Hello there! This is Volvagia356, a friend of ZerOne01 and the webhost of this site. Today, I’ll be writing as a guest to talk about the various signs that AnimeFiesta Malaysia 2012 is extremely dubious. Ever since the site first appeared, I’ve been very suspicious about it. With some simple computer skills, I managed to see many parts of the site that doesn’t seem right at all. I’m sure most people do not have these skills, but I hope they will use some common sense and critical thinking. As for the evidence, I will try to provide two pieces of evidence for every part as I can. Every link will have a screenshot of it’s contents. I’ll also be starting from the older site, then moving to their current one, starting with mild nit-picking, then going onto larger pieces of evidence. You can click here if you wish to jump there directly. I’m not a good writer, so please excuse me if the flow of this blog post is a little weird.
Also, this will be an image heavy post, so be warned if your Internet connection is slow or if you have limited bandwidth.
First of all, let’s look at the organizer of this event. We can find this info from their “Contact Us” page:
The company behind this is “Viva Version Enterprise”, so after doing a quick Google search on the name of the company, I found these:
http://vivaversion.for-the.biz/
http://kakitangankerajaan.com.my/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1445
The address and telephone number matches, and they seem to be a store selling mobile phones in Ampang. Let’s take a closer look at that photo of the shop there:
http://kakitangankerajaan.com.my/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=1445&zenid=4ebb4d97f811a9ec37ff20e4ab12eeb7
It looks like your average mobile phone and prepaid reload store. They can’t even afford proper signs that they had to write their prices on a board with marker pens… Are these the guys who will be hosting the event?
Now, let’s focus on their website. We’ll do the old one first. Luckily, I took the liberty of keeping screenshots in case they removed stuff.
It doesn’t take a genius to notice something is quite wrong here. The site’s logo up there looks like it has been enlarged from a low resolution copy, then stretched to the wrong aspect ratio. The same cam be said of that smaller banner there, with it’s “Sugoii JAPAN” written to badly resemble Japanese text. Then there’s the text, which feels so forced when you read it, it sounds like something that came out from a bad marketing department of some company, and why is their key concept “Merchandise”? Also, “Follow us on social network” is such nice English.
Let’s look at the bottom half:
That image there is so blatantly stolen off another site, you can even see the badly cropped watermark at the bottom saying “Alowa.com” (though it doesn’t seem to be accessible). Then there are the three horribly generic images down there. How nice of them to use the American dollar.
Now let’s dig deeper into the site and see what they have. Let’s start with the polls page:
I took this screenshot right after voting in the polls. Now, look at the time for “Last Vote”, then look at my system clock (top right, for the blind). Why is their clock 4.5 hours fast? Did they come from another country? Well, someone probably didn’t properly set the timezone on the server. Now, let’s look at “First Vote”. Why is it 6 years ago, in 2006? Then, let’s look at the poll options. Why is “Subjective” between “Fantabulous” and “Acceptable”? How do you rate a cosplay as “Subjective” and why is it better than “Average”?
Alright, that’s enough of the nitpicking, time for the big guns now.
I found this page while looking through the site:
Now, what is “Robert’s Anime Corner”, and why does this page have such different formatting than the other pages? Selecting some of the text and Googling it (best plagiarism detector) turns this up:
http://www.animecorner.com/opinions_whatisanime.htm
Oh my, it looks like they copied the entire page off somebody else’s anime fan page, and they didn’t even change the images or the banner! How naughty, you’ll fail your web design class in college if you ever pull something like this.
Now, I believe it’s time I can get into the nitty-gritty technical details behind the site. It sure helps to be a Linux user.
Alright, first thing we do here, is to examine the site’s domain name. Did they register this domain, or is it from somewhere else? While we’re at it, might as well investigate their mobile phone store site as well.
So, for starters, let’s do a WHOIS search!
From here, we can see that both the domain names for AFKL and VVE are owned by DynDNS. For those who don’t know, DynDNS is a company that provides Dynamic DNS services. What is that you may ask? WIth such a service, you can attach a domain name, like “kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com”, to a dynamic IP. What is a dynamic IP? A dynamic IP is an IP address that is always changing, most commonly used by normal Internet users like us, the IP will change every time we connect to the Internet.
As for proof, Linux users can always look at the screenshots and run the same commands as I did. Windows and Mac users unfortunately will either have to settle for the text output, or an online service.
Having a DynDNS domain name is suspicious enough for someone that claims to bring Miku over to Malaysia. Let’s check out where the site is hosted on that it requires a Dynamic DNS service:
Linux users can just follow the command I type, Windows and Mac, see the text dump or online service.
Both the sites of AFKL and VVE are hosted on the same IP, that means that they’re really owned by the same people. But doesn’t that IP look a little familiar to you? Like you’ve seen it countless times before? Let’s figure out who owns those IPs!
