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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Scam Email: Greg Hembree

This was an obvious miss on the scammer's part but they could care less - they play a numbers game. They send out thousands of these emails seeking that small percentage that reply so that they can funnel those people closer to the heart of the scam - stealing their money by pretending to overpay and asking the "extra" be sent via wire (either back to them or to some non-existent shipper).

Heartbreaking and annoying for this husband, though.

Hey Kathleen....my name is Craig. My late wife was a very accomplished artist before cancer took her at a young age. This person below is clearly a scammer. He emailed her account. It's clearly a scam. I did not email back. Thanks for your blog post on the topic of scammers. Feel free to add this scum bag to your list.
Thanks...you have a great site and blog....
Craig 

Sent from my iPad
> On Oct 14, 2015, at 5:43 PM, Greg Hembree [greghembree01111@gmail.com] wrote:
>
> Hello,
>  I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website (piece in subject field above) on my laptop and i guess she likes that piece, I must also say you are doing a great job. I would like to know what inspired that work. I am very much interested in the purchase to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
>
>  Peace and blessings,
>  Greg

97 comments:

  1. I was just contacted by a "Frank Williams" using almost exactly this same language - the wife, the anniversary present, he's moving overseas, etc. The request to handle his prepayment of the shipping fee didn't quite smell right, so I googled and found your blog explaining this scam. Thank you for making artists aware of this!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Here's another one for you.

    Hi,
    Thanks for the message, I must tell you I am very much interested in the immediate purchase of the piece to surprise my wife. If you'd like to know, I'm relocating to the Philippines soon and our anniversary is fast approaching. So I'm trying to gather some good stuff to make this event a surprise one. I am buying yours as part of gifts to her (quickly before someone else grabs it). I'm okay with the price, I think it's worth it anyway, so I'll be sending a check.

    As regarding shipping, you don't have to worry about that in order not to leave any clue to my wife for the surprise. as soon as you receive and cash the check, my shipping agent (who is also moving my personal effect) will contact you to arrange pick-up.

    I would have handled this much differently but, at the moment, am on training voyage (on the North Atlantic Ocean) to Russia with new hires who are fresh from graduate school. I would have come to purchase the piece myself but won't be back for another couple of weeks.
    Regards,
    Frank

    PS: In the meantime, kindly forward your full name (you want the check payable to) cell phone no. and contact address (preferably for fedEx not P.O box) where a check can be mailed to, so I can get the check prepared and have it mailed out to you asap
    frankhembree01111@gmail.com [mailto:frankhembree01111@gmail.com]

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just got this exact email from Mark Howard, who called himself Howard Welbeck from South Carolina. Thanks to all for posting this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here from "mark howard welbeck "

      ""
      Greetings!
      My name is mark howard.w from SC. I actually observed my wife has
      been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your
      piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various
      works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive
      further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I
      am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field
      above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for
      immediate sales.
      Thanks and best regards,
      mark.
      ""

      Delete
    2. Just received same from mark Howard wellbeck 2-18-16

      Delete
    3. I received the exact same email from a John Scotfield. Thanks for creating this blog! I was sure the email was a scam because he referred to "various works" but I only have one image up at the moment since I recently recreated my website.

      Delete
  4. I too just wasted a lot of time with this exact email coming just before the holidays.... thank you for posting this as I could have been wasting more time and effort with this scammer.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Here too. Sigh. I got email from a Howard welbeck EXACTLY as quoted above. Like a carbon copy.

    I get them 4 to 5 times a year. I usually recognize them by there vagueness of what painting they are referring to.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Grrr same here. Stop them, how?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh dear! I was hoping I could make a nice sale. I should have guessed by his vagueness. Luckily it didn't go as far as any money being sent either way. I felt like looking him up and am so glad I found this site. I will never let anyone pay by check. Paypal only so I have the money in my hands!

    Here's how my scam started:

    From: mark ( howardwelbeck1987@gmail.com )
    Subject: artwork is needed

    Message Body:
    greetings my name howard from sc. i am interested in your piece.

    ------

    After my reply asking for more info he wrote:

    Thanks for the message, however, I would greatly
    appreciate if you could possibly recommend a few completed original
    piece within my budget $1000- $2000 ready for immediate sale... Just
    need something within that price range for a surprise to my wife (can
    tell she likes your work). I would appreciate if you can figure out a
    piece of work that would serve that purpose. Kindly email images and
    prices of any available works in that range. Thanks and blessing Mark

    Such vagueness is a giveaway, isn't!

    I have sent him a link to this page so he knows we are onto him. Maybe that will help - but I doubt it.

    Anyway, season's greetings and good luck to all us fine artists! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Remember that scammers target PayPal as well to lull potential victims into a false sense of security.

    They will either begin with PayPal and then have some fake sob story why they have to switch to check or credit card (which will be counterfeit or stolen), or recently more common is they will send a fake email that looks exactly like a PayPal email saying the money has been received, when in fact nothing has been received. They are hoping the victim trusts the fake email and never checks their account manually, at least not before wiring money to the non-existent shipper, which is just the scammer at the other end, and then the scam is done.

    So the real levers on this scam to avoid is not how you are paid but these two required pieces of the scam:

    1. Overpayment. This scam requires it and there will be MANY stories as to why the scammer is overpaying, but the overpayment equals the amount they are trying to steal from you. So. Don't ever accept overpayments for any reason while selling online and this scam will be stopped dead in its tracks.

