Beware of Art Scams!

28 September, 2006

ArtWanted.com Staff
3,229 Views
37 Comments

We have seen a big increase in the number of art scams going on recently. We wanted to warn all our members about possible art scams you may be e-mailed about.

First off, you can never be 100% sure something is, or is not a scam, until it's too late. All you can really do is review the context of the e-mail and look for signs of a scam. If you suspect a scam, alert us about it and DO NOT RESPOND to the e-mail. If you don't respond, they do not know your e-mail address or even if you got the e-mail. If you do respond, you open the door to be a victim.

Below are a few signs of a scam that should raise 'red flags' for you.

ART SCAM SIGNS:

The buyer is usually outside the US.

The buyer is vague on the exact artwork they want to buy.

The wording of the e-mail is strange or not proper English.

They mention they will have their shipper contact you.

They ask for your home address.

They offer payment via cashiers check (which are easy to counterfeit).

The payment amount is usually higher than the amount of purchase.

You may be asked to purchase other items, non-artwork related.

The same e-mail is sent to many members on our site in a short period of time.

HOW MOST SCAMS WORK:

Normally a group of e-mails is sent out to many unsuspecting artists. Those that reply will be asked for additional details on the artwork such as the price. Terms are agreed to and a counterfeit check is sent to the artist. The artist sends out the artwork. Artist tries to cash check and told it's a fake or weeks later they are notified that it bounced. Artist loses artwork and money.

HOW TO AVOID AN ART SCAM:

The best way to avoid scams is to not reply to inquiries that contain some of the common scam signs mentioned above. If you do reply and think it's a real buyer, we suggest that you simply tell them to purchase your artwork online with a credit card. Credit cards can be stolen, but it's easier to catch them and track payments than a cashiers check. When in doubt, don't fall into the trap. It's better to say 'no' to a suspicious buyer, then to get involved in a scam.

WHAT ARTWANTED IS DOING ABOUT SCAMS?

We are always watching our e-mails for possible art scams and updating our e-mail system to block known scammers.

If you suspect a scam, please report it to us immediately. If we feel it's a scam, we will block that person from sending any new e-mails to other members. If that person has sent e-mails to many members, we will let those members know about the potential scam.

We hope this knowledge has been helpful to everyone. Please use caution responding to any e-mails with signs of a scam/fraud.

37 Comments

thea walstra 28 Sep 2006

Hello Staff: About a year ago the same happened to me. A certain John wanted to buy two drawings exactly the way discribed in this post. I told him that I the shipment only would be take place after the bank had told me that his check was valid. I also told me that he should pay me a lot more than the price I asked for the paintings. I asked him several times why he was going to pay me a lot more then the extra costs for the shipment and the insurence. I never got an aswer from him. After weeks he came back with asking me to ship the artworks by his shipper avoiding an aswer on my questions. So I came also to the point that this must be a scap and the shipment never took place. I searched my mail for his full name but I am sorry to tell you that I have deleted it.

Lisa Ruggiero 28 Sep 2006

I got one of these art scam emails on monday. Then after the second email came in I emailed ArtWanted and told them I thought it was a scam, and it turned out to be one! Dont these people have anything better to do? Why not get a "real" job..? Shipping now outside the USA is costing more then what most people want to buy. Have lost several good sales going to england because of shipping costs.. But to get ripped off makes me mad as hel**... thank you ArtWanted staff for answering me so fast when this scammer tried this earlier this week. You all were on the ball!

dianna tilley 28 Sep 2006

I got a IP (the type of system people who are deaf use) call from a lady that wants to buy 4 prints of one my pictures that is posted here. I assume she got my phone number from the site. She then folowed up with a email. She is sending a personal check she said for the money. I told her that I would only send the prints once her check cleared the bank. She said this if fine. She did not offer extra money, but she did want to arrange the shipping herself. Should I be alarmed, or do you think this is for real.

Cori E. R. Trout 29 Sep 2006

I think if the person is willing to wait for the check to clear it probably isn't a scam.

I recieved an e-mail earlier this month about doing handmade postcards for some web company. The e-mail's language was absolutely horrendous and not very proper english at all. I did check out the website, but ignored the offer as I was highly suspiscious of the less-than-stellar use of the English language and also the unprofessional appearance of the website (not to say that professional-looking websites can't be scams).

Charita Padilla 29 Sep 2006

Let me guess .. about the scam.. not only from outside US.. it can be happening inside US as well. for example can't shipping to like United Kingdom, Canada, Paris, New England.. right? That can be scam from outside US.

Lisa Ruggiero 29 Sep 2006

I think also a page would be great to begin about scams, or questions concerning them. Its too dam easy to get ripped off, and its costly too. I have pretty much stoped shipping overseas now, along with scams its the cost involved of sending anything abroad.

kiddolucas lee 29 Sep 2006

I had received a few FRAUD Mails expressing intention to buy my ARts

They offered POSTAL ORDER...& CASHIER CHECK Payment ..( always in a form of paperprint )

When I responded that I prefered Payment be made thru' Western Union...or Bank Telegraphic Wired....I never hear from those " Scam Artistes " again

The Fraud Syndicates always name the Titles of your paintings...quickly making decision to optain that certain Titles

Genuine Buyers usually ( generally) asked to see more of your Folios before they make Final decision ! They re willing to pay according to your desired method of Payment

