-better-business-modeling dept

Tue, Mar 1st 2011 9:35am — Mike Masnick

Reader TPBer alerts us to a Craigslist ad in San Antonio looking for "piracy investigators," for whom they're willing to pay $500+ per night to go around to various bars and other such venues seeking out places showing live sporting events on Pay-Per-View. Since Craigslist ads don't last long, here's a screenshot:

Of course, it seems like this ad was placed in the wrong section. Why put it in "services offered" rather than job opportunities? It doesn't look like Craigslist charges for job ads in San Antonio (as it does elsewhere), so it's not to avoid the fees.

Either way, the actual website this points to, PiracySurveillanceJob.com is somewhat entertaining. Apparently, the whole thing involves a California-based company. The application page notes that any work you do will be "under the direction and license" of a California Private Investigator named Wayne & Associates, which appears to be owned by a guy named Randy Cervantes in LA.

As for how much the job pays, apparently, it's based on how many venues you can find showing PPV events who haven't paid up on your given night, and it works as follows: With leads provided to you:
With a video: $100
W/out a video: $75

Self generated leads you come up with:
With a video: $175
W/out a video: $150 Also, to prove that people actually get paid, they've posted a pdf of checks to people, with some identifying information redacted (not very well, actually). They also list a Twitter account you can follow for "discrete notifications" of future jobs, but of course, all of the followers of that account (13 as of this posting) are listed publicly.

I also like the various requirements for the job, including that you have to call a ton of places up yourself the day before an event to ask if they're showing the event, and then compare that to the "legal list" that is sent to you of places who have paid for a license. It also says that you cannot be "timid or shy" and that you shouldn't apply for the job "if you're on your last $20," since they expect you to pay for your own gas to travel from bar to bar.

Anyway, the whole thing is a bit amusing, if you were wondering how operations like UFC (who is listed as a client) go about tracking down bars and such playing unauthorized showings of their events. It seems like a lot of money and effort for this sort of thing, but they must think that it leads to some sort of benefit.

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Filed Under: piracy investigator

38 Comments

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Robert P (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 9:47am

video?
I'm wondering about the fee's with and without a video. Is that saying the "investigator" would take video to document the "infringement"? If so, I wonder how long before the investigator is sued for infringing him/herself for unauthorized recording.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Mar 2011 @ 9:49am

Oh, so this is how every infringement creates 12 jobs?
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Tom Landry (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 9:53am

A paid professional rat.

Good luck if you accept this and rat out a group of folks who are affiliated with certain crime organizations. Said organizations usually make a lot of cash on sports betting/entertainment. I'm guessing shutting them down wouldn't sit too well.
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Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 9:57am

Re:
Snitches get stitches.
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Jay (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 10:08am

This is EXACTLY what the performance rights organizations do... This is not protection, it's extortion through our judicial system! And now, I will never watch UFC again because their business practices are horrid!
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johnjac (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 10:17am

The market will adapt
A bar showing PPV is like a scalper. They are market adjusters, one when the cost for the event is too high, another with the cost is too low.

Either way people think they are entitled to set a price and everyone must obey it.

See also Amazon ebooks and Book publishers.
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Gwiz (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 10:18am

Re:
Good luck if you accept this and rat out a group of folks who are affiliated with certain crime organizations. Said organizations usually make a lot of cash on sports betting/entertainment. I'm guessing shutting them down wouldn't sit too well.

The Mafia vs. Hollywood in a caged death match is something I would actually pay money to see.
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Jay (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 10:27am

Re: The market will adapt
But isn't it true that those scalpers do quite well by helping people get more tickets?

Going to be interesting to see what happens in similar markets.

Link for NY scalping
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Mar 2011 @ 10:29am

It seems sort of like crowdsourcing, except there is a payday.
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VoicesInMyHead (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 10:36am

Re:
>>Oh, so this is how every infringement creates 12 jobs?