    2. Wire. The scammer needs this because that's how they convert the overpayment into untraceable cash. So there will be many stories of why the overpayment needs to be sent on (or sent back) but its always via wire because any other way would be traceable. So. NEVER agree to wire money to anyone for any reason while selling online and you will not lose money to this scam.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you, KatieMoe. Certainly, I would never send any art until I see money in my Paypal or bank account, verified carefully. And yes, no wiring money to anyone except known personal friends or relatives verified by phone or better, skype (many of us have seen those "I lost my wallet and am stuck in Spain and need airfare" scams, right?). Stay alert, good luck, and Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ha! I was just about to send him an email and thought that I would just google his email for the heck of it. Thanks for posting this!

    On Sat, Jan 9, 2016 at 10:49 PM, Mark Howard wrote:
    Greetings!
    My name is Howard welbeck from SC. I actually observed my wife has
    been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your
    piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various
    works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive
    further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I
    am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field
    above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for
    immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards,
    Howard

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for posting! I was in the process of replying but luckily googled when I suspected something. It didn't seem right because a personal note is usually more specific ... but it can be hard to tell with some of these scammers. Here's the scam note in hopes that others will benefit:

    markhowardwelbeck1980@outlook.com
    "Greetings! My name is m.h. welbeck from SC. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales. Thanks and best regards, Howard"

    ReplyDelete
  12. What clued me to check was the email address he emailed me from was different from the e-address I automatically reply to ...

    On Jan 13, 2016, at 12:07 AM, Mark wrote:

    Message:
    Greetings!
    My name is mark salmon from SC. I actually observed my wife has
    been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your
    piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your
    various
    works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive
    further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I
    am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject
    field
    above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for
    immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards,
    mark .

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for this. After receiving the exact same text, I immediately did a search for the name Mark Howard Wellbeck and your useful post came up at the top of the results.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Can we get gmail to shut down Mark Howard ?? He sent me this message on Jan. 17, 2016
    Greetings!
    >> My name is mark.h. welbeck from SC. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece
    (in subject field above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    >> Thanks and best regards,
    >> mark.

    The poor English always tips me off.

    ReplyDelete
  15. THANKS TO YOU for posting this - I just received the same. Seductive and fishy at the same time. I am grateful to know not to "bite" at this bait. Much appreciated!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Two days ago (Jan. 31 2016) I got another scam mail, similar wording, from a different name and address:

    From: Michael Collins
    Subject: ARTWORK IS NEEDED

    Message Body:
    My name is Michael Collins from CA. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards,
    Michael Collins

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello,thanks for this posting.This person contact through a website.But I note something strange and I look in Google I found this link.Thanks.This happened one day ago.

    NAME: mark howard.w
    EMAIL: markhowardwelbeck1980@gmail.com
    COMMENTS: Greetings! My name is mark howard.w from SC. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales. Thanks and best regards, mark.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Mark is still going strong, got his email about wife a couple days ago....

    ReplyDelete
  19. This was the first result when I got suspicious and Googled "Mark Howard Welbeck" after his second email still failed to specify which piece he actually wanted to buy. Thanks for saving me a lot of hassle!

    ReplyDelete
  20. My art company received this art scam email today from Mark Howard Wellback

    Dear xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    mark (markhowardwelbeck1980@gmail.com
    , 929) 421-7226) has sent you an
    inquiry.

    Message:
    Greetings!
    My name is mark howard.w from SC. I actually observed my wife has
    been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your
    piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various
    works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive
    further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I
    am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field
    above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for
    immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards,
    mark.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I received an almost identical e-mail two days ago (June 19, 2016), now from Daniel Smith at dasmith851@gmail.com . The text:

    "My name is Daniel Smith from MI. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website from on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works, too, :) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards..
    Daniel"

    So new identity but the same scam. I couldn't find any information online about this gmail address, so maybe this comment will help direct the next potential victim to this page when they search for the e-mail address.

    And THANK YOU SO MUCH for this web page! We need all the help we can get to avoid falling victim to these disgusting scammers, and I really appreciate your help!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Omg! Just got the exact mail from dasmith851@gmail.com. anwered him and looked for him on Facebook, couldn't find him so i googled. Luckily found all the comments here...

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hello all,

    A BIG THANK YOU for making this page! What a lifesaver! I almost fell for the scam. Have the check in my hand and everything. Felt so unsure, googled it, found this. Glad I listened to my instincts and the advice of my friends. I wouldn't even have the money to pay the bank back. Incredible. What a horrible person to do this to artists. I also recieved the wife email from Daniel Smith at dasmith851@gmail.com on June 26th, 2016 and corresponded with him all the way up to the mailing the check part. It was a whole lot of bullshit I tell you. Is there any way to alert some sort of Internet police to art scammers???

    ReplyDelete
  24. I just received an email that is identical to some of the others listed above. This fraud is still out there trying to scam artists! Beware of Daniel Smith dasmith851@gmail.com! What a jerk.

    Dear ,
    Thanks for the message ... Good I must tell you I intend to give my wife a surprise with the immediate purchase of the piece. Also If you'd like to know, I'm relocating to the Philippines soon and our wedding anniversary is fast approaching. So I'm trying to gather some good stuff to make this event a surprise one..I'm okay with the Paintings and price $11000 I think it's worth it anyway, so I'll be sending a check.

    As regarding shipping, you don't have to worry about that in order not to leave any clue to my wife for the surprise. as soon as you receive and cash the check, my shipping agent (who is also moving my personal effect) will contact you to arrange pick-up.

