Scam Email: Karen James

Scammers will post their scam "pitch" anywhere. Here is one forwarded from an artist where the scammer put their pitch in the comments area of the artist's blog.

Hi Kathleen,
I ran across your blog site about art scams & wanted to post an additional name to your list. This appeared in my comment section on my blog. When I checked the IP sent to my email, it connected to an African server. Rather fishy...

*Karen James*
karen.shop@live.com
41.155.14.88
Submitted on 2012/01/28 at 1:53pm

Good Day,

I’m Karen James From Finland.I want to place an order and i know the difficulties encountered when shipping internationally,But that will not be a problem because i am registered with a shipping company which I’ve used severally times without any delay nor damage.Before i place the order,i want to inform you that i will be making the payment with my Mc/Visa cards because as for now i can only make payment with my US credit card account information,so if it’s okay by you kindly get back to me with the contact details and please reconfirm your website so as to know if I’m right with the site.I awaiting your swift response so as to list out the items needed.

Karen Shop
Address: Hitsaajankatu 9
00810 Helsinki, Finland
Phone: 0207 428 503
Warmest Regards,
Karen James

 I appreciated running into your blog.

Sincerely,
Gale

Scam Email: Johnson Mark

It's entertaining when the scammers don't even comprehend what order to put the first and last name for their fake email information.

FROM: Johnson Mark [markjohnson805@gmail.com]

Hi
My name is Johnson Mark, i will like to order for some piece of your work from your studio as gift for my parent are celebrating their wedding anniversary, so i will be glad to have your reply as soon as possible, i will be glad if you can send me your website address to choose or send me four of your artworks via email that is available for me to choose. Waiting to read from you today.so that we can make some progress.
Best Regards,
Johnson Mark.

Scam Email: Carmen Gonzalez

This scammer has been reported under various names, using this email account but changing up the number (edwedg18@gmail.com, edwedg12@gmail.com, edwedg4@gmail.com, edwedg7@gmail.com, etc). Notice how they patiently try to walk the potential victim through the scam. The "story" comes out in the 3rd email. But why scammers try to rush victims through the steps of the scam is to avoid exactly what happened here - the artist got suspicious enough to search online and then found this blog. Scammers want to get their money from their victims before they get too suspicious.

Kathleen,

This just keeps getting a little uncomfortable.  I actually sent my address and phone number.  Yikes!  Thank goodness I caught on. What happens next?  Is there something I need to do to prevent this?

Sincerely,
Deborah

First Email:

On Jan 7, 2012, at 11:14 AM, Carmen  Gonzalez [edwedg18@gmail.com]
wrote:

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.

"Ambsace"  and  "Six of Them
 
I will appreciate an urgent reply.

Best Regards,
Carmen  Gonzalez.

Second Email:

On Jan 9, 2012, at 7:12 PM, Carmen  Gonzalez [edwedg18@gmail.com] wrote:

Hi Deborah ,

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 and  price  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,
Carmen.

Third Email:

On Jan 10, 2012, at 7:57 PM, Carmen  Gonzalez [edwedg18@gmail.com] wrote:

Hi Deborah ,

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

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,
Carmen.

Fourth Email:

From: Carmen  Gonzalez [edwedg18@gmail.com]
Date: January 11, 2012 5:43:23 AM CST
Subject: Re: Artworks Inquiry...

Hi Deborah ,

Hope this message finds you well. I spoke with my husband late yesterday and he promise to send the payment as soon as you get back with your mailing address and phone number. I will look forward to hearing from you soon.

Carmen.

Scam Email: Emma David

Here is an email I received this morning from another artist. Notice how the scammer sent another fake email from a fake shipper to make it look more legitimate and to try and move the scam along more quickly, before their potential victim figures out it's a scam.

Hello Kathleen,

I googled the first line of the last email I had received from "Emma David" emmasupperstore@gmail.com  As you had mentioned the disjointed English and odd quantities of work sent off alarm bells.  A total waist of my time but at least time is all I lost.

If you could add "her" name to the list I would much appreciate it.

Many Thanks
Tiffany

Dear Vicky & Tiffany,
This is an automated response from your webserver. We are delivering you an email from someone that was on your website. We'll give you the users details first that they submitted, then close the email with their comments (if they submitted any).

Name: Emma David
Address: Michelets vei 163,N-1368
STABEKK,Norway
Email Address: emmasupperstore@gmail.com (you can click reply and your email client will use this address)
Telephone Number: + 476713102630
Comments:Good Day, I'm Emma David From Norway.I want to place an order and i know the difficulties encountered when shipping internationally,But that will not be a problem because i am registered with a shipping company which I've used severally times without any delay nor damage. Before i place the order,i want to inform you that i will be making the payment with my Mc/Visa cards because as for now i can only make payment with my US credit card account information,so if it's okay by you kindly get back to me with the contact details and please reconfirm your website so as to know if I'm right with the site.I awaiting your swift response so as to list out the items needed. Emma-D-Supperstore Michelets vei 163, N-1368 STABEKK, Norway Telephone: + 476713102630 Telefax : + 476713 4527 

Warmest Regards,
Emma David.