Actually... 13 if all the twitter followers are waiting for the next event to track down.
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NullOp, 1 Mar 2011 @ 10:38am

$$$
Considering this might save untold number of jobs in the entertainment industry don't ya think it should pay more? Lets say $10,000 w/ video...
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Mar 2011 @ 10:44am

Re: Re:
Or grounded and pounded.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Mar 2011 @ 11:06am

dang, these guys will pay 500 bucks to be a snitch when big sis wants you to do it for free? if I see something it'll cost you 500 big ones before I say something
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Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 11:17am

I'd like to go the malware/adware route...
And swiftly rack up piles of cash by generating false positives. They seem like they'd be amenable to this, what with their already dubious M.O.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Mar 2011 @ 11:28am

See? Piracy can create jobs.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Mar 2011 @ 11:42am

Re:
You need a reason to not watch UFC fights?
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Ess (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 12:54pm

Somewhat fair I suppose
But as some people said, "Snitches get stitches" or "grounded and pounded". There is a very real risk that recording video or taking pictures in bars that don't pay could get you some stitches especially if you're there alone and word gets out. That said theses bars make tonnes of money off of dragging people out to watch PPV events they don't want to pay for at home so it seems like a fair target causing actual damage. Many bars will take in 10k or much more a night so why is the pay so low? If your taking all the risk, out of pocket for expenses, and then they use your information to sue, certainly for upwards of 10k since the law works so well in their favour, shouldn't you be paid at least in the thousands? It seems like they only care about PPV infringement a little bit. Feel sorry for the suckers who need the cash but at that pay they might have to hire illegal immigrants, don't fall for it.
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Anonymous, 1 Mar 2011 @ 1:28pm

Masnick pretends he doesn't support piracy, yet gets so upset at a perfectly legal help wanted ad about cracking down on it.

He simply must write an article about it, lamely attempting to mock it because, y'know, he doesn't support piracy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel
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Not an electronic Rodent, 1 Mar 2011 @ 1:45pm

Re:
blah blah blah Masnick kicked my puppy again blah blah blah ... pardon?
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Mike Masnick (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 2:54pm

Re:
Masnick pretends he doesn't support piracy, yet gets so upset at a perfectly legal help wanted ad about cracking down on it.

I'm sorry, but can you point out where I indicated I am upset?

I'm sorry if you falsely read that into what I wrote, but that might also explain why you continue to defame me and claim I support piracy when I do not. I do not understand your sad obsession with pretending I believe something I do not. Perhaps your band wouldn't be failing so tragically if you spent half as much effort as you do defaming me towards actually adapting to a changing market place.

I have offered many times to help your band. That you choose not to do so, but instead spend your time lying about me says quite a lot about you and why you are failing in the music business.
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Anonymous, 1 Mar 2011 @ 3:05pm

Re: Re:
Why did you write the article, Masnick? Hmmm?

I dare you to answer that question. Or are you just mad cuz I called out the obvious on you (again)?
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Mar 2011 @ 3:57pm

50 nights work
25000$ i'll then turn myself in for a 3000$ settlement

WOOT
Profit
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vivaelamor (profile), 1 Mar 2011 @ 4:58pm

Re: Re: Re:
"I dare you to answer that question."

Perhaps you need to double dare him.
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monkyyy, 1 Mar 2011 @ 5:21pm

Re: video?
ITS A TRAP
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Ryan Diederich, 1 Mar 2011 @ 5:24pm

Piracy
Back in the day, it was a crime for women to vote. They called it a crime.

And yet, society advanced, evolved, and made its way to a higher understanding of the equality of humanity.

Here too, piracy may be a crime, but it is a crime pushing back the greedy ones and setting them straight.

Its a sit in, a protest, WE WILL NOT PAY FOR IT.

Why is it any different from walking to work to boycott the bus?
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monkyyy, 1 Mar 2011 @ 5:31pm

Re: Re:
id pay to have it happen, not to see but to have greed kill greed
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Anonymous, 1 Mar 2011 @ 8:38pm

Re: Piracy
Back in the day, it was a crime for women to vote. They called it a crime.