    I would have come to purchase the piece myself but, at the moment, am on training voyage to the North Atlantic Ocean (I'm an ocean engineer) with new hires who are fresh from graduate school and won't be back for another couple of weeks.
    Regards,


    PS: In the meantime, kindly get back to me with your full name (you want the check payable to) cell phone no. and contact address (preferably for USPS OR UPS not P.O box) where a check can be mailed to,so I can get the check prepared and have it mailed out to you right away.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Did anyone go as far as trying to deposit the check? What are they really doing?! Stealing from artists? Or from someone else? Or clearing money?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Scammers over pay and ask that the over-payment be sent to some non-existent shipper or sometimes to return the extra and always they will ask it be wired (and then have some excuse in their "story" as to why it has to be wired). In the meantime you have deposited a counterfeit check. Sometimes banks catch it right away but sometimes banks accept it and put it through their verification process and find out its bad later. When they do find out, they will withdraw that amount back out of your account. So the victim is out the amount they wired to the scammer, which is like handing them cash - once the wire is picked up it is untraceable and gone.

    Way to avoid this scam is easy - never accept over-payments for any reason and never wire money to anyone for any reason if you are the seller.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi there!
    I am not a native english or american, so the poor syntax is not an efficient criteria for me to detect frauds. But I googlized the first words of an email received today and have just found the same text under other scammers names. Thank you for your excellent job!
    The new alias of this scammer is lynette Dixon aka Rise Dully aka "Riding Sally" (what a name!!!).
    The message is a copy of a few ones previously posted above:
    ""Date : 13/08/2016
    Nom : lynette dixon
    Sujet : artgallery
    Message : Hello,
    I am Rise Dully from the United Kingdom,I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work. I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, You are doing a great job. I would like to purchase one of your artwork available and ready for sale as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary,so kindly email me back on my private email (riding_sally@yahoo.com) for further details. Also, my method of payment is by Bank Check as mode of Payment.
    Hope to hear back from you soon.
    Regards
    Rise.""

    ReplyDelete
  28. ART SCAM —
    Watch out for Wilson Zimmerman of Boston MA (alias Andrew Carter of Boston MA)
    The email I received:

    Name Wilson Zimmerman
    Subject ARTWORK IS NEEDED
    Message:
    Greetings! My name is Wilson Zimmerman from Boston, MA. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of your artwork ready for sale and as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary. Also, let me know if you accept check as mode of Payment. Thanks and best regards. Wilson Zimmerman
    Email zimmermanwilson@gmail.com

    Telling him you only accept PayPal doesn't stop him. He comes back and let's YOU choose a painting for his wife.

    BEWARE!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Today I got the same ridiculous SCAM letter:

    Dear (my first name)
    John Scotfield (johnscotfield2001@gmail.com, (929) 421-7226) has sent you an inquiry.

    Message:
    Greetings!
    My name is john Scotfield from SC. I actually observed my wife has
    been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your
    piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various
    works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive
    further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I
    am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field
    above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for
    immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards,
    john.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thank you Katie for your blog. I received the same email. My guy used the name of a dead baseball player and said his budget was between $1000 and $10,000.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Received same via my website from "johnscotfield2001@gmail.com"

    ReplyDelete
  32. Got the same crap...

    Daniel Smith
    3:13 PM (18 hours ago)

    to me
    Greetings!!
    My name is Daniel Smith from TX. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards..

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hello , thank you for your post. I am very grateful for your blog alerting the circulating art scams. From time to time we receive similar scams.

    it read:

    "Greetings! My name is john Scotfield from SC. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I
    am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards,
    john."

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thank you for this post!! I just received one of these as well. I could tell it was sketch just by the way it was written and vagueness... the english was weird. I figured the person who wrote isn't a native english speaker, but has a name like Daniel Smith, so I googled and found this thread!

    My name is Daniel Smith from CA. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards..
    Daniel.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I thought maybe will be good...

    shit :/

    ReplyDelete
  36. I received the same email with a different name.

    " Name: Daniel Smith
    Email: dasmith851@gmail.com
    Subject: Artwork is needed
    Question: Greetings!!
    My name is Daniel Smith from TX. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards..
    Daniel"

    ReplyDelete
  37. Today (October 16, 2016) I got the same email with the same sender as Anonymous received on October 13, 2016.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think they found my work via Amazon.com -
      Robert Reynolds is the new 'buyer' such evil crap. here is the latest incarnation of the email scam.
      And Thank you for this site!!! Usually I can sniff these out but this one somehow got me.

      Robert Reynolds
      To -------
      Message body
      Hello--- I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work.I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, You are doing a great job. I would like to purchase one of your ------ Painting, Oil - 30.0" x 24.0" $----, as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary. Also, let me know if you accept check as mode of Payment.
      Thanks
      Rob.

      Delete
  38. Thank you so much for this!! I've been emailing a John Scotfield back and forth for a day or so. Exact wording as what's posted here. Unfortunately I send him my mailing address and cell number as I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Then I went googling and found this and other sites alerting me of the scam. I think getting a check for more than my price would totally set me off, but now that I've read all of this here I'm ready for it. As soon as it comes in the mail I will rip it up and tell John I'm onto him. My intuition was ringing and I didn't listen...but at least I can end it before any harm to my wallet is done!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I just want to post a quick update on my previous comment (from Oct. 20,2016). John emailed me back after I fell for his scam and gave him my mailing address...it was a really short email saying that the check can only be cashed in the USA (I'm Canadian), and to write him back if I have anyone in the USA that can accept a check in the mail for me. So I'm off the hook lol!!! He will NOT be receiving a reply from me that's for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  40. We been receiving also emails that I want to share so everyone is advise. The person provided the same phone number appears in one of the message already published but of course he changes his name and email address. There is any way we can provide this to the police? can this be stopped in some point? or can this person be catch?

