From: "Patricia Smith White." [smithwhite07@gmail.com]
Subject: Artworks Inquiry...
--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
Dancing figures and Red Riding Hood,
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Patricia Smith White.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Scam Email: Patricia Smith White
Nothing new about this email, it uses the same ole scam template we typically see, but there have been a lot of reports on this scam email address, so I thought I'd make a separate report on it. They seem to be using a couple of fake names associated with the email address (and the number on the email address may change slightly as scammers set up several disposable accounts when they send out a spam mailing).
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Hey there, I just received this same email from the same name and address. Any ideas how this scam works?
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this!
Hi Lane, Glad to hear you found out about this early enough.
ReplyDeleteThe scam always has the same basic structure, even though the "story" may change.
They pretend to want to buy something and pay with either a cashier's check (which will turn out to be fraudulent) or a credit card (which will turn out to be stolen, even if not yet reported as such) and then overpay the amount (by a lot) claiming to have to pay a third-party shipper (who doesn't exist) or sometimes they say their assistant or wife made a mistake. They ask you to deposit the money and then forward the difference - either on to the non-existent shipper or back to them. And here's the critical part that is ALWAYS involved - they ask this money be sent to them via wire transfer (Western Union or MoneyGram). For them, that's the critical part because once they pick up a wire transfer, it is completely untraceable and it's easy for them to then just disappear and work on the next victim.
So I just keep posting their crap online (and encourage everyone to) and have it show up in search results and hope that more and more people learn to search BEFORE sending any money or items to anyone. My other advice is never, under any circumstances, do any money transactions via wire transfer. Just don't do it. Also don't agree to accept overpayments or agree to send back the difference of overpayments - tell them to send a check in the correct amount and you will see they will go away quickly to work on someone who will fall for the scam.
Thanks for writing in!
Hi, I just received this exact message from this person. Must be active today. Thanks very much for the post!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI just received the same messages from a Patricia Smith White, and a Frank Smith... on 2 separate occasions.
Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention and not letting me become a victim.
Anything I can send to post and share I will do, please let me know.
Will be letting my bank, the company whose check was ripped off and FedEx(the checks courier) know today.
Thank you again for posting this blog!
Hi Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteHere are more names for your list. I finally ended my correspondence with the scammer (I was hoping to get another address from them, but it's becoming too involved). I saw smith white on your list of names, but didn't see Patricia Smith White; also, this includes the phony shipper, with a similar name found on another blog. The USPS fraud department asked me to send them the check (with VOID written on it) and copies of all the emails. Thanks again for your work. And good luck with your art!
Jenifer
-----Original Message-----
From: Patricia Smith White. [mailto:smithwhite05@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 4:46 AM
Subject: Fwd: Fw: Shipping Arrangement For Mrs.Patricia Smith White.
Hi Jennifer ,
I got the attached email from the movers this morning. Try and make shipping arrangement with them and keep me posted with updates.
Thanks.Pat.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jake Warren davelmoverslogistics@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:54:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Fw: Shipping Arrangement For Mrs.Patricia Smith White.
To: smithwhite05@gmail.com---
On Mon, 7/23/12, Jake Warren [davelmoverslogistics@yahoo.com] wrote:
From: Jake Warren davelmoverslogistics@yahoo.com
Subject: Shipping Arrangement For Mrs.Patricia Smith White.
Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:28 PM
I have received communication from Mrs.Patricia Smith White that we should work with you to ship some artworks with her other house decors to her new house when you two are through with the transaction, as she advise. I will like you to get back with the kind and nature of the things she want to ship. I will like to have your studio address ,so i can make arrangement with any nearby Agent that will be coming for the pick up once you and Mrs.White are through with the transactions. Thanks. I will appreciate your earlier reply .Regards,Jake Warren.
Davel Movers and Logistics INC.
B12, THE BUSINESS CENTRE
davelmoverslogistics@yahoo.com
T: 543 863 9867 ( voice mail )F: 543 863 4321
Hi,
DeleteI have received the same emails and These are crooks. I got the same email address and same email message, after exchanging the couple emails from last 3 weeks, they send the check more than what I quoted. I didn't loose anything. My advice be look out and carefull..
hi,
ReplyDeletei have been involved with these same people for the past 2 weeks and i almost fell victim to the whole thing! thank goodness western union didn't allow the transaction to go through....i got my money back and never did send my artwork! next time i will google names and do some checking before i do stupid things!!! and i'm alerting all my art friends.
It is not common that someone has already sent money by Western Union and come out of it without losing their money. You are very lucky and I am SO so glad for you.
ReplyDeleteThese are the basic lessons I try to spread to anyone who will listen: google names and details BEFORE sending money, (2) really never send money via wire transfer - for any reason, (3) post your experiences online to help alert others who may be googling names and details.
Thanks for sharing your close call! Glad it had a positive outcome.
We got the same email from the movers referencing Sandy Gilbert.
ReplyDelete----------------------------------------------------
Hi,
I have received communication from Mrs.Sandy Gilbert that we should work with you to ship some artworks with her other house decors to her new house when you two are through with the transaction,as she advise.
I will like you to get back with the kind and nature of the things she want to ship.I will like to have your studio address ,so i can make arrangement with any nearby Agent that will be coming for the pick up once you and Mrs.Gilbert are through with the transactions. Thanks.
I will appreciate your earlier reply .
Regards,
--------
Damon Evans.
jeg_moverslogistics@yahoo.com
JEG Movers and Logistics INC.
B12, THE BUSINESS CENTRE
T: 543 863 9867 ( voice mail )
F: 543 863 4321
---------------------------------
Watch out!
My husband was also contacted by Sandy Gilbert about interest in his art and the involvement of JEG Movers to ship the artwork. Same messages, same story, same everything. While waiting for the payment to arrive, I decided to do a little internet search and came across this site. Thank you for posting this information. We feel like fools but also very fortunate to understand the scam and how they swindle money from innocent people. We will help spread the word so others don't get hurt.
ReplyDeleteI got an email from Patricia Smith but it is in regards to a different item for sale. I sell Avon and the person asked me to order and then ship the items to United Kingdom. I have gotten other ones so I knew the scam as soon as I got her reply back asking me to do this. The email was patriciasmith794@yahoo.com as an FYI.
ReplyDeleteI went through same process with emails from 'Sylvia Gilbert' aka 'Sylvia Dickson', and with same JEG Movers as noted in postings. I was suspicious all along, and the large check that was sent confirmed the scam. Finding this online was helpful. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteJust got same scam from "Laura Richards", email wittbertszz@gmail.com. Same shipper as above, with Damon Evans as contact. Nothing lost, as nothing makes me suspicious like a check for over six times the purchase price. Filed a report with ic3.gov and am now sitting back and seeing how many additional emails come in from Mrs. Richards and her "cartage Company".
ReplyDeleteThe time I've wasted because of this is a bit annoying. Other than that, it is disturbing to think that this sort of thing could still be successful in this age of Google.
My wife got one of the "Laura Richards" flavor (same email address wittbertszz@gmail.com, same "shipper" Damon Evans) a couple of weeks ago. The check was supposedly being mailed by her husband in England... hasn't arrived yet, and "Ms. Richards" was very anxious about it.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, nothing lost on this one.
Kathleen, thank you for posting this info on your blog, I found this email address on it but I didn't seen the name Lisa Green attached to it anywhere. I'm thinking they just changed the name again.
