Anyone Getting Contacted by Parallax Art Fair Through Carbonmade
Artists Beware of Email Scams
If you have an email accost and are promoting yourself as an artist, chances are you have received emails from scammers who deliberately try to crook artists and steal their art and money. We hope this commodity, "Scams Aimed at Artists" that focuses on those y'all volition receive via email, will provide the warning signs and protect you lot from beingness scammed.
This article has been updated several times. We will continue to add new vital data as it becomes available. Nosotros also post comments that contain correspondence betwixt artists and potential scammers, and then delight read them after reading this article. They provide several clues to be aware of and yous'll see how artists replied to the scammers.
Delight notation: On a regular basis we receive comments with questions and complaints near specific galleries which they believe are "scams". For legal reasons nosotros do not mention specific individuals and gallery names. Please refer to this commodity "Beware of Vanity Galleries" and read the suggestions offered to determine if the gallery in question is legitimate or non. We trust y'all will brand smart and intelligent choices.
Communication from Michael About An Email Scam
Scammers apply bad checks and ask for coin to reimburse backlog payments for shipping.
Ane of our readers named Michael wrote: "I received the e-mail from Ralph Talker on behalf of the artist whose site I administer. After a back and forth he said he was sending me a check by UPS for the amount of the artwork plus an additional amount (three times equally much) for the "aircraft agent". I got suspicious so and googled the email address ralphtalker@gmail.com.
I reported all this to the FTC and they referred me to the Internet Crime Complaint Center where I filed another detailed claim. The FTC informed me to bring the check to my local police when it arrives.
I think it'southward important to written report these reckless criminals to the officials set up to deal with them, not but permit it become."
IMPORTANT
The IC3 accepts online Internet crime complaints from either the actual victim or from a tertiary party to the complainant. Visit the website to observe out how to file a complaint.
Example of scam via email
We received this on August 31, 2022 from Jeffrey Smith jeff0220smith000@gmail.com.
We kept all grammatical errors intact.
Subject: Art research
Howdy
I'm Jeffrey, a lensman based in new York,
A friend referred you lot, I accept too gone through your works, your indeed adept at what yous do……..I have a proposal,
I volition exist opening my photo studio officially past ending of the calendar month, I will need some original paintings for decoration, my estimated budget for this is $900 to $5000 for each slice. Give me a feedback through the e-mail provided,
I will exist expecting your response presently, also let me know if you accept cheque payment thanks.
Kind regards,
Jeffrey Smith.
We received this scam email from clementdave111@gmail.com
(We kept all grammatical errors every bit received.)
Greetings… I am Cloudless from Virginia. I accept been on the lookout for some artworks lately in regards to I and my wife'due south anniversary which is just around the corner. I stormed on some of your works which i institute quite impressive and intriguing. I must admit your doing quite an impressive chore. Yous are undoubtedly good at what you do.
With that being said, I would like to purchase some of your works as a surprise gift to my wife in honour of our upcoming wedding anniversary. Information technology would be of help if you lot could send some pictures of your piece of works, with their respective prices and sizes, which are ready for immediate (or shut to immediate) sales. My upkeep for this is within the price range of $500 to $5000.
I look forward to reading from y'all in a view to knowing more about your pieces of inventory. Equally a matter of importance, I would also similar to know if you accept check equally a ways of payment.
We received this scam electronic mail from jamiedalton1000@gmail.com
(We kept all grammatical errors equally received.)
Reply-To jamiedalton1000@gmail.com
Appointment Today 07:49
Subject: artwork research
Greetings to you, my name is jamie dalton i observed my wife viewing your artwork on my laptop severally and i guess she likes some of your fine art piece i must besides say Your work is actually stunning The uniqueness quality to your work is so lovely I am very much interested in the buy to surprise my wife. cheers
jamie dalton
What Happens if You Respond
If you were to follow through and reply to the email, the scammer may ask to purchase multiple paintings. They may be large sizes so the shipping costs will be loftier. They volition transport y'all a cashiers bank check for the total cost of the paintings plus aircraft along with an excess (they offer information technology in case aircraft costs more). The scamming purchaser will exist in a Big hurry for you lot to ship. That is because the cheque volition eventually bounce, just that volition take 30 days. When the check bounces y'all will have already sent the artwork.
Some scammers will offer to utilise a credit card (with stolen numbers) and even Paypal (using a false Paypal link asking for YOUR Paypal login – then they get your login info.
Never give these scammers personal information such equally bank or credit carte information. This may exist a trap for identity fraud.
Look for The Warning Signs in Their Email
• Grammatical errors and does not use proper English
• Does non know yous and is not familiar with your work
• Asks questions that can be answered by visiting your website
• In that location is a sense of urgency in their request.
• They desire to arrange shipping with an agent or third party shipper or mover that volition pick it up directly.
• They will offering to ship more money than is due then you will be obliged to requite them a check for the excess when yous send them the artwork.
• They will say their "wife" has been looking at your art on your website and they want "to surprise her".
