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How Many Ways Can an Artist Get Scammed? Let Me Count Them

I am writing this blog to warn all newer artists about scam attempts that I have received. I have had this website up and running now for a couple of years.  This website has been linked to other online art venues, such as BrushSpace, Etsy, and Art Show, etc. I have taken the time to count how times I have received a contact from an interested "buyer." So far, it is 8 times. I am listing them here in case you have received an email or a "Contact the Artist" from a similar "buyer." Pay attention to misspellings and poor usage of grammar.

The 1st time was from a man called Sean Jerry. This came directly to my website. Here is his email:


I have just seen your advertisement for artwork  in the ad site artshow.com,so i read your advertisment with some intersest. I should be greatful if you would send me further information about it any other similar model you have in stock.

In particular , i would like to know it final price and wheather any special terms or bid & auction are available in purchasing some  and my method of payment is via check as you dont have to worry yourself about the frame work.If so i will appreciate such information.

You can send me more pics and I look forward to recieving your reply at your ealiest convinience.

The 2nd time was from a woman from the Philipines by the name of Mrs. Aveline Regato. This came directly to my website. Here is her email:
Nice to meet you, how is everything, hope all is well with you. My name is Madam Avelin Regato, I found your contact after seeing your profile I picked interest to contact you. I've something very important which I would love to share with you privately, therefore, would love you to kindly write me back on:( avregato@live.fr) so that I'll give you details. Waiting anxiously for your mail,  

The 3rd time was from a vanity gallery called Montserrat Art Gallery. This came directly to my website. They wanted $1200 up front. Here is their email:

We invite you to consider an exhibition at Montserrat Contemporary Art by offering you the possibility of being in a show in our gallery to be held on March 10 – March 28, 2009 or June 2 – June 20, 2009.  
 
Montserrat Contemporary Art is a well established active gallery promoting artists since 1989.  The gallery offers an excellent opportunity for both critical and  commercial exposure of your art.  
 
Surrounded by galleries, and in a friendly and professional atmosphere,  our gallery providews an excellent location to exhibit art in the trendy Chelsea art district.  
 
Enclosed please find showcase policy terms and conditions.


The 4th attempt was from Naheed Waheed.  This came directly to my website. Here is his email:

How are you and i have been visiting so many site before i came accross you ads in artshow .com ,which i read that you are one of the greatest ,i found your artworks so creative and they are artworks that are very skilfull.i like mailing heroes of art like you.  And i also read that your artwork is exhibited through out USA,moreso i also see couple of the sculpture work that you creat and they are solovely and adept.  Art is a work which everybody like and that make a change in this our world today and you happen to be one of those succesfull people that i have just see who did art  
for future concern.  
 
My name is waheed najeem,i am 19 years old,i am talleted and i need someone who can help me in making my artwork to be well known ,but the most important thing is to show how much people will spell and taste artwork as a high game in the world because i ,love art so much.  I paint on canvas and on board also and my artwork is on african art design and i do portrait also.  
 
So i wish you can advice me more about how i can go forward on this stuff,maybe if you can allow me send some to you to view.I think if you see some,as a professional you can screen them and observe maybe they are artwork people will like over there.  
 
I am not asking for money,but seeking for surviver.It is good to try and fail; than to fail to try.,We can still know better,we can work together.  
Thanks and god bless you


The 5th attempt was on my Etsy online shop. It is from a user by the name of nimotaknny2. Here is his/her email:
I am interested in the immediate purchase of your item and will be make payment via cashier check/money order, my private shipping company will handle the shipping, but before payment will be made i need to be sure of who i am dealing with if you are going to be honest and sincere throughout the transaction. A certified cashiers check is cash-able the same day,there is going to be an excess fund on the check ,the excess fund is meant for the private shipping company who will come to your place for pick up of the item, so shipping is not a problem,will you be able to transfer the excess fund to the shipping company the same day you receive the check?. check would be sent to you so when you get payment you can easily cash it at any cashing point near you or deposit in your bank. You'll be sending excess fund to my shipper , which would be meant for shipping arrangement.if you agree, signify your interest by forwarding to me your Final Asking Price, Full Name & Contact Address  and Tel # also i will want you to email to my husband  private email address white_carl33@rocketmail.com  make sure you reply back to my husband email,So plz kindly email me to my email address I await your response soonest.
Best and kind regards,