ReplyDeleteThis is what she sent me:
Sender details:
Name: Lisa Green
E-mail: smithwhite06@gmail.com[Links to mailto:smithwhite06@gmail.com]
IP address: 78.157.218.11
browser: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:11.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/11.0
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
Dahlia , Arches and Red
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Lisa Green.
Email details:
ReplyDeleteLisa Green
smithwhite06@gmail.com
Hi, the above info is the person & email address is has been using the same mo as in all the previous entries. She claims to be interested in two paintings. She claims to be very busy, will have her husbands assistant send me a check. She will not respond as to how she came across my website, and does not give any personal info such as phone or street address. When I googled her name, I was so releived to see this site which warns us to not fall victim or waste time on this person. Thank you to all who post entries.
Here is a new version, THANKS so much for posting this, D
ReplyDeleteOn Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 5:53 AM, Helen Lang wrote:
--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
Microzaad and Attract, Repel
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Helen Lang.
This is an exact email that a scammer sent me. Hope this helps you and any
ReplyDeleteother artists.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Audrey Bishop. [smithwhite05@gmail.com]
Subject: Artworks Inquiry..
--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
[names of two paintings]
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Audrey Bishop.
Audrey Bishop, Patricia Smith White, Lisa Green - other art scam pseudo names....they are still alive and kicking - almost got scammed here on the Pacific West Coast....thanks for posting these in order to help other artists be aware of these scumbags! I am trying to get local artists' associations to publish examples of these scam letters in their newsletters in our community! Hopefully these scammers will be caught!
ReplyDeleteLisa Green's e-mail address, but the author of the scam e-mails claims to be "Helen Lang". Same scam attempt here in beautiful BC Canada - thanks for your article!
ReplyDeleteMine was Sofia Brown with email:lissywittss11@gmail.com --
ReplyDeleteHi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
Fun Mom and Opt Out III
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Sofia.
I just got one from sofia brown, the exact same message and email address.
ReplyDeleteI received the same e-mail, Glad I goggled her e-mail address and found this site. Thank you for your diligence. T.
ReplyDelete--
from: lissywittss11@gmail.com
<>
Hello Kathleen, I just wanted to thank you for your blog on art scams, it helped me avoid the same scam from [smithwhite06@gmail.com] when I googled the email. This time the name used was Benita Garcia, the rest of the email was the same.
ReplyDeleteI am a painter living in Portland, OR
Thanks again
I am also an avon representative and I got an order from a Patricia Smith who also says they are on vacation in the UK. Her email is patriciasmith116@gmail.com. I looked up her email address and says its from California even though she states she lives in dallas, TX.... SCAM
ReplyDeleteTo the person that commented before! I have been talking to this person for a week now. Things seemed a little fishy! I'm so glad my sister found this post before I placed that $173 Avon order!
ReplyDeleteWe received an email from Sofia Brown
ReplyDeleteArtworks Inquiry ....
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
Late Afternoon at Marsh Creek, Clearing Skies and Venice From Across the Canal
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Sofia Brown
-----
10 days into this, our bank caught the fraudulent check - made out for $1700 more than the agreed purchase amount. Fortunately, we did not refund the $1700 as requested - said we'd wait for the check to clear. We've reported to the local police and Internet Crime Complain Center.
Thank you for this site. Glad skepticism brought me here, through googling the email address. This time its Audrey Benitez.
ReplyDeleteHi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw this creative work on your
website and i will like you to get back with more details if it is
still available for purchase.
(name of work)
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Audrey Benitez.
Same as the above post on july 1, 2013.
ReplyDeleteI received the fishy sounding email from a Audrey Benitez, with the email address:
lissywittss11@gmail.com
I was very skeptical from the get go and am really appreciative this website is here.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteHope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Audrey Benitez.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your response to my query about those creative works. Can you pls send photos or link to some of your recent works that are available for purchase right now. I will look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks.
Audrey.
first email:
On Jul 1, 2013, at 6:21 PM, Audrey Benitez wrote:
--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
The Graduate , Athena and Amber Fort
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Audrey Benitez.
My husband also received a scam email like this from "Audrey Benitez". When the cursor hovered over her gmail, it showed up as Audrey Lang. THANKS for posting about these scammers! It sounded fishy from the start, but I was able to convince him it was a scam due to your blog.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten identical emails to the above from the same "Audrey Benitez", but at edwedg118@gmail.com. I thought I smelled something funny and started googling around. Thanks so much for this website! What a bunch of jerks to try this crap on artists of all people...
ReplyDeleteThis came to me after a few correspondences from Audrey Beitez. She signed with my name. So glad I found this site before I was scammed!
ReplyDeleteHi Deb ,
It is nice to hear back from you. I will like to proceed with the purchase of Stars and Stripes II. I think it is a lovely work and i hope to give it a good home.
I am presently traveling for my Sister's wedding even though it comes at a time when i am preparing for a big move to Alpine, NJ but it means so much to her and i should be back in few days.
Alpine, NJ 07620
Meanwhile, can you pls get back with your mailing address and phone number so i can inform my husband on where to forward the payment. He can have one of his PA handle the payment asap. About shipping , you can handle it from your side to my new address above or i can forward your contact info to the local cartage company handling the shipmen of all our house decors. They can arrange FedEx or UPS 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.
Deb.
That's actually pretty funny - the scammer got confused on the fake name they were going to use and their potential victim's name.
ReplyDeleteNo one said these guys were smart...
i just got benitez'd too thats crazy,
ReplyDeleteHi xxxxxx ,
Did you get my email yesterday. Anyway , I will like to confirm that
the payment was sent by my husband's assistant on Monday and he was
advise that you will receive it tomorrow via FedEx with tracking
number ...xxxxxxxxxxx so try and be on the look out for it.
Meanwhile, i sent your contact info to the local Cartage company
handling the shipment of all our house decors and they promise to get
in touch with you. Try and make shipping arrangement with them and
keep me updated with details.
Kindly acknowledge this email as soon as you can. Thanks for you patient.
Best Regards,
Audrey.
Hi Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteJust read your art buying scam page on your website. Someone named "Audrey Benitez" at the email edwedg118@gmail.com just tried to scam me in what seemed a reasonable transaction (she selected two specific works with titles from my website, offered to buy one of them, asking for an address to send the check to.) the check arrived, (from some unrelated address and business), and it was an overpayment, at which point I was suspicious. Sure enough the check bounced, but in the meantime they were asking me to return the difference through western union. Luckily I have a policy that nothing happens until the check clears. Hopefully they won't be contacting me too much by phone and email for their "money".
In any case, feel free to add their name and email to your list.
All the best,
Steve
Here's the email from the phony 'shipping company.' I've been emailing with these people for the last week or so: got the check for 2000.00 extra dollars and immediately became suspicious and did some googling.
ReplyDeleteHi,
I have received communication from Audrey Benitez that we should work with you to ship some artwork with her other house decors to her new house when you two are through with the transaction,as she advise.
I will like you to get back with the kind and nature of the things she want to ship. I will like to have your studio address ,so i can make arrangement with any nearby Agent that will be coming for the pick up once you and Mrs. Benitez are through with the transactions. Thanks.
I will appreciate your earlier reply .
Regards,
Drake Wilson.