Second email from scammer:

Hello Victoria,  

I got you response,So below here is what i need.

Blossom TreeOriginal Acrylic on CanvasQty...1
DunoonOil and pastel, incorporating lino printing30cmx40cmQty...2
View from Kirn of Western FerriesAcrylic Painting on Canvas60cmx66cmQty...3
Western Ferries in StormAcrylic PaintingOriginaQty...2
Waverley on ClydeWater Colour30cmx40cmQty...3  

Please kindly calculate the total cost of the items,so that you can get the order processed for me.i will email you my credit card account information for the payment of the order. 

Concerning the shipment, i will be having my shipping agent coming to pickup the order directly from you because i already have some large merchandise with them in which after picking up the items,they will then deliver it to me here in Norway.

Regards,
Emma.

Email from fake shipping company:

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Highway Express [highwayexpress@ymail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 11 January 2012, 15:07
Subject: Norway Shipment...

Dear Customer,       

Highway Express Delivery have been informed by Mrs David from Emma-D-Supperstore (Norway) to picking up her order at your location and then send them over to Norway.I hope you are aware that she already have some merchandise at our warehouse which needs to be sent together over to her in Norway.and you have been informed that you will be transferring payment to us via western union in other for us to pick up her additional merchandise she have order in some location,and schedule our pick up arrangement with you.So we need to confirm the payment of (£2,350) fist so as to start up with the shipping document.and NOT,Payment needs to be received first before preparing any of the paper works as per custom regulations in meantime that the order would be pick up.  

So kindly get back to us with the location where the goods will be pick up from and also we need to know the contact person that we will be pick up the goods from,also below here is our head office details where all European payment is been made to:

Receivers name: Kuma John
10 Jalan Juruanalisis SatuHicom-Glenmarie Industrial Park,
41050 Shah Alam, Selangor
MALAYSIA

Good Health,
Shipping Dept.
Highway Express Delivery.

Scam Email: Richard Aaron Graham

Here is a great example to show that scammers almost could care less who they are sending their massive amount of emails to. Okay, some try to personalize their scam more than others. Below is an example of a scammer who doesn't try at all.

Email sent to me:

Dear Kathleen:

Thanks for the blog on art scams. Stealing from self-employed artists is about as low as you can sink.

Here is a follow up story, which might amuse you, a letter to me from someone on your list of scammers.

First, some context: I am a biologist, not an artist.  But my web site mentions I had an endowed professorship (*Chair* of environmental studies) and that I published a book chapter on *alligators* in wetlands.

A message arrived from Richard Aaron Graham, asking about unit price and lead time to purchase an "alligato chair".

Regards, Paul

FROM: Richard Aaron Graham richigraham@gmail.com
DATE: Jan 5 (4 days ago)
TO bcc: me

Hello,

    My name is Richard and wants alligato chair .Please let me know unit price and the lead time to get them ready for pick-up

with kind regards here,
 Richard.

Scam Email: Curtis Thompson

Here is an email I received from an artist:

Hi, Kathleen - I have recently received a few emails that seem suspicious. Thanks for your very informative web site! At this point, the character has my address to send the payment, but that's as far as it's gotten. I told him that I wouldn't release the artwork until his payment cleared. If he sends more than the exact amount, I'll refuse or return it - and if he sends the exact amount, I'll see if my bank can verify it.

The name is Curtis Thompson and I'll forward the first email to you. If you want the rest, let me know.

Janice

First Email:

From: Curtis Thompson [sunoco010@gmail.com]
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 22:30:42 +0100
Subject: Father's Day
--
Hello,
Good day to you over there, My name is Curtis Thompson I'm from New York and i hope this message finds you well.I was going through your works and my eyes caught Father's Day, I am moving soon and i will like to have it for my new apartment.

please let me know if the piece is available, if yes let me have the detailed price and more information about it. i will be waiting to read from you asap.
Curtis.

Second Email:

From: Curtis Thompson [sunoco010@gmail.com]
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 06:49:10 +0100
Subject: Thanks

Hi,

Good to hear back from you. Yes,i will like to proceed with the purchase of the paintings. I think its a lovely work and i hope to give it a good home.

I am presently away in UK representing my company for an EU economic summit and 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 personal assistant on where to forward the payment . I can also forward your contact info to the local cartage company that is handling my move 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,
Curtis.

Scam Email: Tanja Kailis

This one just received is pretty classic. They are hiding the ball on the details of their scam until a person replies, then they will go more into detail about their shipper (who is really non-existent) and paying with a credit card (which will turn out to be stolen), and often they do not mention overpaying - which they will by a couple thousand dollars, explaining they need you to forward the difference to the shipper via Western Union. All their money is fake, you forwarding your money is real and they pick it up from Western Union and then can not be traced. It's why this particular format of the scam is so popular.

 Hello , I will like to place a quick order with you to my location here in Beirut,Lebanon.Please advice if you can have it shipped to me .In regards to shipping my order,i will advice the best and easy way to have my order shipped to me in-case you might want to have difficulties sending orders to my location.Please also advice if you accept visa or master credit card cause i will be paying with my credit card.Let me know soon so i can place my order right away. Sincerely Tanja tanjakailis@rediffmail.com