I was the victim of an attempted scam in the last few days. When I got a $3,000 check for paintings which totaled $250, I knew it was a scam. So disappointing.
The scammer used the name:
Debby Barnes [deb.barnes01@mybestmail.com] & [deb.barnes00@gmail.com]
Here is her original email:
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.
Twins and Fawn.
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Debby.
She repeatedly ignored my requests to pay with paypal and the scam followed the steps outlined in your description exactly. She was in London for a few days but she and her husband were moving from New Jersey to Johannesburg. Her husband would send me a check and a moving company would arrange to pick up the pieces.
I almost fell for it. As of now, they still think i have. If it hadn't been for the warnings you posted, i would have just thought it was fishy but not been sure it was a scam.
Thank you so much for this.
I know it is disappointing but at least this artist didn't lose money OR art. And the fun thing to me is: the scammer spent a little of THEIR money sending the fake check, for no return on their effort. Yea!
ReplyDeleteHi Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteI am was looking up Debby Barnes' email and found your blog about art scams. Thank you so much!!! I am an artist and she too contacted me about buying my art. I have been in contact with her and she pulled the same scam on me.
She wanted to buy a painting for $1500 and sent a check for $4200. I just received the check Friday and before thinking it was a scam deposited the check Saturday thinking she was just a generous investor of art. I wrote to her simply thanking her for the $4200. She replied to "please send the difference to her when the check cleared." I was wondering if you knew if or how I could report the scam?
And how did you end the emails between you and "Debby Barnes", any suggestions on what if/I should write to her?
I can't thank you enough for your blog!!! Thank you so much for your help!!!! I will gladly forward you the emails if you want to see them.
Best,
Kate
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Kate. I'm glad you didn't go any further into the scam. i sure hope this scammer doesn't get any successul victims!
ReplyDeleteThe good news is THEY spent a little money sending you the fake check. But I know that is small comfort.
There is not much you can about reporting. If the check was sent via the postal service, you can report it there for mail fraud. If it was UPS, I believe they have a link on their website for reporting abuse, but I've never heard any results from that. If it was FedEx, I don't think they have any link to report. You can also check the right column of this blog for links online to report, but most of them are for cases where the victim has already experienced a financial loss.
I'm glad you are not one of them!!!
thank you for posting this!
ReplyDeleteFriends had the same scammer and found this post to warn them.
Wonderful, you were very helpful.
Boy, that Debby is a busy little beaver! I got the email, too, but my antenae were twanging from the first email.
ReplyDeleteThe grammar, the stilted writing, as well as the unnecessary sob story, all were red flags, so I've been playing her along, to see how far she goes. But I'm certainly NOT going to cash that check, nor send her artwork. ;]
I've been corresponding with the same person, only she has now changed her name to Kathy. The email she is now using is kat.barnes1@mybestmail.com. I knew as soon as I got a lot of unnecessary details that it was a scam:
ReplyDelete"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."
As soon as they offer their own shipping company, the red flag goes way up. It's a good thing I no longer get excited by these emails.... though I'm sure they've gotten plenty of naive artists hopes up. I still don't really understand how this scam works though. Obviously there's some sort of money laundering going on, but if getting their money requires to to cash one for excess $ that actually clears, how do they know you are going to send them the remaining money?
I got the same message almost verbatim. I was not about to do anything until the money was in my pocket but now I just wrote her that the art was no longer available. Thanks
ReplyDeleteGood for you!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it is not even an "her". No need to give them more credit than they deserve. They basically lie about every aspect of their "story".
Glad to hear you didn't go for it.
Thank you all for posting your experiences. I was recently contacted by Kathy Barnes at kat.barnes1@mybestmail.com using the same story. The excess information in the emails also tipped me off. The latest email mentions something about almost having a miscarriage in London.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you, I know what is really going on.
LM
Even though I wrote back that the art (priced at $800.00) was no longer available (see above) I just received a check for $3,500.00! but no further e-mails from "Debby". Haven't decided what to do with it; send it back, sit on it for a bit, tear it up? Suggestions?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely do NOT send it back! Good for you for getting them to spend a little money sending the check to you. But the check is fake, so just tear it up and do not respond to them any further.
ReplyDeleteThat is their scam, by the way - they *always* send a lot more than what is due, and then ask you to send the difference to their "shipper" (who doesn't exist, it is just them at the other end of Western Union). The check is fake, the shipper doesn't exist and the only thing real in the scam is your cash you are sending out via Western Union.
Good for you for not falling for it.
P.S.
ReplyDeleteFor what its worth, the FedEx return info is as follows:
Hichem Aoucher
1045 Bluebell Drive Apt #1
Livermore, CA 94551
(415) 691-0673
Yes, I've seen that - that is usually made up as well, because they are not expecting anything back via FedEx, and if the envelope WERE to be returned to some person in Livermore not expecting one, it only contains a fake check so no skin off the scammer's nose, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteBut the fun part was the scammer DID have to pay some money to FedEx (even better is it was overnighted) so at least there is SOME cost to the scammers trying to find victims. However, clearly there are still enough people out there who actually DO become victims and send money to make running the scam still very worthwhile which is why we see a lot of them.
We'll keep spreading the word and hopefully reduce the number of victims as much as possible.
Hi Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteYou are doing a great service. I've seen these scams several times and just got another this morning. The name was already on your list: David Osborne.
I just forwarded his info to the the FBI 'tip' page.....