HP Pak and Movers Logistics INC.
B12, THE BUSINESS CENTER
F: 670 863 9867
Crappy Crap Crap!I got Benitezed recently as well! The email address has been deactivated. I guess this site works! way to go guys.
ReplyDeleteI got this same thing from: First Email was from July 1, 2013
ReplyDeleteAudrey Benitez (Now Deactivated)
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
--- and ---
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Audrey Benitez.
.....
Hi ---- ,
Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creative
works. I will like to proceed with the purchase of both pieces . I am
presently traveling but 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,
Audrey.
Hi ----,
It is nice to hear back from you. I will like to proceed with the
purchase of the two pieces. I think they are lovely works and i hope
to give them a good home.
I am presently traveling for my Sister's wedding even though it comes
at a time when i am preparing for a big move to Alpine, NJ but it
means so much to her and i should be back in few days.
Alpine, NJ 07620
Meanwhile, can you pls get back with your mailing address and phone
number so i can inform my husband on where to forward the payment. He
can have one of his PA handle the payment asap. About shipping , you
can handle it from your side to my new address above or i can forward
your contact info to the local cartage company handling the shipment
of all our house decors. They can arrange FedEx or UPS 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.
Audrey.
From:
ReplyDelete---
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
Jazz II and Summer Stroll
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Serena MacDonald.
---
Thank you for this thread - caught it right away.
I received the same scam email but from a Serena MacDonald with the lissywittss11@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteShe just emailed me a response....
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your response to my query about those creative
works. I am very sorry I couldn't get back immediately. I have been
traveling . Anyway , I will like to proceed with the purchase of both
Pasadena Bridge and NY Skyline . 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,
Serena.
Thank you to the site owner. I just received a Serena MacDonald email and am thankful for having found this page. Best wishes to all!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathleen, I appreciated finding your blog. This email didn't feel right but you confirmed it for me. I was suspicious because of the language, the unusual request, etc then notice that the name given "Serena MacDonald" does not match the name associated with the gmail account "smithwhite". When I googled smith white your blog popped up front and center.
ReplyDeleteThank you again,
Katy
Why are they targeting Artists?
ReplyDelete"I will appreciate an urgent reply"
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
The Messenger and Tree of Tantalus
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Serena MacDonald.
Thanks so much for your proactive work regarding artist scams. Fortunately in the back of my mind I remembered reading some things about just this type of scam. Up until a few days ago I had no personal experience with it. Attached are the 3 emails that have been exchanged between Serena MacDonald (whom I did find on your list!) and me. Red flags for me were the poor english and the weird email address. After the last one I just did not respond.
ReplyDeleteOn Aug 12, 2013, at 11:19 AM, Serena MacDonald wrote:
--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
[name of three pieces]
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Serena MacDonald.
second email:
From: Serena MacDonald [lissywittss11@gmail.com]
Date: August 15, 2013 8:11:28 AM CDT
Subject: Re: Artworks Inquiry..
Hi Susie ,
Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creative works. I am very sorry I couldn't get back immediately. I have been traveling . Anyway , I will like to proceed with the purchase of "A River Runs Through It". 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.
I will look forward to hearing from you soon .
Best Regards,
Serena.
Just got the exact same series of emails. This time the name was "Anne Sewell" You'd think they might come up with a different query letter...just sayin'!
ReplyDeleteJust got the same this week, from "Anne Sewell", "4 Cambridge Way, Alpine, NJ" which does not seem to be a real address, either. The email address name didn't match her name, either. Thanks for posting so I could confirm it was a scam.
DeleteI get these requests very often, they reek "scam"!. Best advice, delet but if you have any doubts (or hope) direct them to the gallery that sells your work. You will never hear from them again,
ReplyDeleteJust got the same emails from an Anne Sewell, too. Thank you for sharing this info for artists.
ReplyDeleteI also got the same email from "Anne Sewell" with the email address of donaldsepp1@gmail.com. SCAM SCAM SCAM!
ReplyDeleteSame here.
ReplyDeleteGot the same email from Anne Sewell. Exact same wording, including the sisters wedding and Alpine, NJ.
ReplyDeleteDid google searches for anne sew
Thanks for the website!
DITTO!!!
ReplyDeleteHere is my experience:
Message 1 from Anna Sewell at twerkverne@gmail.com
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
_________ and
___________
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Anne Sewell.
[I responded with availability, size and price and asked how she learned of my work]
Message 2
Hi M____,
Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creative works. I am very sorry I couldn't get back immediately. I have been traveling . Anyway , I will like to proceed with the purchase of "_______". Can you pls get back with what motivate you to make the artwork.
I will look forward to hearing from you soon .
Best Regards,
Anne.
[Curious that she did not explain how she knew of my work. I responded with request for name, address, etc incl shipping destination. I indicated that I would send an invoice via Paypal which does all the verification, etc. Once payment received and cleared, I would ship artwork. Googling didn’t give me much info.]
Message 3
Hi M_____,
It is nice to hear back from you. I will like to proceed with the
purchase of "______!". I think it is a lovely work and I hope to give it a good home.
I am presently traveling for my Sister's wedding even though it comes at a time when I am preparing for a big move to Alpine, NJ but it means so much to her and I should be back in few days.
Alpine, NJ 07620
Meanwhile, can you pls get back with your mailing address and phone number so I can inform my husband on where to forward the payment. He can have one of his PA handle the payment asap. About shipping, you can handle it from your side to my new address above or I can forward your contact info to the local cartage company handling the shipment of all our house decors. They can arrange FedEx or UPS 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.
Anne
[I noticed that she still did not give a street address, nor follow up with the PayPal payment procedure . . . Increasingly suspicious, I googled more and found this website! Thank you!!]
Thanks for including that donaldsepp1 gmail address. I was investigating this for a friend and google brought up this site because of it.
ReplyDeleteI've received an Anne Sewell communication from the donaldseppt1 gmail address too. I didn't find anything on Anne Sewell or Donald Sepp that made sense. I had to google Anne Sewell Alpine, NJ 07620 to learn it is a scam. I emailed 'Anne Sewell' @ donaldsepp1 acknowledging her scam. I expect I won't here anything else from 'her'. I also reported this to the FBI.
ReplyDeleteDitto on the Anne Sewell scam. For me they used the email adress . Seemed legitimate, though a little odd, as my email exchanges were similar to those listed above, but it became suspicious when a check arrived yesterday via priority mail from ESG Automotive for a couple thousand dollars over the price I was asking for the work. When I emailed and asked if that was "her" payment, they said, yes and to just mail back a check for the difference. Seemed rather odd, but I didn't find any scam issues when I searched the web for ESG Automotive. I was preparing the art for shipping when I made a last internet check, this time on “Anne Sewell”, and saw this blog. I will report this criminal activity to the authorities. HUGE thanks to StopArtScams!!!
ReplyDeleteI guess we artists are targeted because we're anxious for a sale, though I think many kinds of businesses are targeted as well.
ReplyDeleteI got the Anne Sewell/ESG Automotive scam over the past week. I did spend $130 to have the ordered prints made, but never sent them. I reported it to the local police, an internet fraud site, the DA's office, my bank and will report it to USPS also, as this constitutes mail fraud. I have no illusions that anyone will do anything about this or will the perps be caught. I thought I might call ESG Automotive, which appears to be a legit company, to tell them their name was on the bogus check. The return address on E Big Beaver Rd. in Troy is not the address for that company, however.