• They don't say which artwork they desire to buy and volition ask you to choose within a sure cost range that may be several thousands of dollars.
Instance of a scam
(Received June 2021)
Hello There,
My Proper name is Frank Jullius from New York. I actually observed my Married woman has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your slice of work. I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your diverse works also, You are doing a Great task. I would like to buy one of your ARTWORKS as a surprise to my Wife on our ceremony. Likewise, allow me know if you lot accept CHECK as mode of Payment.
Thanks and best regards
(Signed Frank, frank.jullius25@gmail.com)
Some other Scam E-mail (received March, 2021)
Notice the similarity…
How-do-you-do There,
My proper noun is Charles Davis from California. i was in the Garden when my wife came in that she saw your work on Google, You are doing a dandy job. I would like to purchase one of your pieces as a surprise to my wife on our 15th anniversary. As well, let me know if you lot accept the check equally mode of Payment.
Thanks and best regards
Charles
Some other Scam Email
(Received July 2020)
Hello there… I've been on the scout for some artworks in regards to my wife's birthday which is just around the corner. I really observed your works on google which I found quite impressive and intriguing; I must admit you lot are doing quite an impressive job and good at what you do.
I would like to purchase a piece of your works equally a surprise gift for my married woman in honour of her forthcoming 50th birthday. Information technology could exist whatsoever manner of paintings (Abstract, Gimmicky, etc…) and color, only medium size or large.. However, I would profoundly appreciate information technology if you could maybe recommend a few completed pieces. Kindly ship some pictures of your piece of works, with their respective prices and sizes. My budget for this is within the cost range of $500 to $2000.
I would likewise like to know if you have a check equally means of payment.
Russell
Other Types of Scams Aimed at Artists Known as "Pay to Play"
• Vanity Galleries: These galleries email artists and tease them into thinking they are being offered representation, yet require the artist to pay high fees to have their piece of work exhibited. Read this commodity almost Vanity Galleries at vanity-galleries.
• Vanity Fine art Book Publishers: Same as Vanity Galleries in that they charge loftier fees to impress your artwork in a publication.
• Other "Calls for Artists": Nearly juried exhibitions are legitimate; all the same, brand certain to enter only those contests from established art organizations, with well-known judges, requiring no entry fee or a minimal entry fee. Read Non All Calls for Artists Are Equal.
Tips on Identifying Scams and Actions to Have
• Stay warning and apply caution when reading emails.
• Do not make any hasty decisions no matter how good it may appear.
• Check out everything you can on the net about a person making a proposal to you.
• Read upwards on current schemes. Search online for "email scams aimed at artists".
• If something feels odd about the request trust your intuition!
• Detect when an offer or deal is "likewise proficient to be true."
• Delete all scam proposals from your electronic mail.
• Do not reply, open up whatever attachments, or click on whatever links.
• Use the advice given past Michael in the kickoff of this article and report the suspicious email to the Internet Criminal offence Complaint Center
For Artists in the U.K.
Here's what you can do if y'all suspect the email is a scam.
• Report it to (Great britain) Scambusters at The Office of Fair Trading (08457 224499) by emailing scams@oft.gsi.gov.great britain.
• Write to The OFT, European Enforcement Squad, Fleet Banking company House, 2-vi Salisbury Square, London, EC4Y 8JX. The OFT volition non exist able to assist y'all as an individual just they have enforcement powers to human activity on behalf of a group of consumers to effort and prevent this problem recurring.
• The Advertisement Standards Say-so, ASA, is the independent body gear up by the advert industry to police the rules laid down in the advertising codes.
• Cross-edge adjudications can be plant at www.easa-brotherhood.org
A subscriber sent us this in October, 2021
If you receive something similar, beware. Notice the countless grammatical errors (clues that it is a scam)
From: Tracy Washington <tracywashington5172@gmail.com> Date: Thu, October 28, 2021, v:06 AM
Bailiwick: I would love to work with you
My name is Tracy Washington,, from virgina. I have been on the watch for some artworks lately in regards to my husband birthday which is just around the corner. I stormed on some of your works which I establish quite impressive and intriguing. I must admit you lot're doing quite an impressive job. You are undoubtedly skillful at what you lot do.With that being said, I would like to buy a surprise gift to my hubby in honor of his upcoming Birthday. It would be of help if yous could transport some pictures of your piece of works, with their respective prices and sizes, which are set up for firsthand (or close to firsthand) sales. My budget for this is within the price range of $500 to $5,500.
I look forward to reading from you in a view to knowing more than about your pieces of inventory. As a matter of importance, I would also like to know if you accept a check as a ways of payment.
Regards
Tracy Washington
Too Read Is This Another Scam Aimed At Artists?
Want to meet how Tom Pendergast, Writer, Editor and Counselor, handled a scam endeavor?
Read his email exchanges with a scammer. Visit caribunkle.com/blog/art-scam
Source: https://renee-phillips.com/scams-aimed-at-artists/
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