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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Artist Experience: Barbara Santos Scam Email

Hi Kathleen:
Thanks so much for compiling this list and blog!  You really saved me hours of aggravation.

I have a new name to add to your scam list.  Barbara Santos at barb.saint001@mybestmail.com.  She's using the "My twin sister is getting married" story etc.

Thank you again!  Libby

First email received from "Barbara Santos":

From: Barbara Santos [barb.saint001@mybestmail.com]
Subject: Artworks Inquiry..

Hi,

Hope this message finds you well.

I saw these creatives works on your web site and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.

"Serenely Happy Energy Cells as seen under a Microscope" and "My Mandala"

I will appreciate an urgent reply.

Best Regards,

Barbara.

Second Email Received (formatting problems intentional):

From: Barbara Santos [barb.saint001@mybestmail.com]
Subject: Re: Artworks Inquiry..

Hi Libby ,

Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creative works. I will like to proceed with the purchase of both pieces .   Can you pls confirm the actual size   of the two pieces so i can know how best to proceed.  I will also like to know what inspire you to make the pieces.

I will look forward to hearing from you soon .

Best Regards,

Barb.

Third Email Received:

From: Barbara Santos [barb.saint001@mybestmail.com]
Subject: Re: Artworks Inquiry..

Hi Libby ,

Good to hear back from you. Yes,i will like to proceed with the purchase of both works  .   I think they are lovely works  and i hope to give them good home.

I am presently away in London for my twin sister's wedding even though it comes at a time when i was preparing for a big move and also expecting a baby but it means so much to her. I should be back in few days.

Meanwhile,i will like you to forward your mailing address and phone number so i can inform my husband still shutling between our home in New Jersey and Jo'burg, SA on where to forward the payment . He has just been transfer to head the IT section of their head Office in Jo'burg.

I can also forward your contact info to the local cartage company that will be moving all our house decors so they can get in touch with you to arrange shipping details. They can arrange  FedEx pick up of the artworks  from your studio.

I will look forward to hearing from you so i can know how best to proceed.
Cheers.

Best Regards,

Barbara.

63 comments:

  1. I have a new name to add to your scam list. Barbara Santos at barb.saint010@mybestmail.com
    She's using the "Artworks Inquiry" in Europe now

    Regards

    Mrs Nathalie THOUPLET
    Painter, France

    Email received from "Barbara Santos" 29/06/10 à 12h36

    A : nathouplet@voila.fr
    Objet : Artworks Inquiry
    Hi
    Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creatives works on your web site and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
    Amour and Un matin à Prague
    I will appreciate an urgent reply.
    Best Regards,
    Barbara.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Nathalie!

    Looks like the scammer using the Barbara Santos name can randomize their email accounts at mybestmail.com (barb.saint001 and barb.saint010). It might shut them down at least using mybestmail if we all complain to mybestmail (depending upon if they care scammers are using their services to send out spam).

    I guess we'll be seeing more reports on this one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. She's been bugging me too. It's really creepy because it had my actual painting titles in it. The language seemed off though and there wasn't a connection between what I said in the previous email and what she said. Creepy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes, it *is* creepy but remember "she" is probably a he (it's just a made-up name) and I started this blog because the scammers moved to a new level of actually going to your website (or forum if art images are posted) and saying the names of the titles in their scam email. It makes them seem more legitimate and they got more victims this way. Now I'm fighting back by posting all their lame-*ss emails, their faked names and emails and educating artists as best I can to recognize these quickly. Glad you didn't get too far into the process.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I received same emails from Barbara Santos !!!!!
    Yvon Kergal,Artist pintor.....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello ! I verified different causes of this shitty Barbara Santos of New jersey.... Apparently it could be facebook....and I am on FB.....Kisses to artists...Only ! Yvon

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've also received emails from Barbara Santos (barb.saint001@mysbestmail.com)... when I told her to use the paypal function of my website "she" disappeared.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks Yvon and Ann. This one looks like it has really made the rounds to a lot of artists. mybestmail ought to shut their account down. I've sent a complaint to them. Others should, too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just don't understand how this scam would even work??? Anyone have any idea? Other than being a nuisance and getting my hopes up that I sold something off my website, what harm has been done?

    just annoyed and curious now

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ann,

    It's pretty simple and it is not about the art. Someone once asked me what does the scammer do with the art they actually receive from a victim and I have no idea. I do know it's not about the art which is not "liquid" in value.

