tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334260376400900106.post5706321246703285205..comments2024-02-11T23:48:59.841-08:00Comments on Stop Art Scams: Scammers That Target ArtistsKatieMoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998438534712939464noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334260376400900106.post-65757720213667331222016-06-15T06:19:10.797-07:002016-06-15T06:19:10.797-07:00Just received one similar to this. I recognized th...Just received one similar to this. I recognized the "without any tribulation" line, immediately. Once you've seen enough of these, they're easy to recognize.<br /><br />I've seen more than enough of them. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334260376400900106.post-49893620135445957662016-01-25T19:50:17.186-08:002016-01-25T19:50:17.186-08:00At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how t...At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how they manage to scam you - Western Union, cheque, PayPal, money order - they do scam you. The fact that it doesn't look possible is what makes it work.<br /><br />One thing many (not all) of these have in common is they don't even name any of the work they want to buy in that first email - it's just "artwork on your site" (which they also rarely mention by URL). And that's because your email address was likely farmed by a computer, not a human being who actually visited your site. Note, however, that some are slightly more sophisticated and do manage to farm the name of a painting or two.<br /><br />If you receive such an email, copy the first sentence and plonk it in Google. Invariably you'll find lots of people got the exact same email (often from a different "person") and you may even end up here, like I did :) <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334260376400900106.post-52988228711121035522015-11-08T06:48:25.761-08:002015-11-08T06:48:25.761-08:001. PayPal is somewhat more protective but not comp...1. PayPal is somewhat more protective but not completely - scammers have a paypal angle. They will attempt to do one of two things. Say they will pay with PayPal and then come up with some story of why that isn't working and can they use a certified check (which will be counterfeit). Or they will pretend to pay with PayPal and send a completely forged version of an email that looks identical to what PayPal would send to confirm a payment has been paid. But it hasn't and the scammer is counting on the victim not checking their account manually before wiring the overpayment to a nonexistent shipper. <br /><br />2. I have talked about this elsewhere in the blog but it is never about the items they are pretending to buy, it is about getting victims to wire an "overpayment" to some non-existent shipper. Then it is like cash and the scammer can pick it up and disappear and it is untraceable. <br /><br />3. Typically not. Some scammers may try more pressure to keep you in the scam "funnel" by calling you a few times, even threatening to report you to the authorities (haha). But their scam is a numbers game and if they see they are not going to scam you, they then quickly move on to the next potential victim. <br /><br />Having said that, try not to give strangers information that could help scammers sell your information to identity thieves who can be building a database filling in information on massive numbers of potential victims. But I don't think they can do much with a phone number and website address. KatieMoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998438534712939464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334260376400900106.post-12313274826509522342015-11-07T21:18:54.940-08:002015-11-07T21:18:54.940-08:00Hi, I had an email exchange with DENNIS MORGAN. He...Hi, I had an email exchange with DENNIS MORGAN. Here is the first of many emails:<br />OCT 14<br />Hope this message finds you well,im Dennis from Washington DC,was<br />browsing through the internet and my eyes caught some of your<br />works,i'm interested in purchasing some of your works for some spaces<br />within my new house to make it unique and beautiful.<br />Can I have few images of your recent works?I won't mind having your<br />main website so as to explore more into your works.kindly reply with<br />your cell number.<br />Dennis<br /><br />Also in one of the other comments (Richard Crookes December 19, 2010 at 10:23 PM), he states his scammer wanted to use Paypal. Dennis Morgan only had a "certified check" and when I told him I would only accept payment through PayPal, THAT ended THAT!<br /><br />But he was so believable! Very sophisticated! Spoke good English. Very few spelling or grammatical errors. <br /><br />What I am curious about is 3 things:<br />1. If someone agreed to pay thru Paypal, what could go wrong?<br /><br />2. Are these scammers furnishing their own houses with free fine craft?<br /><br />3. I gave him my phone number and website address. Could that get me in trouble?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334260376400900106.post-27121225779690606062015-09-10T18:02:24.031-07:002015-09-10T18:02:24.031-07:00You know because the scammers have various stories...You know because the scammers have various stories but ultimately they find a way to overpay (for something they have no real intention of buying) and try to get the victim to wire the difference, typically their story is to some non-existent shipper, but it can vary. One the money is wired, it is gone and untraceable. In the meantime, your bank has probably now figured out the original check is fake and they withdraw the full amount from your account. So you are out the difference.<br /><br />That's how it works. So don't accept over-payments - for any reason, and don't wire money to anyone trying to help a sale go through.KatieMoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998438534712939464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334260376400900106.post-54703727618134486302015-09-10T17:58:49.413-07:002015-09-10T17:58:49.413-07:00I received a similar email(s). How do you know its...I received a similar email(s). How do you know its a scam?<br />JV Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334260376400900106.post-16820813679823524162015-08-22T08:32:27.063-07:002015-08-22T08:32:27.063-07:00Jess Slagleton
Aug 18 (4 days ago)
to me
Hi the...Jess Slagleton <br />Aug 18 (4 days ago)<br /><br />to me <br />Hi there,<br /><br />Can you please confirm if I can purchase pieces of work from your gallery?<br />I am from Europe, I know the difficulties encountered shipping<br />internationally I hope we can sort this out without any tribulation.<br /><br />Kindly get back to me with your available work or updated website that<br />displays your current work only if you accept my request<br />All the best.<br />Regards<br /><br /><br />Jess Slagleton<br />10:18 AM (21 hours ago)<br /><br />to me <br /><br />Why is this message in Spam? You clicked "Report spam" for this message. Learn more<br />Thank you so much for your urgent response, and bellow are the list of<br />works that interest me:<br /><br />[Name].<br />====================<br />[Name].<br />=======================<br />[Name].<br />=======================<br />[Name].<br /><br />I want you to get back to me with the cost of the above pieces only<br />if they are still available in your gallery or possession then<br />we can figure out about shipping and insurance cost<br />I will be waiting, so that you can have my credit card number to run<br />for the payment<br /><br />All the best<br />Slag-ton<br /><br />Christaki Kranou 11 Street,<br />Limassol, Cyprus 4041<br />CyprusAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334260376400900106.post-53104062096208037382010-12-19T22:23:03.930-08:002010-12-19T22:23:03.930-08:00Hi Kathleen - good work - here is one I suspect......Hi Kathleen - good work - here is one I suspect...<br />On 20/12/10 07:24, "johnphillip77@yahoo.com" <br />wrote:<br />> <br />> Hello, I would like to make inquiry about your artwork.<br />> <br />> 1, What is the best price you are willing to sell it?<br />> 2, Do you accept PayPal as term of payment?<br />> 3, Would you allow a private shippers to come for the picked up of the artwork<br />> after have paid for it?<br />> <br />> I would be waiting to read from you.<br />> Regards.<br /><br />and a second email...<br /><br />Hello,<br />thanks for mailing back,i am an oceanographer and i am buying this artwork for my dad, i am at sea right now,and I can only pay through PayPal and you can put the PayPal charges on me because as at present, i don't have access to my bank account online,but i have it attached to my PayPal account,and this is why i insisted on using PayPal to pay,all i will need is your PayPal email address to make the payments,i have a pick up agent that will come for the pick up after payments has been sorted and will also handle the paper works. Be rest assured of a secured transaction because i am a serious buyer and i will only take the artwork after payments has been sorted out.Thanks and<br />God blessRichard Crookeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14521640505869864343noreply@blogger.com