BTW, I like the simplicity of your still life encaustics.
regards,
Lisa
Hello
ReplyDeleteI too received this email. Do to the poor grammar I decided to google who this person was, and I googled the email address and found your page. Thanks for the info. I agree with others that you are helping us all out by sharing your experiences.
Thanks!!
Guenevere
Has anyone actually deposited or cashed one of these checks? If so how long did it take to bounce?
ReplyDeleteBanks have gotten pretty good at recognizing these before you even deposit them - ask them to check before the deposit and save yourself the bounced check fee.
ReplyDeleteThey always turn out to be fake. Lately, then the scammer will offer to pay by credit card, which will turn out to be stolen card not yet reported (so it will clear and then result in a chargeback when the bank and/or user figure out the number has been stolen).
If you got them to overnight a check to you, at least they spent a little of their money on postage. but do try and avoid any bank bounced check fee and ask them before you deposit it.
Thank you so much for your info on art-related email scams! My son found your website after I received such a scam from David Osborne, and even though I new it was too good to be true, it was great to find your info so quickly to confirm my suspicions. Keep up the beautiful painting!
ReplyDeleteWilla
Hi Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteJust read your blog/rant about the scam collectors. I was prompted to do some research after being contacted by one of your scammers, David Osborne. Thanks for warning me off. Unfortunately, I sent him an email before doing my homework, but will not respond to future queries from him.
You are doing a wonderful job (although I can tell it's very irritating) on behalf of all of us vulnerable artists who would love to sell our artwork. We are easy prey, that's for sure.
Deborah
I got the same emails and received the check today. noticed the spelling and grammatical errors as the correspondence grew.
ReplyDeleteI wrote back saying that I would mail the difference once the check clears. Didn't hear back.
Oh, something that is also a flag was that nobody ever replied from the shipping company. But I should get the ball rolling because the company was on a "shipping tour".
Other names involved:
-Ashley Kiley (she uses Debby Barnes in her email, but the fake shipping company says Ashley Kiley asked for the pickup).
-James Adams (name of the shipping company)
I cashed the check today and am awaiting a response from the bank. BUT have and will not send any money.
Thanks for this info and the work.
Same here.
ReplyDeleteAshley Kiley, James Wood and her "hubby" Jeff Kiley are all names involved. They did a pretty good job on my and I did try to deposit the check, but I noticed held funds and called them on it. Haven't heard back at all but I hope to straighten it out with the bank today.
Thank you for your site and confirming suspicions. Man what I sucker I was to hang in there so long!
We just got the exact same note at my wife's site. The source email was sha.miller030@gmail.com and the source name was Sharon.
ReplyDeleteHi all--
ReplyDeleteThanks for creating and maintaining the site!
This morning (6/20/11), I received the VERBATIM illiterate email that a couple of my friends received several months ago.
When my friends got the email, the person was still masquerading under the name "Debby Barnes," but mine is using the name "Janet Rogers," with an email address of: edwedg12@gmail.com
I'm not even going to bother toying with "her," though it's tempting to get HER hopes up that someone is going to fall victim to her nefarious scheme. Alas, it's not worth the energy.
I hope there aren't too many people falling for her scam -- preying on artists is about as low as preying on children or the elderly. Unreal.
I, too, have been contacted by David Osborne with the request to send back the excess cash after the shipper picks up the artwork. Thanks goodness, a friend who represents artists sent me this link after I had forwarded David Osborne's e-mail. How disappointing that people believe they can put one over on unsuspecting and trusting individuals. The second e-mail, with its misspellings and poor grammar really triggered my antennae. Valli
ReplyDeleteIts good to find people like you and blogs like this, where people share their personal experience from their encounters with different spammers. If you ask me that means a lot.
ReplyDeleteI received another this morning -- this time under "edwedg11@gmail" (note the last one I posted about here was "edwedg12@gmail"). This time the name is "Sharon Scott."
ReplyDeleteHi KatieMoe,
ReplyDeleteThank you soooo much for your blog! This was my first experience receiving this type of email scam, but right away my instincts told me something was wrong. However, I went along with it and exchanged a couple of emails until the story became so bizarre, I decided to ask the advice of a couple of trusted artist friends. When one suggested that I Google part of the exact text, I found your blog. Mine came from "Susan Short." at edwedg2@gmail.com
In the interest of helping other artists like myself who are just beginning to use the internet to market our work, I'm going to post my experience on Facebook and other networking sites that I belong to.
Here's the content of the last email I received:
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
artwork from your studio.
I will look forward to hearing from you so i can know how best to
proceed. Cheers.
Best Regards,
Susan.
Thank you! I received an inquiry from Sharon Scott. Your blog saved me from proceeding with the deal.
ReplyDeleteHere are the email contents:
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.
>>
>>
>> xxxxxxxxxxx and xxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>>
>> I will appreciate an urgent reply.
>>
>>
>> Best Regards,
>> Sharon Scott.
Hi xxxxx,
>
> Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creative
> works. I will like to proceed with the purchase of xxxxxxxxxx.
> Can you pls confirm the actual size of the piece so i can know how
> best to proceed. I will also like you to get back with what motivate
> you to make the artwork.
>
Hi xxxxx,
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 don't think i will be able to wait till
december.
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.
Best Regards,
Sharon.
Thank you for the Blog. Almost went for it. Sharon Scott moving to London. After I googled this, your blog let me in on the scam.
ReplyDeleteThank you too. My boyfriend was suspicious of the email and put the text into google and your blog came up. wow
ReplyDelete