    What they do - eventually, is come up with some long detailed explanation for why they are sending you a payment check for MORE than the amount of the art plus shipping, and then politely ask you to just send back the difference. Sometimes this difference is a couple hundred dollars.

    The bank will accept the check and you send off the artwork and the "difference". It takes about a month (and this is what the scammer is relying on) for the bank to figure out the check is fraudulent and they remove the funds from your account. Now you are out the artwork and the "difference" and have no payment.

    That's the basis of the scam.

    I just set up a brand new facebook page today that you can "Like" if you want to keep notified as we report on new scam emails. It is also called "Stop Art Scams" on Facebook.

    Thanks for stopping by. And yes - they are annoying. At least I feel better fighting back a little by educating as many people as I can!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi guys, I have just fallen prey to "Barbara and Jeff" and their artwork purchasing scam. Thankfully a few too many red flags flew for me this morning when "Jeff" called me (even though I didn't give out my cell phone number, creepy!) from "Johannesburg" to talk about shipping arrangements. I took the money orders they sent to the bank and the post office and both told me they were counterfeit so I've now turned them over to the postal police for further investigation. The one thing I worry about is the fact that these scammers now have my phone number and home address. Surely they're just after the quick cash aspect of this scam and not looking to get mixed up with people in a more personal, knock on your door and kill/kidnap you sort of way? Needless to say I'm freaked out. Has anyone else gotten as far as giving them your address and receiving "payment"? Is there anything we, the targets, could do about this now or is it just best left alone?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Well, the good news is that you DIDN'T send them any money and the bank was able to quickly identify the money orders as fraudulent. The bad news is they have your address and number.

    My guess is you are right - they are more after the money than showing up at someone's house. There is not enough money in this particular scam to do that. And then they become much easier to catch which is definitely not an objective of theirs.

    But you can expect your name has been added to a list that identifies you as someone who has gotten far enough into the scam to have your address and email collected. Usually this just means you'll be getting more emails like this scam in the future, in many different forms.

    You can certainly talk to the Postal Police and see what their recommendations are but I'm guessing it is best left alone.

    But it does mean I need to keep working to get the word out to artists so these blasted things get recognized FAST!

    Thanks for writing in!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks =that is all helpfull -- I got a email like the others - different name of course - and they wanted to buy paintings [ not seem which send up a red flag for me - who buys anything with really seeing it - i will proceed with care - keeping all this mind - I don.t want to be had .

    ReplyDelete
  14. most recently received an email from "patricia santos" with the same details

    ReplyDelete
  15. Not very creative, are they...

    We'll just keep posting the variations that are being experienced and hopefully it will help other artists who google on the name they are receiving and find this thread.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I want to add a new name to the same story.... Patricia Fenton.

    ReplyDelete
  17. THANK YOU! I just went so far through with this scam with "Patricia Fenton" that I received the Cashier's Check for $3,000 in the mail yesterday before I smelled a rat. SO glad I Googled "Patricia Fenton scam" before I shipped my artwork. :P Thanks everyone for helping me spread the truth.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Add Joseph Caldwell to the list. Got one this morning.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Betty Thobela
    is one I recently got

    ReplyDelete
  20. HI, I just got a similar scam email from Edmond Vale, address - 87 Lionel Road North Brentford Middlesex TW8 9QZ UK. edmundvale@yahoo.co.uk.

    I looked up the location on Google maps and it is in in Gunnersbury Park, not a residence, but an actual park. He said that he wanted sculpture for his office, but when I mentioned paying through Paypal, he said that he wanted to pay with a bank check. I told him that I would need to get the following information, below, and will not ship the work till his money clears and that I will only do business through paypal. I said I have heard of scams against artists, who ship their work and never get the money, so I need assurance to make sure that this is legitimate. Any extra information that you could give me about yourself will help assure me that you are legitimate. Please, with all due respect, do not take offense, I also need to get more info so that I can look it up and make sure you are who you say you are.

    I don't think I will be hearing back from him.