The 6th attempt was also from my Etsy online shop. It is from a user by the name of nimota15. Here is his/her email:
I am interested in the immediate purchase of your item and will be make payment via cashier check/money order, my private shipping company will handle the shipping, but before payment will be made i need to be sure of who i am dealing with if you are going to be honest and sincere throughout the transaction. A certified cashiers check is cash-able the same day,there is going to be an excess fund on the check ,the excess fund is meant for the private shipping company who will come to your place for pick up of the item, so shipping is not a problem,will you be able to transfer the excess fund to the shipping company the same day you receive the check?. check would be sent to you so when you get payment you can easily cash it at any cashing point near you or deposit in your bank. You'll be sending excess fund to my shipper , which would be meant for shipping arrangement.if you agree, signify your interest by forwarding to me your Final Asking Price, Full Name & Contact Address and Tel # also i will want you to email to my husband private email address nimotakenny@ymail.com make sure you reply back to my husband email,So plz kindly email me to my email address I await your response soonest.
Best and kind regards,

 
The 7th attempt was from Mrs. Aveline Regato from the Philipines. (Apparently, she really likes my art!). This is from BrushSpace. Here is this email:
Greetings Dear ,

I find it very necessary to disclose this important information to you and to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you after very serious contemplation.

My name is Avelin Regato. A complete citizen of the Philippines , widow to the late Mr Desmond Regato who died of ulcer and he has been buried.
 
I inherited some money from my late husband, this money which is concealed in a metallic trunk box is deposited with a security and finance company in Cote D'Ivoire Due to the instruction he laid down before he deposited the box, that he needed maximum security/safety of my consignment and no body nor government organization can trace where about of the box until were ready and prepare to claim it.
 
This deposit was coded under a secret arrangement as a family treasure. This means that the security company does not know the content of this trunk box.
 
My main purpose of sending you this mail is because of the way I found you and perhaps trustworthy to give you this priority of shipping the box of money to any address that you think are very secure and save in your country with your percentage of which we shall chat on soon.
 
In fact, since the death of my husband, his brothers has been seriously chasing me around with constant treats, trying to suppress me so that they might have the documents of his landed properties and confiscate them. They have successfully collected all his properties, yet they never stopped there, they told me to surrender all bank account of my late husband, which I did, but I never disclose to them this deposit with the security company in Abidjan-Cote D'Ivoire , because this is where my future and destiny lies upon.
 
The family of my late husband never aware of the secret existence of this deposit which my late husband made with the security company and they can never be aware of it.
 
Out of fear of my late husband痴 family, and when the situation becomes uncontrollable because of pressure on me from the family, I decide to look for a trustworthy person who could assist me retrieve this box of money from the security company for onward lodgement into his account for the purpose of future investment. Consider my situation as a widow and come to my rescue.
 
There is need for urgent action because I'm paying $50 dollars per day as a demurrage to the security company for safe keeping this consignment.
 
I give thanks immensely for your co-operation as I look forward to hear from you soon.

All the best,

Mrs Avelin Regato


The 8th attempt is from Irene Hale. This is from Art Show:
Good day to you out there.
 
I am so excited that I came across of your work on internet search,I am interested in purchasing these creative artworks from you.....................

Let me know their various prices.and how much discounts are you going to give?I will be happy to have these selected artworks hanged in our new home in South Africa. As well, I want you to take out the shipping cost.I have been in touch with a shipping firm that will be shipping other house decoratives.

We are traveling from our Dallas home to our new apartment as soon as possible.On Paying for the artworks,I will be glad to pay you with a Money Order or Cashier`s check in US funds that can be easily cashed at your local bank,please let me know on how to proceed for the payment of the creative artworks.

I will await your advise on how to proceed.Have a wonderful day.
 
Take care,
Irene Hale

I have come to appreciate the attention that my art receives. My daughter works for the FBI and she informed me that they have an  Internet Crime Complaint Center. You may fill out the information regarding an attempted scam on their website: http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

I hope this blogs helps out all newer artists. Please do not fall prey to these scammers. And NEVER pay any money up front for anything. It is not worth it.

Good Luck and Happy Creation!