I googled the NM address where I was supposed to send the money order and Google maps showed it as desert in Gallup. So, there must be a forwarding address at that end. Why doesn't USPS pursue that angle?
Oh, in my last email to Anne, I decided to give "her" a taste of their own medicine. I said the money order machine was down at CVS, and I was in a hurry to get both the artwork and money to her, and knowing how anxious she was to receive them, so so I decided that instead of sending the money to NM and the prints to NJ, I wrote that I would make it easier for her by including an envelope with CASH inside the tube with the prints, knowing that the NJ address was bogus. Totally disobeyed 'her' specific instructions. Not surprisingly, I never heard from 'her' again.
That's very clever. I'm surprised the scammer did not try and go after that cash with some other story to redirect your shipment once again. But good for you for playing with them and not falling victim.
ReplyDeleteI’m so glad to discover this site! I was just about to proclaim my sale on facebook! And throw a party! Look at me! I’m in the art collection of Anne Sewell [twerkverne@gmail.com] of Alpine, NJ! Home of the highest real estate values in the US! And I still don’t know how she/he found me! Now I am wiser. Every word in every email I got is a verbatim copy of those received by others above. I did everything to ignore the potholes in the scam tale. It’s so nice that she/he wanted to know “what motivated the artwork.” It’s no mystery what motivates these illiterate scammers. And now I am motivated to find a way to fuck with them—but I’m too busy. The check is supposed to arrive tomorrow. I will integrate it into artwork, at least. And report it. Thanks so much for maintaining this blog, KatieMoe.
ReplyDeleteOoooh incorporate the counterfeit check into your artwork. I like it!
ReplyDeleteI just received my bogus check from Anne Sewell [twerkverne@gmail.com]. So I can make my collage with it. I have stopped responding to her/his/its email messages, but am thinking of sending her/him/it a link to your blog. Is that a good, bad idea? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteScammers have no conscious and are like cockroaches. I feel no need to educate them we're on to them. Let's them waste their time trying to determine if you are a victim for them or not. No sense clarifying that and having them move on to their next victim. Let them figure it out on their own.
ReplyDeleteCool you are including it in your next art piece. Inspirational.
I recently received emails from Anne Sewell using the twerkverne@gmail.com address just like the ones above. Her emails sent red flags up for me from the beginning, but I tend to be suspicious of emails from people I don't know just as a matter of course. When I sell work online I do it two ways: either with a Paypal invoice or through my Etsy shop. I do not accept other forms of payment, and I do not go out of my way to make arrangements of any kind for a sale. She ignored my email about sending a Paypal invoice, and then when I got the long email giving me the song and dance about making arrangements for payment and shipping - after I had offered a simple option of a Paypal invoice - I was totally put off. So I listed the work in my Etsy shop as a reserved listing and told her that if she wanted it, she could purchase it there. Well, not surprisingly I never heard from her again. This exchange still didn't sit well with me, so I googled the twerkverne@gmail.com address and found this post. Glad I listened to my gut!
ReplyDeleteWatch out for Sarah Donaldson, she's active again. I googled her email address and found this website. Thanks so much for saving me from this scam.
ReplyDeleteAnne Sewell is active again. She (he) now uses midforu001@gmail.com and she is moving to Alpine, NJ. I've received almost all correspondence as above but "her husband's" check from Ticor Title Co. of California was counterfeit!
ReplyDeleteI have also received email from Sarah Donaldson exactly same format, replied in the hope it was a genuine sale. How sad it is to target artist's who live on a financial tightrope.
ReplyDeleteYes, I just received the bogus request from donaldsepp1@gmail.com, so I am also appreciative that when I googled that email address, your page came up. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteI received an identical email from Sarah Donaldson who was "moving to Alpine NJ" and would have her husband's PA forward payment to me. I was suspicious from the beginning but she emailed me every few days confirming she wanted to "go ahead with the purchase" of three paintings. Yesterday she texted me asking me to check my email and get back to her; the email said there was a priority mail envelope waiting. This morning I got the envelope and found a check for three times the correct amount written on a Westcon Group NA check...with a pixilated signature. I showed it to my bank manager who advised me that it looked fraudulent to him. I am going to report this to the USPS as well as JSBC Bank and Westcon Group's CFO. All artists need to be made aware of this and I'm so glad I found this page.
ReplyDeleteExact same email correspondence and such with Sarah Donaldson (beginning around the same time). The "shippers" who would be eventually picking up the art contacted me from Sarah Blair's email, but used the name Drake Blair in the message body. I actually corresponded with Sarah D. about why she sent more than I had asked for, she said not to worry about it and to go ahead and deposit it. I didn't question the validity of the check as much (I was dubious all along but kept proceeding forward), but the day after I deposited it Sarah then asked that I wire back the excess money. I told her I'd do so once the check cleared. It bounced, and I've not heard from Sarah, Sarah, or Drake again.
Deletejust received the same type email from Sarah Blair
ReplyDeleteand then received checks from Westcon Group North America and another one from Brevard County Tax Assessor. Just got off the phone with both - checks are defintely fraudulent.
I am an artist in Arizona. A week ago I was contacted by a "mr.larry douglas" I used all lower case as that is how he wrote to me through my website. He said he was interested in buying one of my paintings and mentioned the giclee of it. In the course of the emails I mentioned the original was still available and he said he was glad it was and asked the price. Understand, the price is posted next to the image on my website, right above the giclee price. The original is $2200 plus shipping. He informed me that he would have a carrier he was working with to pick up the painting and deliver it to him. I would not even have to wrap and box the painting.
ReplyDeleteAll of this was done through email as he said he was traveling on business, but the painting was to go into a new home he just purchased and would move into as soon as he returned (in a year!) from Egypt where his company was sending him temporarily. This really began to have a bad odor, but I went along, just in case. I recently had a real client that commissioned a large painting costing $7000 and they wrote in all lower case and their spelling wasn't great. It was legit and everything worked as I specified and I was paid in full with legit certified checks.
Last Friday, I received an email with a USPS tracking number from larry douglas telling me the check was on the way. I again asked what he was buying, giclee or original. He did not reply. Yesterday I received a USPS Priority mail envelope. In it was a check for $8000 dollars written on a legitimate law firms check. At least it appeared to be. There was no date on the check. The signature was an arc, totally illegible and my name and the numerical amount was hand written in. I knew then something was amiss for sure, but did not understand what or how the scam was supposed to work.
I looked up the law firm on Google. There is a real law firm at the address on the check, but it is a scam and they know about it and told me the check was no god and they had seen other checks like this, but it has nothing to do with them and they do not have a client with any of the names usually associated with this scam. Larry douglas is one of the names they see or hear about on these checks.
Just in case, folks check on any checks you receive before depositing them. This law firm is Wells, Jaworski, and Liebmann. Please understand they were very cooperative and had all the info on this check and were able to describe it to me. They were very helpful. I also called and gave all the information to the Arizona Attorney Generals Fraud department and will be sending the check and copies of all the emails to them
Be careful with internet sales especially. You could lose money and paintings very easily to these crooks!
John
BEWARE ART SCAM 2014 Geez, This sounds too familiar. I am glad that I googled the phone number of Agent Drake the shipper which is from the Mariana Islands. Odd thing is the usps envelop originated just forty mins from he city that I live. Creepy. I even attempted to deposit the check.