    Your company name:
    Your position in the company:
    Present Office Address:
    New Office address:
    Website:
    Company phone number:
    Address where sculpture will be shipped:

    ReplyDelete
  21. Got a similar request for artwork they found at my website, this time the name was Diana and Jeff Thobela. Figured it was off when I received the fake check (from a S. Carolina bank) for more than twice the amount, took it to my bank where they verfied it as a fake. I'm in NJ, where she said they have a home, moving to Jo'berg, etc. I reported this to FBI this morning, but doubt they'll look for the culprits, since I lost nothing. Disgusting idiots!

    ReplyDelete
  22. The good news is you made THEM spend a little money sending you that check. It is also good news the banks are getting *much* quicker at identifying these as fraudulent checks.

    Now you can just ignore any further communication from the scammer, knowing you got them to lose a little money.

    It's good to report it, but I agree, I'd keep your expectations very low as to anything being done.

    Thanks for the share!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I also just got a request and then a check from Diana and Jeff Thobela with the SA and NJ addresses from the Nov 21 posting. Was suspicious and the check was from "wells fargo", but no return address etc etc. Thank you for posting.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just got an email from Barbara Williams (formely Santos) at b_williams1011@yahoo.com.hk
    saying she needs an Ohio lawyer to collect on money owed to her from a separation agreement with her ex done in England back in 2009. Anybody had this one yet?

    ReplyDelete
  25. This sounds more like a variation of the scams where some "lawyer" is looking to find the descendants of some huge inheritance but the concept of your email also sounds similar to the one targeting artists.

    My guess is they will offer to send you money to pay for the lawyer in Ohio to help them with the money collection (all made up), send more than is owed and ask you to wire the difference back to them.

    I've not seen this spin on what we typically deal with here, but it surely doesn't surprise me.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Artist Experience: Barbara Santos Scam Email
    Hi Kathleen:
    Thanks so much for compiling this list and blog!

    I have a new name to add to your scam list. Jane Rizzo at jan.riz00@maybestmail.com.
    I also got e-mail form Barbara Santos at barb.saint001@mybestmail.com in Summer.

    Thank you!

    Email received from "Jane Rizzo":

    From: Jane Rizzo [jan.riz00@mybestmail.com)

    Subject: Artworks Inquiry..

    Hi,

    Hope this message finds you well.

    I saw these creatives works on your web site and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.

    2B Red and “Osiris the Ram”,

    I will appreciate an urgent reply.

    Best Regards,

    Jane.

    ReplyDelete
  27. yeah, I have a feeling all the scams using "mybestmail.com" are likely the same scammer.

    Thanks for the share!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I've just received these e-mails from "Debby Barnes"

    ReplyDelete
  29. I've just received the same emails from "Kathy Barnes"...Maybe Debby is her twin sister she talks about who is getting married in London.

    Ha.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Yep. I got this *exact* thing from "Kathy Barnes"... I'm glad i found your site. I'll be spreading the info far and wide!

    ReplyDelete
  31. add Jeffrey and Ashley Kiley to the list! jeff.ley0101@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. add sharon jones 0101 @mybestmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Here's another one:
    Sharon Wood
    Same scam.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Yep, Sharon Jones....husband Jeff. Has a sister in London.
    Sharon is supposedly pregnant and nearly lost her baby while visiting her family in London. They are moving to South Africa and want a mover to pick up the paintings and ship to that location.
    Gotta be careful!! The bank knew almost immediately that the check for $7500 was a scam.....but that the account was good. Still it could have been an account of some innocent person. Thank you banks and the internet.
    I just put "Jeff and Sharon Jones Scammer?" in on Google and it was the first site to pop up.
    When I first got the email I saw the red flags and had the check sent to an office address...not my home address.
    They are most likely living in a foreign country.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I just got these same exact messages from a "Martina Suarez" email: edwedg17@gmail.com. So glad I looked this up before proceeding.

    Jason

    ReplyDelete
  36. I got messages from Martina Suarez edwedg17@gmail.com and they claim they have sent me check. Here is a copy of the e-mail and I sent her my address. Will they show up at my house Yikes!
    Is there a way we can get these scammers???

    Here is an excerpt:
    I am presently away in Cancun for my twin sister's wedding even
    though it comes at a time when i was preparing for a big move and also
    expecting a baby but it means so much to her. I should be back in few
    days.


