The funny thing about this scammer (I love when they actually send ME one!), is my art labels on my website are two lines - the name and then on the second line, the size and medium and surface. Guess he wasn't even clued in enough to recognize the name of a piece versus the information about the piece.
He says he is Kenny Moore by name. Right. And scammer by night...
FROM: Ken Moore [kennymoore1@live.com]
SUBJECT: 12h x 12"w, beeswax on woodAfter all the scam emails I've seen now, I'm just thinking they want to sound that stupid on purpose. Pushing the envelope, so to speak. See if they can get victims even if they sound this stupid.
Hello,
I am Kenny Moore by name, i go through your Gallery and i have interest in your work, i will like to know more info about it and the price you want to have it go for.
I will be happy to receive your email with the price info, because i really like it a alot and i want to have it.
I wish you Happy Xmas in Advance.
Ken.
Here is another one with the same email body:
ReplyDeleteHello,
I am Tavin Map by name, i go through your Gallery and i have
interest in your work, i will like to know more info about it and the
price you want to have it go for.
I will be happy to receive your email with the price info, because i
really like it a alot and i want to have it.
I wish you Merry Christmas and Happy new year.
Tavin.
--Rodney Thompson
are these scams?? Has Any one checked it out? I am artist and have received the Tavin Map e-mail.
ReplyDeleteAre these scams. Has anyone checked into it? Tavin Map has indicated that he is located out of country and wishes to send a courier over to pick up the painting. Don't know if it is legit.
ReplyDeleteAdam, likely it IS is a scam. Key indicators:
ReplyDelete1. they reference they are either located or moving to a foreign country
2. they are using a third party shipper
3. they will *always* send more money than is owed and ask you to send the difference to the shipper (note: there is no shipper, it is just them and it is your good money but their check or credit card is bad).
I'm guessing your email guy is a scam.
Thanks. I got this same "Tavin Map" email this morning. I don't really understand how this would play out if I had responded. How exactly would they benefit by this sort of phishing?
ReplyDeleteTT, it works like this: if they can convince you to receive a check from them (and some are doing this scam via stolen credit card numbers now), it will be for more than what they owed you, with some story about a third party shipper or courier and you needing to send the "difference" to the shipper via Western Union.
ReplyDeleteThen you'll find out their check is bad but the money you sent to the shipper was good... and there is no shipper - it is just them at the other end of Western Union. The amounts they usually go for are anywhere from around $800 to over $3000. And unfortunately there are still artists out there who fall for this (which is why I started the blog).
They are not interested in your artwork and I have no idea what they do with any of the art they end up receiving. They are after that cash difference.
I also got the email from Tavin Map. I kept trying to steer him to paying through PayPal instead of a check and using the USPS to ship instead of his mystery shipping company. I was pretty sure he was trying to scam me, but I was curious to see his response. I just emailed him asking why his exact email shows up on scam alert websites. I'm REALLY curious to see his response to that! Anyone else think I won't see any response from him? :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and I forgot the best part...he gave me a telephone number and a Skype username in case I wanted to contact him. If only I didn't want him to see the inside of my house, I'd Skype with him just to see what he looks like!
ReplyDeleteA follow up... I responded to "Tavin Map" and told him the art he asked about was sold. He replied asking for a list of what was available and the prices. I just kept replying asking him to choose the art that appealed to him and he stopped responding after two emails like that. Obviously he wasn't really interested in my art or he would have had a preference.
ReplyDeleteGot the same email asking for pricing of a painting on my website and then "Tavinmap" wanted to use skype and a courier, etc.
ReplyDeletePURE FRAUD!!!!!!!!
Don't fall for it. (He wished me Happy New YEAR!)
That's how amoral they are....
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you didn't fall for it!