ReplyDeleteHi there,my name is Larry im an art collector from Connecticut,was
browsing through the internet and my eyes caught this particular work
on the subject,will like to have it for my new apartment probably this
month.please let me know if the piece is available and if yes let me
have the detailed price and more information about it.kindly reply me
with your phone#.
Regards.larry douglas larrydouglas9090@gmail.com
Jan 25 (13 days ago)
larry douglas
Feb 6 (1 day ago)
to me
Hello,
Im so glad you finally received the payment,here is the instruction
deduct the payment for the
artwork and send the excess on the payment to my shipping company,they
have your details already,i will notify the shipping agent that the
payment has been received by you,kindly shot me an email as soon as
you hear from the shipper.
Kindly notify me as soon you receive any message from them.
We have received communication from Larry Douglas that we should work with you to ship some artwork with his other house decors to his new house when both of you are through with the transaction,as he advise.
I will like you to get back to us with the kind and nature of the things he wants to ship. I will also like to have your studio address or home address ,so i can make arrangement with any nearby Agent that will be coming for the pick up once you and Mr Larry are through with the transaction. Thanks.
I will appreciate your earlier reply .
Regards,
Drake Wilson
Pro agent
HP Pak and Movers Logistics INC.
B12, THE BUSINESS CENTER
F: 670 863 9867
to me
Scammers still at it, using the name lizzy donald with donaldsepp1@gmail.com
ReplyDelete--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
Give Me Fallout Shelter and One Way Up
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Lizzy Donald.
I just got the same email from Lizzy Donald as well. Thanks for the thread, I was about to respond and now I wont.
ReplyDeleteThis was from a craigs list ad I had posted.
ReplyDeleteLaura Richard
Thanks for your response to my email, I'm ok with the price and the
description stated so I would like to send payment asap. Please let me
know if a certified cashiers check is ok. After my check clears my
Mover will come and pick it up at your location. I would have come and
taken a look of it but I can't. (on a business trip ). If you can get
back to me with your info. I'll mail the check out asap. Need your
full name and address to mail the check out asap. Thank You
I got this one today. Thanks for this site.
ReplyDeleteHi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these lovely pieces on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
[pasted links to the works]
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Jane Podolski
The email is donaldsepp4@gmail.com
In December 2013 I received the donaldepp1@gmail.com from a 'Sarah Donaldson.' I sensed a scam due to the poor grammatical constructions, but played along. "She" sent two clearly bogus checks and my husband and I sent the whole story, along with the fake checks, to the US Postal Inspector. Today I got a new one from pollymartiny@gmail.com, with a message identical to several posted here.
ReplyDeleteI got the donaldsepp1@gmail.com in December. I sensed a scam, and got "her" to send not one, but two fake checks. My husband and I sent the checks and correspondence to the local Postal Inspector. I just got another one today from pollymartiny@gmail.com. Both of them used language identical to everything written here.
ReplyDeleteI got this same email from Jane Podolski. The email was lstay05@gmail.com.
ReplyDeletetoday from Polly Martiny
ReplyDeletepollymartiny@gmail.com
Good Day,
Am interested in your artwork which I saw on your website. The work am
talking about is below..
spiral & diamonds 7
Please email me the details of the work if they are still available
and their price you want to sale it.
Polly
It's a lie Polly Martiny is not a scam artist, he has purchase more of my art and I know him physical. stop talking bad or post lie about him.
ReplyDeleteAbbot
highly suspicious, but interesting and sad when scammer shows up to refute being a scammer... hope it means we are having an effect.
ReplyDeleteI got one from Jane Podolski also. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteAbbot you scamming fuck- I hope you die a terrible death. ROT. pollymartiny@gmail.com is a scam
ReplyDeleteI also have recieved emails from two separate "people" stating the same thing,"I am interested in these creative works" etc and the first one agreed to send a check....I haven't received a check or sent them anything. confused though... what exactly is the scam? they are sending fake checks to try and get the artwork for free? I wasn't about to send anything without the check clearing. Just don't want have my email hacked somehow from this.
ReplyDeletethe emails I recieved were from, "Polly Martini" PollyMartiny@gmail.com and "Lizzy Donald" nlutt91@gmail.com
I also got this email today from Polly Martiny
ReplyDeleteGood Day,
Am interested in your artwork which I saw on your website. The work am
talking about is below..
Please email me the details of the work if they are still available
and their price you want to sale it.
Got the same email. Didn't reply because the name was soooo stupid and decided to look it up. Low-and-behold there Polly be on this wonderful blog; seriously, thank you website. Even better Polly(Abbot) replied to the above post so I know you're reading this:
ReplyDeleteYou're an amateur Polly-Abbot. You can't form sentences, the email wreaks of the toilet you were born in and you're probably reading this thinking, am I really that big of a no talent ass clown? Survey Says!?!?...yes, yes you are. Enjoy everyone.
jane Podolski
ReplyDeletedid all the things you said
sent check for 5 times what the painting cost
trying to decide to just tear up check or just hang onto it, should i show it to my bank, or to the post office, could they be arrested for mail fraud
Janet
Unfortunately, Janet, not much is done about these scams, which is why they are so prevalent. The bank will take the check but don't really do anything about it, the police don't do anything (scammers know how to keep each victim take low enough that authorities don't pursue small cases), the perpetrators are typically in countries where they can not be pursued, and finally - they are careful to send you counterfeit checks not via usps (where it WOULD be mail fraud) or even ups - but fed ex who does not pursue any of this as mail fraud.
ReplyDeleteMaddening, yes??
It's why I started this blog and associated facebook page. It was the only thing I could think of that could reduce the success rate of the scum scammers.
Everyone - keep posting away... it definitely saves people every day from becoming victims.
Here is what this scammer actually sent me:
ReplyDeleteHi Janet,
Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creative
works. I will like to proceed with the purchase of the painting . Can
you pls get back with what inspire you to make the artwork.
I will look forward to hearing from you soon .
Best Regards,
Jane.
Hi Janet,
Hope this message finds you well. I am very sorry I have not been
able to get in touch for the past few days. It has been a very busy
time with so many things on my plate. I am not sure if my husband has
been able to forward the payment to your mailing address but I will
check with him and get back later today or tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile , I will like you to acknowledge this email so I can be sure
we are still on the same page. Thanks for your patient.
Best Regards,
Jane.
Hi Janet,
Good to hear back from you and thanks for your understanding. I will
like to confirm that the payment was sent by my husband's assistant
and you should receive it today via USPS so try and be on the look out
for it.The tracking number is (9405501699320020566916).
Kindly acknowledge this email as soon as you can. Thanks for you patient.
>>>> Hi Janet,
>>>> Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creative
>>>> works. I will like to proceed with the purchase of the painting . Can
>>>> you pls get back with what inspire you to make the artwork.
>>>>
>>>> I will look forward to hearing from you soon .
>>>>
>>>> Best Regards,
>>>> Jane.
> Hi Donna,
> 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,
> Jane.
Jane Podolski
lstay05@gmail.com is her email address
Yes, he send a check.