    Meanwhile,i will like you to forward your mailing address and phone
    number so i can inform my husband still shutling between our home in
    New Jersey and London on where to forward the payment . He has just
    been transfer to head the IT section of their head Office in London.


    I can also forward your contact info to the local cartage company that
    will be moving all our house decors so they can get in touch with you
    to arrange shipping details. They can arrange FedEx pick up of the
    artworks from your studio.


    I will look forward to hearing from you so i can know how best to
    proceed. Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  37. They are not going to show up at your house. They need to stay in the shadows so the authorities can't catch them. And there is no shipping company. They are making that up. They will overpay you and ask you to forward the difference to the shipper - who doesn't exist, via Western Union, and guess who is at the other end of that Western Union transaction? Right - them. And once the money is picked up, its untraceable and gone.

    I haven't found any other way to get back at scammers than to keep reporting them online and alerting others so they don't fall victim to them. The authorities don't seem to care. But we have the internet and we can shine a light on them and keep alerting others before they lose any money.

    ReplyDelete
  38. What do I do with the check? This just came in.


    Did you get my email about the payment ? Have you heard from the
    movers ? I will look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks.

    Martina.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Well, congratulations on making them spend a little money sending you a check. It is fraudulent. You can submit it to the bank but I don't think there is much they can do other than identify it as fraudulent. When I'm in a sour mood, I will pretend to not have gotten the check and ask them to send another one overnight. Sometimes they fall for this and will lose just a little more money (small satisfaction but is something), and sometimes they switch and try to give you a stolen credit card number (which will sometimes "clear" because it has not yet been reported as stolen).

    But really all you rip up the check or give it to the bank and ignore any further emails... just like would ignore you once they realize you are on to them.

    Good for you for catching it before you lost any money!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Yes! Martina Suarez Contacted me, same exact situation. Has gone as far now to have claimed to been hospitalized in Cancun, at her "twin sister's" wedding, and almost lost her baby. Wow. I really can't believe they would take it this far.
    I received the check and want only to mess with them a little. "She's" been emailing me on the status of the agreement and has assured me it will clear by tomorrow, though I haven't actually deposited it. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get a little fun out this situation? Possibly take them for a little ride?
    Figured I'd ask...
    Thanks, Katie!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Good for you for not falling for this. The only way I've played with them when they do actually do a check versus stolen credit card number is to pretend I didn't receive the check or if you admitted receiving the check already, saying the bank said insufficient funds and then ask the scammer to send another check once they have money in the account and overnight the check. That way, at least they lose a little of their own money. Then you can ignore them after that chuckle.

    Isn't much but sometimes we need our own chuckle.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Received "Martina Suarez" emails, same address, same M.O.: twin sister's wedding in Cancun, hospitalized, almost lost her baby, husband going from New Jersey to London,alleged shipping company in London, fake check through UK Royal Mail. You can report cases using Royal Mail and fraud attempts originating from UK online police site here: http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/ I cross reported to regional FBI office. No loss on my part, just disappointed the only inquiry I've had this year was from thieves. :p

    ReplyDelete
  43. I got them to send me a FedEx, received 12/20/2011 about 11:00 am Central Time. This is from the Martina Suarez identity using edwedg17@gmail.com. I did not open the FedEx. I can email you a scan of the envelope if you have an open case against this scam operation. I have emailed the information to a banking entity that has an open FBI case. You can forward this information to your detective or investigator.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I was scammed. I spent hours creating 2 original pieces of art and packaging them to be shipped. I then received a check for double the amount owed to me. That is when I got suspicious. My emails from her sound EXACTLY like the ones listed here. She was pregnant in Cancun at her twin sisters wedding... Almost lost the baby.. The email address was edwedg17@gmail.com and her name was Martina Suarez. This is the last time I will make anything without payment upfront. I still have the check and the envelope. Who do I report this to? I wish I had seen this blog sooner. Now I have 2 beautiful peices of artwork with her name on it for sale!!!

    ReplyDelete
  45. It sounds like you never sent them money so if that is the case, you got off easy. The point of the scam is not the artwork, its that "overpayment" and trying to trick you into forwarding that amount to some nonexistent shipper via Western Union (which is just at the other end) so that once the money is picked up, it is untraceable.