    Name: john marcus
    Email: johnmarcus736@gmail.com
    Message: Greetings
    My name is John Marcus from NC. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales. Thanks and best regards, John Marcus


    Hi ..i will like to inform you that our
    anniversary is coming soon and if you really want to have my full
    details.....John Marcus my address 226 Providence Pt, Anderson, NC
    29626 (929) 421-7226 Regards John

    ReplyDelete
  41. Add: john Scotfield, johnscotfield2001@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hi there. Got the same email from johnmarcus736@gmail.com.
    I believed it for a while and exchanged quite a few emails with the guy and even got a shipping address
    Richard Marron
    1911 E 17th St.
    City: ID Falls
    IDAHO
    83404

    I don't know what can be done, but if this piece of information is useful please feel free to forward it...

    ReplyDelete
  43. HI All, I am really deep into this so I thought I would share since some of you don't know quite how this scam works. He eventually sends you VERY real looking check. But the sender of the check is not him . It is a company (a real one) that sells auto parts in North Carolina. ( I was suspicious from the get go on this thing. Once the check came is when I found out "Mr. Scotfield" was probably living in Nigeria.) So, he sent me the first check and this was my response (after keeping him waiting 5 days....)
    Hi John,
    Thank you for your lovely text. thank you for asking about my family.
    Please use my email because I don't check texts very often since i rarely carry a phone.
    I have bad news. I did not realize the check would be coming in such a
    large envelope . I thought it was something else when I opened it and
    unfortunately when I opened it I tore the check in half. I took it as soon
    as I got it to the bank to cash it so I could get you the painting as quickly as possible but the bank would not take the check in its damaged state.... I am happy to take a photo of the check if you would like and
    send it to you... IF you need that.
    Can you cancel the check and send another one as soon as possible. When it arrives I will hurry to the bank. I can get the painting shipped as soon as possible as I know your
    anniversary must be fast approaching!
    So sorry for the inconvenience! We have to get this resolved as soon as possible as I am soon moving to Africa.
    Thank you , John.
    XXXXXXXX
    This was his response:
    Okay XXXXXXX , will keep you posted when another check
    payment i mailed this week .. have a great weekend ..John
    (The check was for $2500 over the amount of the painting. So I am supposed to take it to my bank to cash it but he is leaning on me to hurry so hopefully I won't wait for it to clear to send him the money through Money Gram. He gave me the name of the recipient (not on FB either ) who lives in Idaho. When I google mapped the address it is an apt building but he provided no apartment number...this is supposed to be his shipping agent. SO that is how it works.
    I was not as suspicious as i should have been because I get emails to buy my paintings all the time.... they don't always work out but I have sold several paintings to people for their partner's birthdays and anniversaries. This one WAS particularly easy, though! RED FLAG! oh well, live and learn.
    How long you think I can keep asking for new checks? I figure each time he sends one he is out about $10-$15.
    Going to start a Facebook page. When it is up and running please feel free to come and post the name he/ they used for you! Thank you for this blog. Helped confirm what I already KNEW!!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hey thank you for this post, i was about to send him he prices of my artwork, received this mail on 25 october 2016 from dasmith851@gmail.com :

    Greetings!!
    My name is Daniel Smith from Florida. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards..
    Daniel


    Thanks for the info...

    ReplyDelete
  45. Just received this one....On 16 Nov 2016, at 12:57, Sally Riding wrote:

    Greetings! My name is Rise dully from United Kingdom. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work. I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too,You are doing a great job. I would like to purchase some of your artwork available at range of £100 to £1,500 can you list some of the items available now? and ready for sale as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary. Also, my method of payment is by Bank Cheque as mode of Payment. Thanks and best regards.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I just received the same bs email from johnmarcus736@gmail.com via my portfolio online. Instant red flag was he was unable to share with me what piece that his "wife" was interested in. Asked that I send files with pricing and instantly I thought to myself " if he's looking at my online portfolio why should I be catologing my pieces". So they have files of my work to steal? 2nd red flag is that they asked for landscapes. I don't work in landscapes. Gotta try a little harder next time pal. It's disheartening to see that there's people scamming artists out of money and their work

    ReplyDelete
  47. yep. just had the same thing happen to me. entered his email address: dasmith851@gmail.com - and your site popped up. I knew he wasn't for real when I mentioned my gallerist and using Paypal to pay.

    horrible people. wish there was a way to retaliate.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Just got this same BS. Wish there was a way to alert more artists about this nonsense. With so many in need of money, it would be so easy for many to fall for this garbage.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Just got one the same too. Thank you for your blog!!
    jcena500500@gmail.com> wrote:

    Greetings!
    My name is john Cena from SC. I actually observed my wife has
    been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your
    piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various
    works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive
    further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I
    am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field
    above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for
    immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards,
    john.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Received the same message today from Wilson Zimmerman

    Name Wilson Zimmerman
    Subject Artwork Inquiry
    Message Greetings! My name is Wilson Zimmerman from OH. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, You are doing a great job! I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you.. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales. Best..
    Phone 559) 633-9470
    Email zimmermanwilson@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I received a scam email from "John Cena" a couple of days ago:
    Name: john cena

    Email Address: jcena5050@gmail.com

    Subject: artwork is neeeded

    Message: Greetings!
    My name is john Cena from SC. I actually observed my wife has
    been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your
    piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various
    works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive
    further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I
    am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field
    above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for
    immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards,
    john.