Jane.
these are most of the emails i received from her
she had previously sent me a tracking number for the check and it showed it was coming from Birmingham, AL
The return address on the outside of the envelope was from Global Crossing, 5600 or 5800 Morgan Ford Road, St Louis, MO can’t really read the number and as you can see the check is from Nashville, TN drawn on a Memphis bank.
Janet
Okay, if this scammer is dumb enough to send a counterfeit check via usps, it IS mail fraud and you SHOULD save everything, including the envelope and take it all to your local Postal Inspector's Office. Print out the emails for them as well.
ReplyDeleteGo get this one for being particularly stupid.
Thank you, Kathleen, for your hard work on preventing artist scams. I received an email asking about my work and though it didn't quite follow the usual path (her husband was supposedly a doctor and his PA sent too much money) it sent up a red flag and I googled art scam. I found your description of art scams and this one fit the mold, along with her email -
ReplyDeleteJane Podolski / donaldsepp4@gmail.com
I wasn't going to send art or a check until the check was cashed, but your site gave me info about this kind of scam and saved me the trouble of trying to cash a check that would bounce. I have passed this on to the artist groups I belong to and have given them your facebook, blog and web sites to read about art scams.
thanks again,
Al
Yup, the famous Polly just contacted me as well, in the same tortured English. Glad I found this site
ReplyDeleteI received the same e.mail from Polly Martiny...scam..
ReplyDeleteI just got one from a Jane Podolski (lstay05@gmail.com). "She" was tyring to purchase two works of art. A check arrived for the wrong amount from Ocala Breeders' Sales Co., Inc. I called Ocala Breeders' and they said it was the 10th call they received that day about a strange check.
ReplyDeleteIt is just a lesson in trusting our instincts. If it smells like rat...
This Email: sabrinbenjke@hotmail.com Is also a Bad adress. Please be warned.
ReplyDeleteBank of America Emails from consultant.com are also not legal.
Best
Rainer
Was a victim of scam via Craigslist.
ReplyDeleteJust got a check from
Ocala breeders' sales co., inc
1701 SW 60th Ave , Ocala FL
I'm taking it and the envelope to my local postal inspectors office with the tracking number they gave me, bust them for mail fraud
I just got scammed by a Linda Monreal, the scam was structured exactly like all of you guys. I didn't send a wire transfer, my bank thankfully looked into it for me. The email addresses attached to the scam: lindajohnss10@gmail.com was her email, and the "shipper" Jack Wenger was twerkverne@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if anyone else took any additional steps after getting scammed? The whole thing is so creepy.
Apparently, they are working on their grammer. LOL it isn't perfect but it is getting better. :O The subject of this email was believe it or not "TargetSubject". hahah not likely...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the prompt response to my mail... I am currently on a tight
working schedule so the picture of the item will suffice as I may not be
able to come see it now..I will be buying from you so please kindly
withdraw the advert from C.LIST due to disturbance and i will be giving you
an additional $50 for keeping the item for me... Please be informed that i
will be paying with a certified check from my Bank ..I will need the
following details to mail the payment as soon as possible...
Name to be on the payment...
Home address___
City____
State____
Zip Code_____
Cell phone #______
final price____
I will make arrangements for the pick up as soon as you have your money.. I
am completely satisfied with the advert and the payment will be delivered
within 2-3 working days.** I use a hearing impaired phone# and will receive
your calls via email ** N.B UPS does not deliver to P.O box addresses.
THANK-YOU!!
ReplyDeleteI just got scammed as well - emails from a Samantha Quezada at winnie9cn4@gmail.com. luckily I googled the "shipper" Jack Wenger twerkverne@gmail.com as well and found this website! very grateful for it.
ReplyDeleteright now there is a supposed pickup of my artwork scheduled for Friday, but I'm not going to answer my phone (if they even call). does anyone have experience with whether the shipping company actually calls or shows up?
There is no shipping company. So they will not show up, though I've heard some scammer try to call victims and get all fake mad and threatening to try and get the victim to unwittingly complete the scam.
ReplyDeleteThe scammer is after the victim wiring them money after overpaying with counterfeit money. That's the scam. It's not about the art or a shipping company, which doesn't exist. It's about that cash being wired.
So if you were able to avoid that - congratulations! you can pat yourself on the back for googling it in time.
yes – I was able to avoid it! thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteI received this via email... and yup, its a scammer...
ReplyDeleteHi Kathleen,
I received a letter from Polly Martini about my work. It feels like it might be a scam. Have you heard of this person?
Best - Brad
I found this website after I did a search on the address of this email I received from "Stephanie Donaldson" [donaldsepp1@gmail.com]:
ReplyDeleteHi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
[names of paintings]
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Stephanie Donaldson.
Just got the same from Stephanie Donaldson. Glad I googled her email address and found this site. Thanks to all.
ReplyDeleteIn my reply to the Stephanie Donaldson email, I merely sent a link to this webpage..
ReplyDeleteIm so glad I googled "her" email! THANK YOU FOR THIS PAGE!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is the email I received and was corresponding with.
Stephanie Donaldson (donaldsepp1@gmail.com) wrote the following on Fri, 15 Aug 2014 08:13:37 -0700
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
Draped , Back Tattoos and Apple
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Stephanie Donaldson.
IP: 41.203.69.20
Just adding to the list… I received an email from Stephanie Donaldson at donaldsepp1@gmail.com. Scam, scam, scam. What a shame. Glad this website exists to save us from making any terrible mistakes! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAngela Stoichkov
ReplyDelete9:12 AM (8 minutes ago)
to adina
--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
Egypt and The Spirit of Rose,
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Angela Stoichkov.
On Monday, August 25, 2014, Angela Stoichkov wrote:
ReplyDelete>> >
>> >> --
>> >> Hi,
>> >>
>> >> Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
>> >> website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
>> >> still available for purchase.
>> >>
>> >> Garten and Speak, Memory
>> >>
>> >> I will appreciate an urgent reply.
>> >>
>> >> Best Regards,
>> >> Angela Stoichkov.
>> >>
WOW. I also just got an email from Stephanie Donaldson. She mailed a check that was way too much so I immediately looked her up. Thanks to all of you for posting.
ReplyDeleteThis was the email I received (same as everyone else's)
ReplyDelete--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Stephanie Donaldson.
Hey Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog while googling "Art scam, paypal". The name used by the scammer in Marcos Richards. He claims to be an oceanographer and was at sea. I started to get suspicious when he wouldn't answer the questions I asked him in my emails and when I sent him the paypal invoice which had my contact details, he wrote back saying he received my invoice but he needed my details for his pickup agent. The full email correspondence is below.
Thank you for the blog and your crusade to fight art scam! I will be donating to your cause!
Regards
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: Sun, Oct 19, 2014 at 12:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Name of Piece]
To: Marcos Richards [marrichy0@gmail.com]
Hey Marcos
My details are on the invoice I sent you.
Thanks.
Sent from my iPhone
On 19 Oct, 2014, at 12:30 am, Marcos Richards [marrichy0@gmail.com] wrote:
Thanks for your mail, I have just received the Paypal invoice you sent to
me and I will like you to kindly send me your full address and contact
telephone number so that I can forward it over to the pickup agent for the
shipping arrangement. I'll be making the payment upon the receipt of the
information requested ok, hope to read from you soon
On Sat, Oct 18, 2014 at 6:18 AM, wrote:
> Hi Marcos,
>
> I am delighted that you have chosen my artwork to gift your Dad. I will be
> sending an invoice to your current email for USD 249. Do you wish me to
> wrap the painting up? I usually do a layer of bubble wrap + cardboard. Or
> perhaps your shipping agent will handle that too? The idea that you are an
> oceanographer, at sea and browsing through my artwork is simply amazing. I
> am guessing you saw my work on Saatchi Art Online?