Heidi Olson 29 Sep 2006

Hi all,

This is a great post! I noticed someone mentioned Alibaba.com and wanted to add a note of warning about them. I came across them by accident one day, and decided to join..who passes up free advertising eh? Anyhoo, since I joined..I have received several viruses thru email which my antiviral software took care of. I just wanted to let all y'all know about that. Alibaba seemed like a good idea at the time..but so far every message I have gotten seems to be spam and nothing more. SO..I am working on trying to figure out how to get rid of them without actually going back to the site. Because frankly, all the emails I get are offers for stocks etc that I have no idea about. I thought it was for art, but apparently its sort of a catchall? Anyhoo...in case you are getting attachments with your emails from there...might want to let your antivirus run those before you click on them. I have it put anything from Alibaba in my trash at this point. I don't know if Alibaba is responsible or not..though it kinda spooked me when the second email I got after confirming membership had a virus attached. I am obviously a little leery about sending them anything thru email for fear of a "loaded" reply.

Thanks for the heads up AW..though I have to say I would be greatful for any offer at all on my art at this point LOL. (really just kidding..have been scammed for over $5000 because of the cashier check thing...Ended up moving to Alaska with way less to start with than we planned. It was over a furniture sale, not art..but just as devastating. So, "Let the buyer beware....." AND THE SELLER TOO!

Have a good weekend everybody! Heidi

bill luke 01 Oct 2006

I have received a scam mail from Mr.AYO the CEO of FEMOT and ARTIFACT inc. ,Nigeria.He never mentioned which item He wished to purchase,nor did He know the cost of this item.Everything I have listed FOR SALE is priced. Still I was tempted a tiny bit to find out,but I did not respond and then I received a warning E-mail from A.W. That confirmed My suspicions. Thank You for keeping an eye out for us.Another reason to love A.W.

Paul Traudt 04 Oct 2006

definitely wait for any kind of check sent to you to clear. I have never had a problem with this but that is why, because I won't even think about sending any artwork until the so called check clears. As mentioned before, if anyone is seriously looking to buy your work they are not going to have a problem with different payments,waiting for payment to clear, and certainly will not offer you more money than you are asking... thanks for the heads up AW

Allan Cavanagh 04 Oct 2006

Guys they're generally not after your work. This is known as the Nigerian Scam you will "mistakenly" be paid in excess of the price of your piece and you will be asked for a refund of the excess. You refund, the cheque bounces, and you've just been had! Millions of these emails are automatically generated and if only a small percentage fall for it, it's profitable. And it's not just artists being targeted. It's everybody.

johan wahlström 05 Oct 2006

Hi I received the below today, smells like a scam to me His email was [email protected] 0031 phone is Holland. All the best Johan

Dear Mr Johan Wahlstrom Thanks alot for the response and am really happy to read from you,So now am from netherlands and regarding the payment am sending you the payment through cashire check which am going to send to you in your name.So am sending you $5,000 for the payment of ( GUITAR PLAYER ) which is$2500.The reason why the payment is so high like that is due to, i have a shipping company who is going to come for the pick up at your location, and the shipper instructed me that they want their shippment fees to be send to them through the saler so there wont be any problem regarding the pickup thats why they bring out this policy and i do hope you understand it.After you would have recieve the check form me, I will want you to transfer the remaining funds back to the shipping company through MONEY GRAM SECURITY OFFICE NEAR TO YOU or WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER. Meanwhile get back to me with this below information in other for me to send the check to you.

Your Full name that will be written on the check: Full Address .......... City........ Zipcode......... State.......... Country........... Phone...........

You can call me on this number if there is any questions +0031643632300 call only in our night time, or send me an email and i will get back to you instantly. Thanks and hope to read from you and we can proceeds with this transaction. Much Love, Best Regards. Jer.

Richard F. Barber 05 Oct 2006

I have posted on my web site ways to pay for art work, (ie) payment directly into my bank account using my banks paying in slip or by Western Union , with the understanding that they receive the art work via UPS Currier service with a tracking number when the money is cleared, for some reason they don't reply.

Dana Arvidson 09 Oct 2006

I recently got an email pertaining to inclusion in an upcoming Contemporary Art Critique Book. Has anyone heard of "At Cultura", in Cordoba Argentina?

Has anyone heard of a Mr. Ricardo Cesar Lescanno Grosso?

I have done some checking and they seem on the up and up- just want to be sure.

Thanks in advance for any help that you can give me.

Dana Arvidson Decorative Design Paintworks

Dawn Cortes 09 Oct 2006

yeah I've gotten that email several times over the years You can always tell it's fake because they never say which one they want to buy and in my experience real buyers always talk about certain pieces they want.

Ron DeMore 10 Oct 2006

I visited your site and i saw these fascinating artworks and i found some interest in :- 1. (On a Thursday in July) 2. (Blueberries and Blood) 3. ( Very Superstitious ) So , i will like to buy them for our new house in London . I must say you really doing a great job ,I have already contacted a shipping company that will be shipping them along with our other house decorations. Our shipping company will Pick-Up these items once i pay you . I will be paying you with a Certified Cashier Check which will be easily cashed at your bank,Please let me know your mind about this sales and tell the the price for each ? I will be looking forward to your response on how to proceed. You can contact me directly on +447031905080 Regards, Sam Mark

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28 September, 2006