    I responded and received this email which prompted me to look him up:

    Dear : Eleanor Louise
    Thanks for the message, I must tell you I intend to give my wife a
    surprise with the immediate purchase of the piece. Also If you'd like
    to know, I'm relocating to the Philippines soon and our wedding
    anniversary is fast approaching. So I'm trying to gather some good
    stuff to make this event a surprise one. I am buying After image I,
    Acrylic and charcoal on linen board. 2015. 25.4cm x 35.5cm FRAMED of
    $700

    as a gifts to her.I'm okay
    with the price, I think it's worth it anyway, so I'll be sending a
    check.

    As regarding shipping, you don't have to worry about that in order not
    to leave any clue to my wife for the surprise. as soon as you receive
    and cash the check, my shipping agent (who is also moving my personal
    effect) will contact you to arrange pick-up.

    I would have come to purchase the piece myself but, at the moment, am
    on training voyage to the North Atlantic Ocean (I'm an ocean engineer)
    with new hires who are fresh from graduate school and won't be back
    for another couple of weeks.

    Regards,

    John c

    PS: In the meantime, kindly get back to me with your full name (you
    want the check payable to) cell phone no. and contact address
    (preferably for Usps ,fedEx not P.O box) where a check can be mailed
    to, so I can get the check prepared and have it mailed out to you
    right away

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just received the same email....from John Cena: jcena700700@gmail.com

      Greetings!
      My name is john Cena from SC. I actually observed my wife has
      been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your
      piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various
      works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive
      further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I
      am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field
      above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for
      immediate sales.
      Thanks and best regards,
      john.

      Delete
  52. Had the same type of email:

    Greetings!
    My name is Wilson Zimmerman from OH. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, You are doing a great job! I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you.. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.

    Best..

    ReplyDelete
  53. This "man" is persistent! I just received the exact same email from a "John Kennedy" with the same phone number. I Googled the number because it seemed odd that he didn't actually name the piece of art "(in subject field above)" haha. Thanks for the heads up warning!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Thank you for alerting me to the scam that is 'John Cena'! Perhaps everyone should reply as I did...

    To: 'John Cena'
    Subject: RE: Enquiry RE: artwork is needed

    Dear John

    Thank you very much for your email, we are thrilled that you would like to purchase 'Underwater (Sketch)'. Unfortunately, for you, we are fantastic at googling. http://stopartscams.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/scam-email-greg-hembree.html May I suggest that you kindly look elsewhere for your fraudulent business.

    Regards.

    Lulu


    Thanks again to whoever made this post - How do we alert Gmail that he is fraud?

    ReplyDelete
  55. This one from Wilson Zimmerman came Feb 23, 2017 it
    says,

    "Greetings!

    My name is Wilson Zimmerman from OH. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, You are doing a great job! I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you.. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.

    Best.."

    ReplyDelete
  56. How to Report Gmail fraud?

    Click on the downward pointing arrow to the right of the "Reply" button on your toolbar in order to open a drop-down menu. Select the "Report phishing" option from the drop-down menu by right-clicking. A small dialogue box will open automatically after you select this option.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Robert Craft <deepcarrington580@gmail.com
    My name is Robert Craft from Washington D.C USA. I was looking for some artwork online and i found your contact while searching. I will like to purchase some of your work for my wife as a surprise gift for our 20th anniversary. Please kindly send pics and prices of some of your art which are ready for immediate sale within price range $500- $5000, i could be flexible with price. So i will hope to hear a lot more about any available piece in your inventory ready for immediate sale.



    Best Regards

    ReplyDelete
  58. He is now John Marcus from NC, and I wasted time trying to resolve his buying issues before I thought to google. So annoying. Thank you for your blogpost!

    ReplyDelete
  59. I received this scam email letter May 2017.
    "Am Anthony Petrello from California. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work. I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, You are doing a great job. I would like to purchase one of your Collections "name of Sculpture", as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary. Also, let me know if you accept check as mode of Payment."

    followed up by: "Thanks for the message, I must tell you I intend to give my wife a surprise with the immediate purchase of the artwork. If you'd like to know, I'm relocating to Canada soon and our wedding anniversary is fast approaching. So I'm trying to gather some good stuff to make this event a surprise. I am okay with the price, I think its worth it anyways.

    As regarding payment, I would like to inform you, that my wife handles the family credit card/bank and Paypal transaction. So i would authorize a check to you for the payment. Also, as soon as you receive the check and it clears your bank, my shipping agent who is also moving my Truck and personal effect will contact you to arrange shipping/pick up of the piece from you (this is to avoid my wife receiving it, if been shipped directly to my address would ruin the surprise for this event). You both have to sign a proof of pick up at the most.

    I would have handled this much differently if I'd been at home but at the moment, am on training voyage to the North Atlantic Ocean, (I'm an ocean engineer) with new hires who are fresh from graduate school and won't be back for another couple of weeks, and do not have access to a lot of cash over here to expedite this transaction.. So trying to kill two birds with a stone.

    Regards,

    Anthony Petrello.

    PS: In the meantime, kindly get back to me with your full Name as you want it to appear on the check, house address where you want the check delivered by courier service including your zip code, so the check can be sent right away."

    ReplyDelete
  60. We have received a number of emails in the last past weeks for a scammer who also goes by the name of John Davidson:
    Greetings
    My name is John Davidson from NC. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales. Thanks and best regards, John Davidson

    His address has been quoted as:John D
    my address 226 Providence Pt, Anderson, NC 29626 (929) 421-7226
    Regards
    John

    ReplyDelete
  61. I get these all the time. Here is one from today

    Name: john owen
    Email: johnowen10001000@gmail.com
    Phone: (929) 421-7226
    Comments: Greetings!
    My name is john Owen from NC. I actually observed my wife has been
    viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of
    work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works
    too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further
    information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very
    much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field
    above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    (johnowen10001000@gmail.com)Thanks and best regards,
    john

    ReplyDelete
  62. Got this one today - I am gonna respond and totally waste his time and be frustrating.