Women didn't have the right to vote. It was never called a crime.

piracy may be a crime, but it is a crime pushing back the greedy ones and setting them straight.

No, it's ripping off creators. You're just trying to rationalize your greediness. Taking something without paying = greedy. duh. You're fooling exactly no one.
And you're a douche for even trying to peddle that stale bullshit.
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Anonymous, 1 Mar 2011 @ 8:40pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
I could dare him all day long, but he's either too cowardly to tell the truth, or too lazy to make up a lie about it.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 1:27am

Re: Re: Re:
Why did you write the article, Masnick? Hmmm?

Because I thought it was interesting to see how these things worked -- it's a subject that hasn't received much attention.

Why do you misrepresent nearly everything I say? Hmm?

I know you won't answer that question.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 1:29am

Re: Re: Piracy
No, it's ripping off creators

You keep saying that, and yet, every time we see a creator embrace models that involve giving away their content, they make more money.

So why do you continue to lie and claim we support ripping off creators?

Are you really so scared to admit that I might be right?
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Mar 2011 @ 7:36am

again
50 nights work times 500$ =25000$
then ill arrest myself and take a settlement for 3000-5000

THIS is how you do it.....
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DanVan (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 6:00pm

And these companies then turn around and cry to the government & public about being broke when they are still setting sale records with massive revenue

The fact that they think going around to bars for such a little amount is a good idea shows how utterly clueless they are top to bottom
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Anonymous Coward, 8 May 2011 @ 7:27pm

I work for this company and make a good living doing it. I work part time and the pay is Ok and with expiernace can pay a little more. The one that is making the money is the law office. This is a very safe job done right and as a family man i would not do it if it is usafe. I do believe that they are breaking the law, the bars that is...If you had a product someone was making money off of it illegaly you would want it stopped,
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Danejah (profile), 24 Aug 2011 @ 7:56am

There will always be doubters
Why not get up and work..Yes this company pays and YES it is exactly as the ad says. If you go in groups it is a lot easier to get the pirated clubs bas, shoe stores, and resturaunts. The fights cost just as you are required to pay but bars are charged based on how many people fit inside. Is it fair for an owner to stream a fight from his laptop FOR FREE charge you 6.00 for a beer and a 20 cover charge. NO..So why feel sympathy for them. Just as they feel they are making a living so am I....

Please speak of what you know, and if you are ready for this coming Saturday's UFC so am I.. HOPE TO SEE you paying at these bars while I see the fight and GET PAID.. My checks in the mail......
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Jame dirt, 12 Feb 2014 @ 3:05pm

Piracy Jobs
I have worked for this company for over 5 years and make a good part time revenue once you get the knack its easy. The bars are fines up to $10,000
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Danejah (profile), 15 Feb 2014 @ 8:48am

Legit
Actually this is a legit gig, and yes the ad is exactly as it states. I have been doing this for the last 5 years and it isn't easy..JUST as the ad states..However, once you do it for a while you will notice patterns and know which areas are more prone to pirate particular fights. It is a whole lot easier when you have someone to go with you because trying to find parking places to be in a bar for less than 3-5 min gets expensive and wastes time. I have made over 1100 in a 4 hour window and as little as 0 in a 6 hour window with expenses that don't get reimbursed. Gas, parking, entry fee's when there is no pirated event on, etc. But when you do get a hit, entry fee's are reimbursed and YES if you do video you get paid more. It is not a job for the dumb, non creative, confrontational, timid, or even for the lazy, last 20$ in my pocket type of person.
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Private Investigator UK, 20 Jun 2015 @ 11:37am

Very good.
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Michael Lawson, 24 Jun 2016 @ 9:13am

Very good
Contact Lawsons Consultancy. They are very professional. Here is their site: http://www.lawsonsinternational.com/

Thank you.
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