Same as above, Linux users just follow the command, Windows and Mac users can read the text dump, or use the WHOIS online service two images above.
Yes, you may have noticed that the text dump and the screenshot has different IPs, and you might get a different IP when you check it yourself too. That is normal for a Dynamic IP. But, what does this IP WHOIS tell us? It’s simple! Wherever this site is hosted on, it’s being hosted on a computer connected to a TM Net Streamyx connection. Now, why the heck, can’t a company that promises to hold an event larger than Comic Fiesta, afford a simple domain name and web host, and has to resort to a Streamyx connection? The site is literally on someone’s PC in their home/office! That means that even this small, almost unknown blog you are reading now has more resources than AFKL.
Now that I’m done with the technical parts, I’m sure I can bring out the finishing blow.
FINISH HIM!!
We all know that they recently put up a new site, and it looks very professional and amazingly well done. But are you sure about that? Below this, are details so overwhelming, that you probably will no longer believe in AFKL.
Some unresistable nitpicking first though. I have an OCD for stuff like these…
The site logo and text is flowing out of it’s box, and the videos and gallery images are of completely unrelated movies and MMORPGs. You call this a professional site?
Alright, enough of that. From this point onwards, we’ll be taking the red pill, and seeing how deep the rabbit hole goes. If you would prefer to take the blue pill and believe whatever you want to believe though, feel free to close this tab/window/etc. We’ll use the tried and true method of plagiarism detecting, which is selecting a random passage and Googling for it.
Let’s start with the “Welcome to AFKL” page, shall we?
http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=93
We select a random sentence that does not contain the words “Anime Festival Kuala Lumpur” and Google search for it.
http://andnowicanfly.deviantart.com/journal/AnimeiCon-215480702
Oh my, it’s an almost direct copy! Only the names are changed! Well, this AnimeiCon doesn’t exist anymore, but we know that it once existed, and that AFKL copied their welcome page from them. Naughty naughty.
Now let’s look at their overview page
http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=91
Googling for some passages shows:
http://www.spja.org/organization.php
Same as before, copied from another site, then change the names. But looks like the “Projects” section isn’t from this page, so let’s try searching for that:
http://www.spja.org/projects.php
Another one, copied almost exactly. I hope everyone will “expel” him from the Internets due to plagiarism…
I think that’s enough talking, from this point onwards, I’ll dump every piece of plagiarism I found on the site.
AFKL (Registration) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=100):
Original (Anime Matsuri) (http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/default.aspx?EventID=856530):
AFKL (Superpass) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=92)
Original (Anime Matsuri) (http://animematsuri.com/registration/attendees/superpass/)
AFKL (FAQ) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24&Itemid=102
Original (Anime-Expo) (http://www.anime-expo.org/anime-expo/attend/reg-faq/
AFKL (About Us) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=55
Original (Anime Matsuri) (http://animematsuri.com/info/about-anime-matsuri/)
Original (Anime Matsuri) (http://animematsuri.com/info/am-team/am-studios/)
AFKL (Weapons) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=103)
Original (Anime Matsuri) (http://animematsuri.com/info/policies-guide-lines/weapons-policy/)
AFKL (Autographs) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23&Itemid=60
Also note the crossdressing Ash Ketchum
Original (Anime Matsuri) (http://animematsuri.com/info/policies-guide-lines/autograph-policy/)
AFKL (Main Event Guidelines) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26&Itemid=105)
Original (Anime Matsuri) http://animematsuri.com/info/policies-guide-lines/main-events-guidelines/
AFKL (Code of Conduct) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=106)
Original (Anime Matsuri) (http://animematsuri.com/info/policies-guide-lines/code-of-conduct/)
AFKL (Volunteering) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=127)
Original (Anime Expo) (http://www.anime-expo.org/anime-expo/about-the-expo/helping-out-at-the-conference/volunteer/)
AFKL (Staffing) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=110&Itemid=128)
Original (Anime Expo) (http://www.anime-expo.org/anime-expo/about-the-expo/helping-out-at-the-conference/staffing/)
AFKL (Masquerade) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=111&Itemid=70)
Original (Anime Expo) (http://www.anime-expo.org/anime-expo/events/cosplay-events-general-info/masquerade/)
AFKL (J-Fashion) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=111)
Original (Anime Matsuri) (http://animematsuri.com/programming/main-events/j-fashion-show/)
AFKL (AMV Contest) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28&Itemid=116)
Original (Anime Matsuri) (http://animematsuri.com/programming/featured-events/amv-contest/)
AFKL (Idol) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=117)
Original (Anime Matsuri) (http://animematsuri.com/programming/featured-events/am-idol/)
AFKL (LARP) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=115
Original (Wikipedia) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_action_role-playing_game)
AFKL (Exhibitor) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100&Itemid=74)
Original (Anime Expo) (http://www.anime-expo.org/anime-expo/attend/pricing-and-packages/exhibitor/)
AFKL (Maid Cafe) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10&Itemid=122
Original (Anime Expo) (http://www.anime-expo.org/anime-expo/exhibits/maid-cafe/)
AFKL (Artist Alley) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=123)
Original (Anime Expo) (http://animematsuri.com/programming/exhibits/registered-artists/)
AFKL (Anime Spotlight) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89:natsume-yujin-cho-4&catid=42:anime-spotlight&Itemid=124)
Orginal (AnimeNewsNetwork) (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/spotlight2012q1/natsume_yujincho_4)
AFKL (Anime Ratings) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=43&Itemid=125
Original (AnimeNewsNetwork) (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/ratings-anime.php#best_bayesian)
AFKL (Manga Ratings) (http://kualalumpur.is-into-anime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=44&Itemid=126)
Original (AnimeNewsNetwork) (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/ratings-manga.php#best_bayesian
Well, that’s all the evidence I have with me. Now you can see that most, if not all of the pages are blatantly copied from other anime conventions’ pages such as Anime-Expo and Anime Matsuri. Anime News Network is also a victim of this. I seriously doubt anyone who has read down to this point will believe in AnimeFiesta Kuala Lumpur any further. Well, I hope I have successfully shown you the proof and convinced you that it’s all extremely dubious and it is very unlikely for it to actually happen.