>
> Cheers,
>
>
> On Sat, Oct 18, 2014 at 8:17 PM, Marcos Richards [marrichy0@gmail.com]
> wrote:
>
>> I really appreciate it. Am Marcos Richards from the USA I am an
>> oceanographer and am currently at sea at the moment, i am buying the item
>> as a gift for my Dad, i want to make it a surprise for him,he wont know
>> anything about the item until they get delivered to him, i can only pay
>> through paypal as i don't have access to my bank account online as i don't
>> have internet banking,but i have my bank account attached to my paypal
>> account and this is why i insisted on paying you through paypal,So kindly
>> send me an invoice from your Paypal account for the amount you're willing
>> to sell the item so i can proceed with the payment and after the payment
>> has been done, i have a pick up agent that will come around to pick the
>> item up so don't add shipping fees and will be done after i have made the
>> payments for the item..
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 11:52 PM, wrote:
>>
>>> HI Marcos,
>>>
>>> Thanks for the enquiry. Yes the piece is still available. May I know if
>>> you are in Singapore, as you requested for pick up. Also where did you see
>>> the piece?
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Oct 18, 2014 at 2:42 PM, Marcos Richards [marrichy0@gmail.com]
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Do you still have this [name of piece] available for
>>>> sale as i am highly interested buying one and do you accept pay pal as a
>>>> mode of payment and also if pick up is acceptable. Regards
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
Larry Douglass strikes again.
ReplyDeleteI stopped emailing him>>Thanks Everyone...... what a scam.L
Received the same email - I was suspicious because of the broken english and "creative works" is not regular collector language.
ReplyDeleteMy mail came from Serena Bass - winnie9cn4@gmail.com
scum.
I also got the same email from Marcos Richards [marrichy0@gmail.com] who insisted on using Paypal and his pickup agent. Since Paypal will not release payment without "Proof of Shipment" when the Buyer claims "item not received". Well, I wrote back to Marcos stating that he should purchase through Saatchi Art. I only ship with courier I trust.
ReplyDeletegot this mail from Marcos Richardson. Thanks for posting so I could find out for this fraud
ReplyDeleteDo you still have this Selfportrait available for sale as i am highly interested buying one and do you accept pay pal as a mode of payment and also if pick up is acceptable. Regards
THANK YOU KatieMoe, for this blog!
ReplyDeleteOver the past few days, we have received email from "Amanda Aguero" (lstay05@gmail.com). That email address was previously reported here, but was used under the name "Jane Podolski". This person recently initiated contact via the "Contact Us" web form at our art site, only giving a name and email, no address-city-state-zip. We have never spoken, only email.
Also reported to Google: https://support.google.com/mail/contact/abuse
Here are the exact messages (angle brackets "< >" represent redacted, personal info):
(1) "Hi,,,Hope this message finds you well. I saw these lovely pieces on your website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.,,"< art#1 >? and ?< art#2 >?,,I will appreciate an urgent reply.,,Best Regards,,Amanda.,"
(2) "Good to hear back from you, <>. I really like the < art#3 > piece and will like to proceed with the purchase. Can you please let < artist > get back with what really inspire these pieces. Talk soon. Amanda."
(3) "Hi <>, It is nice to hear back from you. I will like to proceed with the purchase of the piece. I think it is a lovely work and I hope to give it a good home. I am presently traveling but I should be back in few days to put my new vacation address in place for the holidays
Captiva, FL 33924
Meanwhile, can you pls get back with your mailing address and phone number so I can inform my assistant on where to forward the payment. I can have him send the payment asap . About shipping , you can handle it from your side to my new address above or I can forward your contact info to the local cartage company handling my shipment. They can arrange FedEx or UPS 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. Amanda."
(4) "OK. I will look forward to hearing from you guys so I can know how best to proceed. ... Talk soon. Amanda."
Exact same as above. I shipped the works and billed her... no exchange of money so I'm just out the ($200) shipping.
ReplyDeleteI will not stop being a trusting person, but this was a waste of time.
My Perp was calling herself Serena Bass... near identical email chain from winnie9cn4@gmail.com
Hi, I am interested in purchasing one of your artwok for my father's forth coming birthday. I will like you to kindly get back to me with the list of the artworks you have available for sale and their various prices. Hope to read from you soon. Marcos
ReplyDeleteemail: Marcos Richards [marrichy0@gmail.com]
---- Marcos Richards wrote:
ReplyDelete> I was just about to make the payments when i had this little problem with
> the picking up of the item, I am currently on sea and i am buying the item
> for my dad as i Explained Earlier on and i tried to book pick up with my
> pick up agent, But They asked me to pay first before They can make the
> booking, and They only accept Money Gram transfer for payments and They Do
> not accept pay pal or bank transfer and I tried to send the money on line
> but i could not and I am on sea and there is no way i can find a Money Gram
> agent to make the transfer to my pick up agent, so i wanted to ask if it
> was OK for me to include my pick up agent's fees in the payments I am about
> to be sent through pay pal, my pick up agent charged $450 plus insurance
> and all of that, please can i include Their money in the payments I want to
> send then after i have made the payments you will help me forward the $450
> to my pick up agent through Money Gram transfer, I would have done myself
> and not bother you but the for the fact that I am currently on sea, so
> after I have made the payments you will help me send $450 to my pick up
> agent through Money Gram transfer, I just wanted to seek your consent
> before going ahead with the payments, I will more than appreciate if you
> mail me back, and I will be making the payments Shortly.
>
> PS: the shipping company's Head quarters and any pick up fees to be paid is
> sent to Their headquarters by the payee, so the money for pick up will be
> sent to Their headquarters through Money Gram transfer (this can be done
> from any post office) at Money Gram
>
> On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 4:46 AM, Marcos Richards
> wrote:
>
> > Don't worry the pickup agent will take good care of everything ok. I'll be
> > making the payment shortly and get back to you with an update
They're still at it. Just in the middle of a conversation exactly like the above, down to the sister's wedding! wow! Beware! They seem to use real people's names which can easily be found and seem credible on google...
ReplyDeleteHi Katie
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post. I was contacted by "Amanda" / lstay05@gmail.com a few days ago. It all smelled funny, then an e-mail out of the blue saying I would receive a check today by UPS that her husband's assistant sent. Just like you said, overpayment of $1250. I was aware of the same scam from the Bed and Breakfast scams a few years ago, but your site really helped confirm everything I already suspected. daryl
Update on our friend "Amanda Aguero." (lstay05@gmail.com): After having had no contact with her since November 11, received an email today. S/he must be mixing their own stories, because prior emails referenced that she was "traveling" and her "assistant" would be in touch about payment. This time s/he talks about "sister's wedding" and her "husband":
ReplyDelete(5) "Hi < >, Hope this message finds you well. I am very sorry I have not been able to get in touch for the past couple of days. I have been very busy with my sister's wedding and away from my computer. I am not sure about the status of the payment but I will check with my husband and get back to you later today or tomorrow morning. Try and acknowledge this email so I can be sure we are still on the same page. Thank you. Best Regards, Amanda."