    :D

    from johnowen10001000@gmail.com

    Name: john owen
    Email: johnowen10001000@gmail.com
    Phone: (929) 421-7226
    Comments: Greetings!
    My name is john Owen from NC. I actually observed my wife has been
    viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of
    work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works
    too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further
    information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very
    much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field
    above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    (johnowen10001000@gmail.com)Thanks and best regards,
    john

    ReplyDelete
  63. Got one too today from this idiot johnowen10001000@gmail. While I responded with pricing of my art, I just knew this was a total scam so I will report it.

    ReplyDelete
  64. This scammer is still at it. I received a message from John Owen10001000 in June 2017. I was suspicious and googled the name but nothing came up. Because the email was so general, I decided not to reply, and I'm glad I waited. Thanks so much for helping out other artists!

    ReplyDelete
  65. I received and email from John Owen10001000 two days ago. I don't understand what they are trying to do... but nothing good! Thanks for sharing this information!

    This was the email:
    Greetings!
    My name is john Owen from NC. I actually observed my wife has been
    viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of
    work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works
    too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further
    information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very
    much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field
    above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
    (johnowen10001000@gmail.com)Thanks and best regards,
    john

    ReplyDelete
  66. Now we have Kevin Waters, an ocean engineer! Many thanks for the post.

    This was his e-mail:
    "My name is Kevin Waters from Jacksonville, Florida. The images on your website are so fascinating and so vivacious, looking at each piece of work i can easily see that you added so much dedication in making each work come out to life, unfortunately i lost the website where i first saw your work but i was able to save your email address. I will like to purchase some of your work for my wife as a surprise gift for our 20th anniversary. Please kindly send pics and prices of some of your art which are ready for immediate sale within price range $500- $5,000, I could be flexible with price."

    ReplyDelete
  67. ohnowen10001000@gmail.com) is still at it. I have been stringing him on for over a week now to waste his time that he would be spending on unsuspecting people. I should receive a check from him soon. (not to be deposited), I think I'll start collecting them as trophies.

    ReplyDelete
  68. I too just got an email from johnowen10001000@gmail.com matching many of those here. I'm an artist and just did a google search for his gmail address — thank goodness he hasn't done this or he might be on to the fact that we know he's a time-wasting scammer. I reported him to gmail for phishing and blocked him. Easy peasy.

    ReplyDelete
  69. This sounds to me like a mutation of the same scammer


    On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 2:22 AM Williams Moore wrote:
    Hello how are you? My name is Ethan . I would like to know if you can paint a mural for me in my new house?
    ...
    After I replied back he writes:


    Hello Agustin

    I am currently out of town in the hospital in Pontiac, MI for my Chemotherapy as i am diagnosed of my lung cancer . i bought my childhood house here in the city . i am yet to move in into the property so there is no one there now as i want to paint a mural to gift my wife for her birthday which is the same day i will be moving into the property. can i send the picture of the mural to you to know if you can paint something similar? Here is the copy of the picture attached and its going to be exactly 15wide by 8ft.wall dimension let me know if you can work on something similar and how much will this cost me

    ReplyDelete
  70. Beware Friends!!

    Just a week ago I got a Email from ''johnowen10001000@gmail.com'' from U.S. sent via my website contact page asking for immediate painting sale.
    After getting few emails I felt a strong doubt in his fraud conversation, and today I googled by the mail address.
    I have found this is a scam mail which is sent to many renounced galleries and artists.

    Please be aware from these type of traps. They mainly target the artists.
    Here is the scam email I got. Also I have found the same email content by different id-names on Google search.

    The scam email below :
    ''Hello, Hope you are fine? Pardon my manners, i'm John Owen from NC. You are doing a really great job in your artworks. I observed my wife has been viewing your site on my laptop, shes an art lover and i can see she has interest in your art piece. well I was also amazed after seeing your various works too. I would love to receive further information about your piece of work and what actually inspires your imagination so vividly. Very much interested in purchasing a piece to surprise my wife. So kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales. Thanks and my best regards. John''

    #artscamalert

    ReplyDelete
  71. THANK YOU so much for posting this, I just had the same from a John Davidson5050@gmail.com, almost exactly the same text.

    I thought it was weird he wasn't bothered about specifying the title of the piece he wanted. And then offered to pay a weird amount that wasn't what I'd asked for.

    THANK YOU again for saving me from this scam.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Here is a new one from DENNIS MILLER grtr01@aol.com

    "Thanks for the message, I must tell you I intend to give my wife a surprise with the immediate purchase of the piece. If you'd like to know, I'm relocating to Canada soon and our wedding anniversary is fast approaching. So I'm trying to gather some good stuff to make this event a surprise.

    As regarding payment, I would like to inform you, that my wife handles the family credit card/bank and Paypal transaction. So i would authorize a check to you for the payment. Also, as soon as you receive the check and it clears your bank, my shipping agent who is also moving my Truck and personal effect will contact you to arrange shipping/pick up of the piece from you (this is to avoid my wife receiving it, if been shipped directly to my address would ruin the surprise for this event). You both have to sign a proof of pick up at the most. So you don't bother on shipping, I am okay with the price, i think its worth it anyways.

    I would have handled this much differently if I'd been at home but at the moment, am on training voyage to the North Atlantic Ocean, (I'm an ocean engineer) with new hires who are fresh from graduate school and won't be back for another couple of weeks, and do not have access to a lot of cash over here to expedite this transaction.. So trying to kill two birds with a stone.

