huffingtonpost

Migrant’s Perilous Journey on Instagram Turns Out to Be an Elaborate Ad

Abdou was a young man from North Africa with a dream; he set out to make his way to Europe in order to create a better future for both himself and his family. Abdou documented his migration from Senegal to Spain on Instagram, showcasing the perils of such travel and his determination for a better life.

After two weeks of travels, finally making it to Spain, and seeing his photos make headlines online, the truth about Abdou emerged: he never existed. It was all part of an elaborate ad campaign.

Photographer Cleverly Shames HuffPo After They Use Her Imgur-Hosted Photo without Permission

When photographers find their images being used in online publications without permission, there's often not much they can do aside from sending out emails requesting payment, credit and/or a takedown. When the photos in question are hotlinked, on the other hand, it opens the door to some good ol' shaming.

That's exactly what photographer and Reddit user FrancescaO_O was able to do recently after she found the Huffington Post stealing her photo.