That’s all for now! If they ever change anything, I have a copy of the whole site with me and all these screenshots.
OMG!~ This is brilliant!! Thanx for the hard work!!
I commend you for your hardwork. This is priceless.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK~~ Now I can safely go around and boycott those bastards.
HERE’S A LINK : http://www.facebook.com/events/255667761167715/
God bless youuuuuuuuu~
Brilliant job done. You think it serve a purpose to you for your credential. hah
Great job.
It’s AIowa.com, not Alowa.com. Although going directly to AIowa.com leads you to a 403, you can access a cached version of their website via Google.
By the way, please also do an analysis of their latest website, http://jpacfestival.name.my/
Duh, that link have a big flaw. Lets see what will happen if I click one of the link provided there.
000webhost is a free hosting, where a professional website for a big event should not consider it as a choice to host their website.
Till then, have fun.
Thanks! Though I was expecting a more thorough thrashing like what was done in this article…
The fact that all pages are either blank, or don’t load, should mean something to you.
Also, why is every page a large image instead of actual HTML?
Praise for all the hard work done here! ^^ That’s really enough proof for this scam! Gosh copycats… O_O
Damn, i just saw a anime fiesta 2012 counter with some banners and miku figures at sungei wang!!!
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Apparently I can’t reach the anime fiesta site anymore. Funnily enough, I was able to access it when I was initially reading this blog post, but after I was finished and just wanted to take a look at the site again, I couldn’t access it..
It’s because their site is hosted on a Streamyx connection, and is suspect to the usual antics of a Streamyx connection (slow speeds, random disconnections, etc)
Whoa, that was a thorough investigation. Good job for your hard work! To think people who try to scam us anime lovers… *kamehameha* Die scammers!
So why not call police and TM to investigate on their location and the person that is using that TM line? Although i know TM and police is not good.
“Although i know TM and police is not good”
With this kind of mentality who would consider doing it? But then again Malaysians are famous for being keyboard warriors, love doing everything when they are behind a PC without actually trying to do the right thing physically. In this case, the scam should have been reported to FOMCA (Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations) but I’ve yet to hear anyone doing that…
I’m actually dealing with it (with Anime Expo) but I can’t say anything.
Of course, I’m not be the one who will be doing it. Isn’t that you guys with the much information of the investigation should doing it? I’m not a keyboard warrior or some kind. I really hate these scammers that made up this lie of Miku and I would love to do anything within my ability to arrest these guys. Volvagia356 did a great job.
I came across this being retweeted on Twitter and thought it was interesting. I’m on the wrong side of the world to have a stake in this, but it got my journalist senses tingling…
There’s a really easy way to prove that these guys don’t exist, without all the code digging and text searching – just check the KLCC’s website. They’re clearly not on the list of upcoming events. With less than three weeks to go until the supposed event, and four halls supposedly booked, there’s no way they wouldn’t be listed. They were slightly smart by picking a weekend that doesn’t have another event shown, but that’s clearly not enough to be convincing.
I could actually accept some of the plagiarism if there were other signs the event was real. I’ve been involved in a lot of small startup cons put together by inexperienced amateurs, and I can totally see somebody on staff “borrowing” text from a major con just to make the site seem more polished, but that’s clearly not what’s going on here.
Yes, other people have indeed checked that. Unfortunately, it never occurred to me to check it.
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Heh, it seems like you’re way too far from me on this investigation..
Hmmm, just curious, why the title/term change? Were you threatened? Or did something else happen?
No, the change was due to new evidence that have risen over the past few days. Please read the latest post.