TARAMAPES.COM - CYBERBULLYING
We had a client report to us to investigate a CYBERBULLYING matter. In 2018, a local South African digital creator used an image found on Pinterest for their website and an image of a Harry Potter shoot recently . In 2025, they were contacted by Tara Mapes, who claimed that the images was copyrighted and demanded its removal. The South African creator responded promptly, complying with the request and removing the image within 24 hours, as per Ms. Mapes’ email. The creator also explained that the image had no visible copyright markings and had been sourced from another Pinterest account, not directly from Ms. Mapes' profile.She also informed Tara that it was never used for any client.
Despite the swift resolution and compliance with her request, Ms. Mapes, the owner of TaraMapes Digital House, proceeded to engage in a series of defamatory actions. She fabricated false narratives about the South African creator, posting misleading statements and personal images of the creator, their family, and their business across social media platforms. Furthermore, Ms. Mapes collaborated with associates to create fake reviews and comments, including fabricated South African phone numbers, in an attempt to tarnish the reputation of the local digital creator.
To escalate the situation, Ms. Mapes attempted to extort the South African creator by issuing an inflated invoice for over $32,000 USD, alleging the use of her intellectual property for photoshoots that had never taken place. In her communication, Ms. Mapes made it clear that, should the payment not be made, she would continue her ongoing smear campaign, causing further reputational harm.
In response to these actions, the South African creator sought legal counsel and filed a formal complaint through a security firm with the FBI, addressing the cyberbullying and harassment they were experiencing. The behavior displayed by Ms. Mapes, as a US-based digital artist, is not only highly unprofessional but also dangerous, especially considering the scope and nature of her false allegations, harassment, and coercion. Such actions not only damage the reputation of the South African creator but also undermine the integrity of the digital creative community as a whole.
This conduct raises serious legal concerns, including defamation, cyberbullying, and extortion, and it is crucial that individuals and businesses protect themselves from such malicious activities in the digital landscape.