Hello Kathleen, I have gotten at least 20 art scam emails. Looking one up a while ago, a came across your blog and fb. Way to go! Love it! I have never fallen for any, but yesterday I got one that was a little different. I thought the 2 "i" in the email was weird and the little poetic phrase at the beginning was too much. But, I didn't find her name on your list, and it was the first time they actually told me what they where interested in and even went as far as attaching a photo of the piece. I checked my stats and only found someone here in the states that was looking at that piece. So I thought what the heck, I will email back. And yes, it was a scam. So wanted to send it your way.
First email: sarawiinters@blumail.org
Hello,second email:
Good image is the beauty of nature. My eyes caught this particular work of yours 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. Attached is the sculpture am interested in.
Regards,
Sara
Hello,
Thanks for your prompt reply.I really appreciate your detailed breakdown and frankness on this.
Unfortunately, Im on my way to France on an official trip(I'm a marketing Executive) and wont be back for another two weeks, I would have come to inspect the piece personally. Im taking your word for true on It though.
Im okay with the price $925 for the Deconstruction, which is made out of copper and ceramic., I think it worth it anyway. If you'd like to know, Im relocating to the South Africa soon and I'm trying to gather some good stuff for my new abode. Im buying yours amongst others,quickly! before someone else grabs it.So, I'll arrange to send you payment ASAP.
However, I'll have to notify my shipper who's helping me move my stuff to get set for the pickup of the piece from your place as I MIGHT be delayed depending on how things goes.
Thanks,
PS: In the mean time, kindly get back to me with your Full Name,contact address and also your phone# so I can get a check prepared and have it sent out to you ASAP.
Thank you for your efforts in fighting these jerks! And by the way, saw your work, beautiful!!!
I received the same notes re some of my artwork. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteLOL I just got the exact same e-mail from Sara Winters today. The poor sentence construction is the main tip off that the person is a scammer. Just for fun I googled her to see if she's on a scam list, which is how I found this page. I've deleted and blocked her from sending more.
ReplyDelete"Hello,
Good image is the beauty of nature. My eyes caught this particular work of yours 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.
Regards,
Sara"
I received the same scam today. JB
DeleteJust received the same email....Good image is the beauty of nature, etc. I googled Sara Winter's name as well and was directed to this site. Thanks for info good to know. I always research a request from an unknown potential customer so far, so good!
ReplyDeleteWow, I got the exact same email yesterday, customized for my specific artwork. Like the other posters here, I got suspicious, and a quick Google search led me here. Thanks KatieMoe for your helpful blog!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I don't get... how are these people trying to scam us artists? I would never let go of a painting until I had verified the payment (especially to a "marketing executive" who can't even spell her own name LOL), so if their goal is to get free artwork with bad checks or something, I can't figure out how they would succeed.
NVM my previous question--I read your description of their tactics and I see how they work now. Before yesterday, I didn't even realize art scammers existed, and I certainly had no idea how common they are! Thanks for helping to fight this, KatieMoe!
ReplyDeleteIt's simple. Here's how their scam works. They attempt to pay with a certified check or credit card. If certified check, they try to get the victim to deposit the check and often the banks WILL deposit it (though they are getting better at catching these sooner) and then the victim thinks its good only later to find out it isn't - sometimes weeks later. If it's a credit card, they try to use stolen numbers that are not yet reported so they will initially clear only to result in a chargeback once the owners figure it out and report it.
ReplyDeleteThe scammer will overpay the amount with some convoluted story but the classic route is to explain that they are moving and need to pay the shippers who will pick everything up for them and ask the victim/seller to deposit the money and forward the "difference" on to the shipper. There will also be a story around why this difference has to be sent to the shipper via Western Union.
There is no shipping company and its only the scammers at the other end and once they pick up the money, they and your money is untraceable.
It is ironic that in this scam, the scammer could care less about what you are selling and give a faked shipping address if they give any at all (they usually refer to their "shipper" picking things up and then they don't have to give an address that can easily be looked up).
So that is how it works. I'm determined to make a difference in reducing the number of artists who are still falling for this scam.
Thanks for writing in!
no problem - it always bears repeating so that others may understand.
ReplyDeleteWell this "Sara" is still at it, a year later. Isn't there any way to catch these people and shut them down? I'd love to do a reverse scam on them but haven't figured out a way to do it.
ReplyDeleteThe piece she asked about of mine was already sold. I knew immediately the email was a scam but couldn't help responding to see what she'd do next:
-----Original Message-----
From: Sara Winters [mailto:sarawiinters@blumail.org]
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 05:03 PM
Subject: Am interested in buying your painting Near Fenway
Hello,
Good image is the beauty of nature. My eyes caught this particular work of yours 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.
Regards,
Sara
Hello Sara,
I'm sorry but "Near Fenway" has been sold.
Regards,
Heather
Hi,
Nice to read back from you. Can you make me another piece and whats the final price.
Sara
Unfortunately, there isn't much that is being done to stop them. Authorities have been able to focus on when they identify a "ring" of scammers and can identify a large sum of collective money being stolen, occasionally, but compared to how many scammers are out there and how much is being stolen from people, it is hardly even a drop in the bucket.
ReplyDeleteBut I'll keep encouraging everyone to post everything online and for people to search online before sending anyone money or their paintings and hopefully we can all help at least reduce their success rate.
Thanks for sharing your particular scam email - it will help alert others.