Unfortunately, the person is still using the same Gmail address, so it appears Google has not acted on the fraud report.
Same as above but with the name Alicia Rodgers but the email is winnie9cn4@gmail.com. Dang -- too bad about the sale not being real but I'm glad I checked before it went too far. It was the odd use of periods that made me wonder...
ReplyDeleteSame as above, Alicia Rodgers with email winnie9cn4@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteLatest version includes an address witch can be googled and seen to be
an actual $3.2 million house--classy addition to the scam!
Well Larry -- larry douglas -- seems to have been working from a "Michael" template.
ReplyDeleteI played along without showing my hand.
After I rejected his "my own shipper" and "company check" proposal, I sent this.
=====
Hi Larry,
I couldn't help notice that your name changes from Larry to Michael and back again.
Can you explain that, please?
Confused,
Ed
====
larry douglas
6:07 AM (7 hours ago)
to me
Yes am sorry about that, it was a mistake from me.
Llarry
===
1:14 PM (4 minutes ago)
to larry
Oh, are there two L's in Llary?
====
Molly Paulista (lstay05@gmail.com) is a new one I just received.
ReplyDeleteI just got this today! So glad to have googled her email address and found your post before replying to her. Something about it just made me a little suspicious.
ReplyDelete-----Original Message-----
From: Molly Paulista [mailto:lstay05@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 7:29 AM
To: [I censored my email out]
Subject: Artworks Inquiry.
--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these lovely pieces on your website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
"Covenant" and "Eternity"
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Molly Paulista.
I was just scammed in exactly the same way by Alicia Rodgers, winnie9cn4@gmail.com. Same email message, same garbled story, same check from rich husband's PA for 4x the amount invoiced and instructions to refund the difference. It seemed hinky so I deposited the check just to see what would happen and I'm out the bank charge but nothing else. Wish I'd thought to google the address before now, but at least I no longer feel queasy and alone! Thanks everybody for sharing these stories.
ReplyDeleteWow! SO glad I googled the name. I'm confused how it would have come to her/he scamming $ out of me... but here is the email regardless for records. It's the exact same thing:
ReplyDelete--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these lovely pieces on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
"Guillermo" and "Taylor: Drink What You Leak"
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Molly Paulista.
Glad that this blog is keeping track of this thievery. I also got an email from "Molly Paulista".
ReplyDelete---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Molly Paulista
Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Subject: Artworks Inquiry.
--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these lovely pieces on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
"Sunday" and "Wanting"
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Molly Paulista.
Thank you! I just received the following message and it seemed off to me.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Ashley
9:24 AM (15 minutes ago)
to me
--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
Baudelaire and Conversation
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Melissa Ashley.
I received the same email from a Molly Paulista. Unfortunately, I fell victim to the scam. My bank had credited me the check she sent before it had actually cleared (unknowingly to me) so seeing that the money was in my account, I felt confident in wiring the "over payed balance". Lost $1900. I feel like a fucking idiot. I filed a police report and a complaint with the bank on crediting me for a false check. I hate these people.
ReplyDeleteJust got one too.
ReplyDeleteSubject: Artworks Inquiry..
From: Melissa Ashley
--
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
Best Regards,
Melissa Ashley.
Happy Valentines Day-NOT
ReplyDeleteJust got this email from Melissa Ashley this morning. I am soooo tired of this!
Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
Hurricane Ridge and Playing With Paul
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Melissa Ashley.
Bazooka. It happened to me too. The shipping address of
ReplyDelete416 margaret street in key west.
Michelle ellis was the perpetrator.
Same email was sent to me as everyone else. I guess we are all in a club now. What if i sent a pay pal invoice?
They will fake a paypal payment confirmation email and hope you don't manually check your PayPal account before wiring them money..... Or they will have some story of why they can't do PayPal and try to get you back to checks, which they counterfeit, or a credit card, which will be stolen.
ReplyDeleteI also received an email from Michelle Ellis at 416 Margaret Street in Key West wanting to purchase art, and have been very confused by the interaction over email. So annoying!
ReplyDeleteJust in- the email address seemed suspect, so I did a search which led me here. I directed her to my gallery and warned the gallery it could be a con. These people are felons!
ReplyDeleteHi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these lovely pieces on your
website and I will like you to get back with more details if they are
still available for purchase.
[url of art work]
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Janis Clark.
Found this just in time, thanks! question is, in this day and age how hard should it be to locate these criminals that have been running the same scam for years and stop them??
ReplyDeleteI received this email from "Janis Clark". This is the second email. I was suspicious of the poor English but answered anyway. I'm very grateful that I found this site. I have been googling this name, trying to figure out if anyone else had been scammed by "her". Creepy!
ReplyDeleteHi Robert,
It is nice to hear back from you. I will like to proceed with the
purchase of both pieces. I think they are lovely works and I hope to
give them a good home. I am presently away on vacation but I should be
back in few days.
519 Palm Trl
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Meanwhile, can you pls get back with your mailing address and phone
number so I can inform my husband on where to forward the payment. I
can have him send the payment asap. About shipping, you can handle it
from your side to my new vacation home above or I can forward your
contact info to the local cartage company handling my shipment. They
can arrange FedEx or UPS 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.
Janis.
I received the exact same email as Robert above from Janis Clark. They just sent me a suspicious check for way too much, so I googled the email and ended up here. Thanks everyone for posting!
ReplyDeleteHere's the 2 email addresses they used with me:
lstay05@gmail.com
marth4sp4@gmail.com
The phone # they gave:
(219) 413-0648
The address they gave:
519 Palm Trl
Delray Beach, FL 33483
The phony check was from AJC Logistics
and mailed from a Los Angeles address:
Roger P Goldenberg
Bill Clark
2332 West Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Yikes! This was the first art scam that has come my way. I received an overpayment check today for 2 paintings. Something did nor "feel" right. We googled Janis Clark's address and found stopartscams. Thank heavens. When I received the first email, I was suspicious but did respond. I do sell paintings from my website and have never had a problem before. As one of the bloggers said, "This is creepy." We will take all the papers to the USPO. Thank you so much for being a samuari.
ReplyDeleteI received this:
ReplyDelete> On Apr 14, 2015, at 6:08, larry douglas wrote:
>
> --
> Hope this message finds you well,im Larry from Hawaii,was browsing
> through the internet and my eyes caught some of your works and I'm
> interested in purchasing some of your artworks for some spaces within
> my new house to make it unique and beautiful.
> Can I have few images of your recent works?I won't mind having your
> main website so as to explore more into your works.kindly reply with
> your cell number.
> Larry.
I then replied with this:
If you are going to scam someone you should at least use a different text, seriously, David Wattson - oh, I mean ...Larry Douglas...
By the way, I've passed your messages on to my buddy who is a special agent in the FBI Boston bureau. Just thought I'd let you know in case he or a colleague of his opts to reach out to you in the near future.
Regards.
(I really did send it to the FBI)
I just received the same email , in regards to a painting they saw saw on my website, We went back and forth a couple emails and I ended with I need your mailing address and phone in order to invoice you you and move forward, "Opelia Brown" replied with a "vacation " address and bogus phone number, I'm going to report them to the FBI internet scams. Everyone should report all internet scams , in order to put a stop to these jerks!
ReplyDelete