5. Alper Dama and AI: A toxic combo for the Blythe world
During my previous online digging I discovered the apparent name of the man most likely to be behind the ThisIsBlythe scam site: Alper Dama. However, aside from some identical addresses and proof that he owns the Anchor Branding company which hosts the current ThisIsBlythe servers, I didn't have any direct evidence that he was involved with the day to day running of ThisIsBlythe. Thanks to an anonymous tipoff, that has finally changed.
Alper Dama is now messing around with what a lot of people are calling AI (though it's intelligence debatable), and he's using it to put his scam tactics on steroids. He's recently created 3 different uses for ChatGPT-based large language models (LLMs), specifically for running different aspects of the grotesquely overpriced ThisIsBlythe drop-shipping website. He can now create SEO-boosting listings for Blythe dolls, respond to TIB "customers" and other prospective marks, and spam you with spurious legal claims and fraudulent DMCA takedowns, with minimal effort using his custom ChatGPT wrappers:
- TIB CSRGPT - Disputes and legal escalation
- TIB WRITERGPT - SEO-spamming product listings
- TIB Re-Engagement SalesGPT - Email marketing spam
He's also got one focused around his "business coaching" grift:
- Strategic Visionary - Advises on high-value targets for whatever cunning plan or scheme you might want to cook up
I'm not going to link to any of these things as I don't want to boost their search engine relevance with backlinks. But if some bizarre demon possessed you, you can access all of these ChatGPT wrappers with a ChatGPT Plus subscription of $20 a month. Talk about putting a hat on a hat.
And to make matters worse, he's clearly using generative AI tools to make fake Blythe images now too. There's a whole site spun up that declares ThisIsBlythe as a partner site where you can buy Blythe dolls. It seems this guy really just can't help himself when it comes to opportunities to promote his overpriced counterfeit dolls.
I guess it makes sense that he's jumping on the AI bandwagon. It's become a lucrative opportunity for every kind of scammer, grifter, and snake oil salesman going. AI slop is flooding the internet and no one should be surprised that "get-rich-quick" schemer, Alper Dama, would want to contribute his share. It's just a shame the Blythe community are the ones who have to suffer it.
For any Blythe customisers and artists out there, if it's feasible for you to do so, you might want to consider poisoning your images to prevent them being easily used to train AIs. Some tools are popping up to help do this .e.g. WebGlaze. This won't prevent image theft but it should help prevent AIs from learning how to mimic your art style.
That's all from me for now. Go careful out there fellow dolly friends!