    Regards,

    Dennis.

    PS: In the meantime, kindly get back to me with your full Name as you want it to appear on the check, house address where you want the piece delivered by courier service including your zip code, so the check can be sent right away.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Jack has left a new comment on your post "Scam Email: Greg Hembree":

    Here's another:
    name = john glenn
    email = johnglenn10001@gmail.com
    phone = (929) 421-7226
    comments = greetings!
    My name is john glenn from sc. I actually observed my wife has been
    viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of
    work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works
    too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further
    information about your piece of work and what inspires your idea of
    creativity. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in
    subject field above) to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the
    availability for immediate sales.
    Thanks and best regards,
    john.
    REMOTE_HOST: 105.112.19.224

    ReplyDelete
  74. Same bologna as "john glenn (johnglenn10001@gmail.com") 0n Sept 4, 2017 Same letter exactly. Shame, shame on them!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Name john glenn
    Email johnglenn10001@gmail.com
    Subject artwork inquiry
    Message HI! My name is john glenn from Sc. I was looking for some artwork online and i found your contact while searching. I will like to purchase some of your work for my wife as a surprise gift for our anniversary i guess she likes your piece of work,I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. Please kindly send pics and prices of some of your original art which are ready for immediate sale within my price range $500- $2000. I hope to hear a lot more about your piece of work and what inspires your idea of creativity. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales. Thanks and best regards, john.

    Sent on: 17 September, 2017

    ReplyDelete
  76. Same scam, new name:

    > Floyd Jackson
    > floyd_jack17@aol.com
    >
    > Subject:
    > Original Artwork - The Face of Persephone I
    >
    > Message:
    > Hello, my name is Floyd from California. I must say, this is an interesting piece I actually observed my wife likes your piece of work. I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, you're indeed talented. I would like to purchase this piece "The Face of Persephone I" as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary soon. Kindly get back to me so we can discuss further.

    ReplyDelete
  77. I just got a new one -- now from a Barbara Nick from Ohio, but still using the immediately recognizable "actually observed my wife has been viewing your website" line that I heard before from "Mark Howard Welbeck." On some level I do really appreciate that this scam is now gender-neutral/pro-same-sex marriage, but I still plan to sign up "Barbara"'s email address with several organizations that send way too many emails. They mildly waste a bit of my time, I'll waste a bit of theirs.

    ReplyDelete
  78. I received an identical email as others have. I am so glad I found this site before going any further. It's so hard to trust anyone anymore!
    Hello
    I'm John from North Carolina. I recently observed my wife has been
    surfing ya page on my laptop, she is an art lover and i see she is
    interested in your art pieces. Well, I was also amazed after seeing
    your various works, like whow!!! quite an insane level of creativity
    ya got. I would really love to receive further information because i
    am interested in purchasing a piece as a surprise for her. Would you
    be kind enough to confirm the availability for immediate sales. Thank
    you and my best regards. John Davidson

    ReplyDelete
  79. I was corresponding with a scammer (John Davidson from NC). He had the exact same scripted message as shown above. I wish there was something that can be done to stop these thieves!

    ReplyDelete
  80. Dear Greg,
    Thank you for your useful blog. I'm adding an email I got today to hopefully help others.
    Just received a John Davidson email this morning. The senders email address is johndavidson700700@gmail.com
    Here is the email:

    Hello
    I'm John from North Carolina. I recently observed my wife has been
    surfing ya page on my laptop, she is an art lover and i see she is
    interested in your art pieces. Well, I was also amazed after seeing
    your various works, like whow!!! quite an insane level of creativity
    ya got. I would really love to receive further information because i
    am interested in purchasing a piece as a surprise for her. Would you
    be kind enough to confirm the availability for immediate sales. Thank
    you and my best regards. John Davidson

    ReplyDelete
  81. Thanks for saving my time from this scammer, too. I have been wondering and had some doubts, Good I googled.

    HELLO
    i'm John Owen from North Carolina,I actually observed my wife has
    been viewing your site on my laptop,shes an art lover and i can see
    she has interest in your art piece.well I was also amazed after seeing
    your various works too. I would love to receive further information
    about your piece of work available for sale.Am interested in
    purchasing a piece to surprise her. So kindly confirm the availability
    for immediate sales. Thanks and my best regards.
    John

    ReplyDelete
  82. John Davidson, “an ocean engineer in North Carolina,” scammed me in October 2017. When I realized I was being scammed I spent the evening doing a series of Google searches and developed in site into into the method the scammers use.

    First they found my web site with an email address that linked to my gmail account, which is the one they used.

    They went to Whois, entered the email address on my website and found the address for my gmail. That should have made me suspicious, because had they use the email connected to my website, I would have been very open to their approach. I was anyway.

    They sent me a check to cover the cost of the print and shipping it to the Phillipines, FedEx with a legitimate return address. I deposited it.

    Then came the alerts that I was being scammed.

    Walmart issued a fraud alert on my money gram. I blew up and yelled at the woman she was trashing my reputation. I have to apologize to Walmart.

    Fortunately, my banker told me about how scams operate as I took cash from my account to send to the shippers. I have to thank her.

    Now the scammer was texting me. He gave me two names and B of A account numbers. I deposited the cash in one of the accounts.

    The names given me turned out to be two Africans actors with Facebook accounts. I let a notice that their names were being used in a scam.

    When I got a desperate email telling to go to the post office, get certified check, and mail it to a name and address.

