Scam Email: Dakar Arts Festival

So this scam is a little different than the ones we typically deal with on this blog. But a scam is a scam and I intend to post all of them that I receive which target artists. I did review the lovely flowchart this artist provided of how the scam operates and what IS the same is that the "organizers" are after direct cash from the artist - requiring a booking fee (one level of collecting money) and THEN upon the artist shipping the artwork requiring some time of service fee (level 2 of collecting money). If they've gotten their victim through two levels of payment, they will attempt to make up other stories of why they need more money in fees or in assisting some type of sale (obviously fake) of the artwork.

I want to say 'shame on you, scammers', but then I have to remember they are sociopaths and are incapable of feeling or recognizing shame or guilt or any moral behavior. So let's move on.

An artist sent me this information and I am posting it as it was sent to me. I thank this artist for continuing to spread the word so artists do not fall victim to this stuff.

Dear Kathleen,

I am a interested reader of your "Stop Art Scams" Blog!

I am also following the nasty "DAKAR ART FESTIVAL" scam, where the scammers try to get money from artists by organizing a fake art festival.

I hope you can post it on your site to warn other artists as well!!

Attached I also put a diagram showing the "anatomy of the scam".

A fellow french artist also translated parts of the page into french.

Here the "open call" they use, they also write the same text as emails directly to victims:

FESTIVAL ARTS SENEGAL 2011

DAKAR INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL 2011
Dakar. July, 01-2011 TO August,01-2 011

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture in association with the art galleries of Africa and especially West Africa (ECOWAS). Senegal ( Dakar ) will host for the first time an International contemporary Arts Festival From July,01-2011 to August,01-2011 All arts galleries, Artists from all over the world are cordially invited. ARE INVITED: Arts lover, Art Galleries: Artists, Drawings: Painters, Photographers, Sculptors, Graphic Designers, Digital, pastels, watercolors, Potteries .

PROGRAMS: -Exposure -Speech) -Carnival) for more information for your  participation

CONTACT US AT: BP: 2240 Dakar Arts Festival Dakar – Senegal Mr. Sow 
TELEPHONE + 221- 77-743-63-51 + 221- 76-743-63-51 Write us at dakar.arts@yahoo.fr
  Contact Mr Sow

http://www.senegal-annonces.com/DetailsAnnonceAutres.asp?cod_ann=12741 www.sunumail.sn

 ——————————————————————————————

FESTIVAL ARTS SENEGAL 2011

Festival International Arts du Sénégal
Dakar 01 Juillet Au 01 Aout 2011

Sous le haut patronage du ministère de la culture en association avec les galeries d’arts de l’Afrique et plus particulièrement de l’Afrique de l’ouest (CEDEAO). Le Sénégal (Dakar) abritera du “01 Jullet 2011 Au 01 Aout 2011 “pour la première fois le Festival international d’arts contemporain du Sénégal regroupant des artistes de toutes les horizons et tout les continents SONT INVITE: Amateurs d’arts, Galeries d’arts: artistes, Dessins: peintres, Photographes, Sculpteurs, Graphistes, Designers, Digitales, Pastellistes, Aquarellistes, Céramistes. 

PROGRAMME: Exposition Et vernissage) -manège) -discours) -carnaval) 
Pour plus des renseignements pour votre participation. CONTACTACTEZ 
NOUS : BP: 2240 Dakar Arts Festival Dakar – Senegal Mr. Sow TELEPHONE 
+ 221- 77-743-63-51 + 221- 76-743-63-51

http://www.senegal-annonces.com/DetailsAnnonceAutres.asp?cod_ann=12741 www.sunumail.sn