5 Responses to How Many Ways Can an Artist Get Scammed? Let Me Count Them

Candice
via nancyriedellfinearts.com
I got a convo in my Etsy today:




by goodman1010 profile shop contact

I am interested in the immediate purchase of your item and will be make payment via cashier check/money order, my private shipping company will handle the shipping, but before payment will be made i need to be sure of who i am dealing with if you are going to be honest and sincere throughout the transaction. A certified cashiers check is cash-able the same day,there is going to be an excess fund on the check ,the excess fund is meant for the private shipping company who will come to your place for pick up of the item, so shipping is not a problem,will you be able to transfer the excess fund to the shipping company the same day you receive the check?. check would be sent to you so when you get payment you can easily cash it at any cashing point near you or deposit in your bank. You'll be sending excess fund to my shipper , which would be meant for shipping arrangement.if you agree, signify your interest by forwarding to me your Final Asking Price, Full Name and Contact Address and Tel # also i will want you to email to my husband private email address nimotakenny [!at] ymail.com make sure you reply back to my husband email,So plz kindly email me to my email address I await your response soonest.
Best and kind regards,

Nancy Riedell
via nancyriedellfinearts.com
This morning I received this one from South Africa (note that she says she's from Seattle) on my personal email. Note that some of the paintings listed are NOT on my web site:

"Good day to you.

I am so excited that I came across of your work on internet search,I am interested in purchasing these creative artworks from you.....................

Pounding Surf,Sunrise at San Lucia Bay,Fall Colors and Palm and Full Of Color

Let me know their various prices.and how much discounts are you going to give?I will be happy to have these selected artworks hanged in our new home in South Africa.As well,I want you to take out the shipping cost.I have been in touch with a shipping firm that will be shipping other house decoratives.

We are traveling from our Seattle home to our new apartment as soon as possible.On Paying for the artworks,I will be glad to pay you with a Money Order or Cashier`s check in US funds that can be easily cashed at your local bank,please let me know on how to proceed for the payment of the creative artworks.

I will await your advise on how to proceed.Have a wonderful day.

Take care,

Tricia Allen"

This will force me to block this person from my personal email address.

Tammy
via nancyriedellfinearts.com
Feeling sad now...just responded to your 'sixth attempt' , but it was to: nimotakenny@rocketmail.com ...my husband and I were excited to sell a piece of his Artwork, as we were on ETSY... just thought I'd look up the email... no transactions have been made as of yet...funny, same letter... Thank You for your blog, better to be disappointed than fooled! Love your paintings!!
Nancy Riedell
via nancyriedellfinearts.com
It looks like I'll be forced to close my Etsy account. I received 2 scam attempts on that account just this morning for 2 different paintings. Interestingly, the email says the same thing. Here it is:

"SUBJECT: Sunrise at San Lucia Bay, listing #47071456

I am interested in the immediate purchase of your item and will be make payment via cashier check/money order, my private shipping company will handle the shipping, but before payment will be made i need to be sure of who i am dealing with if you are going to be honest and sincere throughout the transaction. A certified cashiers check is cash-able the same day,there
is going to be an excess fund on the check ,the excess fund is meant for the private shipping company who will come to your place for pick up of the item, so shipping is not a problem,will you be able to transfer the excess fund to the shipping company the same day you receive the check?. check would be sent to you so when you get payment you can easily cash it at any
cashing point near you or deposit in your bank. You'll be sending excess fund to my shipper , which would be meant for shipping arrangement.if you agree, signify your interest by forwarding to me your Final Asking Price, Full Name and Contact Address and Tel # also i will want you to email to my husband private email address
white_carl33@rocketmail.com make sure you reply back to my husband email,So plz kindly email me to my email address I await your response soonest.
Best and kind regards"

I've only had an Etsy account for 4 months but I've received about 6 scam attepmts since I opened it. Clearly, they're not screening their scammers.

ThePinkCo
via nancyriedellfinearts.com
I was contacted by the scammer yesterday this is the Conversation ideralovemi5

I am interested in the immediate purchase of your item and will be make payment via cashier check/money order, my private shipping company will handle the shipping, but before payment will be made i need to be sure of who i am dealing with if you are going to be honest and sincere throughout the transaction. A certified cashiers check is cash-able the same day,there is going to be an excess fund on the check ,the excess fund is meant for the private shipping company who will come to your place for pick up of the item, so shipping is not a problem,will you be able to transfer the excess fund to the shipping company the same day you receive the check?. check would be sent to you so when you get payment you can easily cash it at any cashing point near you or deposit in your bank. You'll be sending excess fund to my shipper , which would be meant for shipping arrangement.if you agree, signify your interest by forwarding to me your Final Asking Price, Full Name and Contact Address and Tel # also i will want you to email to my husband private email address nimotakenny [!at] ymail.com make sure you reply back to my husband email,So plz kindly email me to my email address I await your response soonest.
Best and kind regards,

My conversation box says 0
The listing deactivated after I opened this conversation
Contacting Etsy Immediately









Nancy Riedell Fine Arts