    And you didn't actually send the artwork (the destination address is made up as well) either so yes you do have two pieces now to try and sell to someone else, but considering you could have lost thousands of dollars, I'd say this was a pretty good outcome.

    You can check the links in the upper right hand column for resources of where to report it.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I have two new names, both trolling from Craigslist postings for painting for sale:

    Jeffrey Chapman lilbusterman008@gmail.com

    Mrs. Elizabeth Benson eryben6@gmail.com

    They both hit at the same time, similar "I'm out of town, my shipper will pick up the art work. I will send you a bank check" story. I noticed these emails, including "Martina Suarez" all have one consistency in failing to capitalize "I" . Bad grammar and some spelling could be ESL author but often to always fail to capital "I" if it is not the beginning of a sentence.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Also, thanks for doing all of this. You rock!! ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hello,

    I think your scammer tracking database has hit a small complication. I believe that these scammers have switched gears and are using the anonymous Craigslist email communications system quite heavily.

    I started getting responses from ads of art I placed for sale on Craigslist. The familiar emails came rapidly, sometimes concurrently, and were in the same form: mentioned a third party shipper will pick them up, buyer is out of town, and a new twist in that each email had a typed out data entry form with lines. They wanted my name, address, phone number, etc. Perhaps they are double dipping on identity theft of this was a simple minded method to make the email seem like a sales contract.

    Anyway, it seems to me that this scam is all over Craigslist like white on rice. I have been cross listing my art in Chicago, NYC, Las Vegas and LA. Amusingly enough, I say in each ad "PayPal only" to try and filter out this scam and they are not even reading that in the ad.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hi there,

    Scammers will use ALL resources they can to send out emails or contact people with their fake "buyer" story. It's a numbers game to them. How many hundreds of thousands can they send out and what percentage will reply and what percentage of that will actually believe someone is buying something and what percentage of THAT will be people who will not figure it out before sending money via Western Union. It's all numbers to them.

    You are right, they really don't care about what you say or what you are selling, you are just another person to send their templated email to. Scammers have always been on Craigslist but I agree they seem to be SO prevalent lately. That their emails are anonymous is really not that important as their other emails are temporary as well, though I agree it is one less thing people can google to verify if it is a scam. And I've seen a version with the typed out data entry form before. I don't know what they do with that, but you could be right, they could use it for identity in other scams, who knows.

    Thanks for writing in about this. it is good for people to know the high chances of getting a scam email when posting anything for sale on Craigslist.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Also, this is kind of depressing, but I have now resorted to a depersonalized form letter to any new email inquiries about art sales. It makes the scammers dry up and blow away because they know who they are:

    "Hello,

    Yes this painting is available. I am doing PayPal or cash only due to having received a forged check this past year from the Martina Suarez / Barbara Santos online scam. I can send you my phone number if you are a real buyer.

    Thank you."

    ReplyDelete
  51. New Name for the List. Notice the internal contradictions, agres to PayPal then says is sending a check. Everything is SIC:

    Timothy Olson timothyolson020@gmail.com

    2/25/2010

    Alright that is Fine..I won't be able to meet with you to see the item
    the Price Tag is OK by me.Anyway,I'm on a job transfer for now and the
    only method of payment for now is by making a bank certified check or
    paypal available to you.I do not mind waiting for the check to get
    clear before i order my mover to come for Pick-Up at your location,i
    will add $40 to your money to show my interest on this item....

    So kindly get back to me with below details asap or paypal account so
    that the payment can send out to you asap.

    Name:
    Address:
    City:
    State:
    Zip Code:
    Cell Phone Number:
    Total amount for the item :

    Once you provided the info, the payment will be overnight to you and i
    will get back to you with tracking number for you to know the delivery
    time .Hope to have your info soon so that i can work on your payment
    right away.

    Hope to hear from you soon.

    Timothy Olson.

    ReplyDelete
  52. New scam origin address:


    From: John Bowell
    Sent: Thursday, March 1, 2012 9:40 PM
    Subject: Re: Original Pop Art Painting - David Hockney Tribute - $600

    Thanks for the your prompt response and i have decided and concluded to buy the item from you. I am OK with the cost.And I would be very glad to inform you that, My Office will be mailing overnight certified check from my salary to cover the cost of the item as you requested,I'll want you to remove the advert from web and consider this item is sold to me..So i want to be the best offer by offering you extra $50 to your money as the best offer and i hope you will keep this item for me.