    Finally, I got suspicious. I texted the scammer that the charges for his goods and my photo to the Phillipines looked like a scam and I would start Googleing him.

    That was the last I heard from him.

    The Google search revealed that the person who was to be the shipper, is a real person living in Kentucky.

    The address I was to send the certified check to is a nursing home in Reno, Nevada, the person I was to send it to was dead.

    I am hoping that if I post their methods, other artists will be warned.

    Unfortunately, these scammers are pros who have ven at it for at least two years. A lot of artists have been scammed and this posting is at the bottom of the list.

    I wish there were another way to alert artists to the Scam.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Here is what I received today

    johndavidson500500@gmail.com

    Hello
    I'm John from North Carolina. I recently observed my wife has been surfing ya page on my laptop, she is an art lover and i see she is interested in your art pieces. Well, I was also amazed after seeing your various works, like whow!!! quite an insane level of creativity ya got. I would really love to receive further information because i am interested in purchasing a piece as a surprise for her. Would you be kind enough to confirm the availability for immediate sales. Thank you and my best regards. John Davidson

    I will not be answering this email, because they can find all the information about my paintings/availability/prices on-line

    Best wishes to everyone

    ReplyDelete
  84. Hi there, this is, what I received last week in Germany:

    Greetings!
    My name is Dennison Brixon, I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work. I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, You are doing a great job. I would like to purchase some of your artwork available and ready for sale as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary. Also, my method of payment is by Bank Check as mode of Payment.
    Thanks and best regards

    ReplyDelete
  85. Here is one I got recently - looks a little more legit, but I highly doubt it

    Hello,

    I live in Chicago, Il and I saw one of you paintings in a customer's home in Lincolnwood, Il. I couldn't stop looking at it. I got your name from her and looked up your work with my girlfriend. We love your work and were wondering how we could see your work in person and possibly purchase something to put in our home.

    Thanks,
    Greg Maciaszkiewicz

    ReplyDelete
  86. hi, i just got one from Sally Riding in Aberdeen as follows:
    "Greetings!
    My name is Rise dully from United Kingdom. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work. I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too,You are doing a great job. I would like to purchase one of your artwork available below and ready for sale as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary. Also, my method of payment is by Bank Cheque as mode of Payment and if you agreed get back to me with the details below now."

    ReplyDelete
  87. We received the same Rise Dully as the Anonymous user above. Must be the latest round of this... Luckily the vagueness of the email had alarm bells ringing!

    ReplyDelete
  88. Just had this through. Please note email address is different!!

    Greetings!
    My name is Rise dully from United Kingdom. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work. I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too,You are doing a great job. I would like to purchase one of your artwork available below and ready for sale as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary. Also, my method of payment is by Bank Cheque as mode of Payment and if you agreed get back to me with the details below now.
    Sally Riding

    ReplyDelete
  89. Thanks so much for creating this page.
    Here is one I just got:

    Name john scotfield
    Email johnscotfield2001@gmail.com
    Subject artwork inquiry
    Message Greetings! My name is john scotfield from SC. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and
    amazed to have seen your various works too, : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I am very much interested in the purchase of the piece (in subject field above) to surprise
    my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales. Thanks and best regards, john
    Sent on: 27 June, 2018
    Thank you!

    I wrote back asking which painting in particular he was interested in.

    He replied:
    Thanks for the message, however, I would greatly appreciate if you
    could possibly recommend a few completed original piece within my
    budget $1000- $2500 ready for immediate sale... Just need something
    within that price range for a surprise to my wife (can tell she likes
    your work). I would appreciate if you can figure out a piece of work
    that would serve that purpose. Kindly email images and prices of any
    available works in that range.
    Thanks and blessing
    john.

    ugh.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Just had this through. Email address is different again: thomasjeff10000001000000@gmail.com

    Here it is:
    Thanks for the message, I must tell you I intend to give my wife a
    surprise with the immediate purchase of the piece. Also If you'd like
    to know, I'm relocating to the Philippines soon and our wedding
    anniversary is fast approaching. So I'm trying to gather some good
    stuff to make this event a surprise one. I am buying Piece of Heaven
    of 2350 USD as a gifts to her.I'm okay with the price, I think it's
    worth it anyway, so I'll be sending a check.

    As regarding shipping, you don't have to worry about that in order not
    to leave any clue to my wife for the surprise. as soon as you receive
    and cash the check, my shipping agent (who is also moving my personal
    effect) will contact you to arrange pick-up.

    I would have come to purchase the piece myself but, at the moment, am
    on training voyage to the North Atlantic Ocean (I'm an ocean engineer)
    with new hires who are fresh from graduate school and won't be back
    for another couple of weeks.

    Regards,

    Thomas.

    PS: In the meantime, kindly get back to me with your full name (you
    want the check payable to) cell phone no. and contact address
    (preferably for Ups ,fedEx not P.O box) where a check can be mailed
    to, so I can get the check prepared and have it mailed out to you
    right away.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Thank you for this page! I live in Switzerland and this message came to me:

    Greetings!
    My name is Rise dully from United Kingdom. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work. I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too,You are doing a great job. I would like to purchase one of your artwork available below and ready for sale as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary. Also, my method of payment is by Bank Check as mode of Payment and if you agreed get back to me with the details now.

    Regards
    BK

    ReplyDelete
  92. I received almost word for word the same E-Mail.

    My name is Thomas Lyte from Seattle.. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, :) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you..Also, kindly email me back with some images and price list of your artworks that is ready for immediate sales within my price range ($1,000- $8,000).. Hope to hear from you soon..

    Thanks and best regards.

    Thomas
    Scary stuff! Thank you for posting.

    ReplyDelete