    I will be needing the following information to issue out the payment ..

    Name:
    Address:
    City:
    State:
    Postal Code:
    Country:
    Cell Phone Number:
    Not P o Box Address:
    Total amount for the item :

    Also you should be aware that you won't be responsible for shipping as i will have my mover come over and pick it up as soon as you received the check and. I also have some other goods i already bought in other location which my mover will pick up all together. i will get back to you once my secretary made the payment out to you.

    Thanks...

    ReplyDelete
  53. New Scam address: B H


    Sent: Saturday, March 3, 2012 3:08 PM
    Subject: Re: Original Pop Art Painting - David Hockney Tribute - $600

    Hi,
    Am glad it's available. I'm going on a vacation to London but I will instruct my assistant to prepare and mail your payment which I'm sure you will get in about 4 - 6 business days. I'll add $20 extra for the delay. I'll pay by M O or cashier check so send me your info (i.e full name, mailing address and your phone number) so payment can be mailed out immediately. I will also make arrangement for pick-up which will be after you must have received and cashed the payment. Awaiting your info.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  54. The John Bowell scam address posted above did not copy and paste. It is: jjhn247@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  55. New scam address, it came as "B H' but the name is different:


    From: B H tommyrossy001@gmail.com

    Sent: Saturday, March 3, 2012 3:08 PM
    Subject: Re: Original Pop Art Painting - David Hockney Tribute - $600

    Hi,
    Am glad it's available. I'm going on a vacation to London but I will instruct my assistant to prepare and mail your payment which I'm sure you will get in about 4 - 6 business days. I'll add $20 extra for the delay. I'll pay by M O or cashier check so send me your info (i.e full name, mailing address and your phone number) so payment can be mailed out immediately. I will also make arrangement for pick-up which will be after you must have received and cashed the payment. Awaiting your info.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  56. Got this same email today with the same text:

    B H ✆ tommyrossy001@gmail.com

    3:47 PM (1 hour ago)

    to XXXXXXXX

    Hi,

    Am glad it's available. I'm going on a vacation to London but I will instruct my assistant to prepare and mail your payment which I'm sure you will get in about 4 - 6 business days. I'll add $20 extra for the delay. I'll pay by M O or cashier check so send me your info (i.e full name, mailing address and your phone number) so payment can be mailed out immediately. I will also make arrangement for pick-up which will be after you must have received and cashed the payment. Awaiting your info.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  57. This guy Jeffery Chapman

    Jeffery Chapman
    lilbusterman008@gmail.com

    Seems to expanded his scope. He even contacted me for an antique radio lilbusterman008@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  58. I got a reply from tommyrossy001@gmail.com regarding a boat motor I advertised on CL. He is going to London and his assistant is going to mail me a check. This stupid bastards email address is all over the internet. Gotta admire these idiots for being so persistent, stupid but persistent.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I also got an email form tommyrossy001@gmail.com regarding a Motor Scooter I have for sale on CL. He said the same and his assistant is going to mail a payment and then he came back and said that they mailed to much and to please return any money via western union to Francisca Saunders 59 Queen's Gate London United Kingdom SW75JP.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I am passing your blog around and the FAQ page because these scammers have switched up their style a little bit and have really dug into Etsy.com. Red flags are needing an artwork or order quickly and international shipping! They seem to no longer necessarily go after big ticket items like a $600 painting, now they seem to be working many smaller dollar amount scams on Etsy.

    Shellie

    ReplyDelete
  61. similar story, name Lisa Nichols. Glad I checked, looks like the same scam and I'll decline to sell my art to her (or him . . .)

    ReplyDelete
  62. thanks so much for you site! and for explain gin how they get money. i could sort out that part! heres another to add to your list:
    Bett Jacobs
    fadaray20@gmail.com

    even gave me an address for them (which i looked up and is a house in Miami).
    1481 NE 104th St
    Miami Shores, FL 33138

    i gave them studio address and told them when the check cleared, then id ship. haven't heard back from them.

    ReplyDelete
  63. I can second that fadaray20@gmail.com is a fraud. They sure went to a lot of work to try to scam me.

    ReplyDelete