Robert Hallins [sgtrobhallins@hotmail.com]
which, from the email address, might be the same scammer who loves to send out millions of scam emails under the name of Sgt Mike Walters.
These scammers pretend that they are not accessible or in a place where they can be contacted because they are in the military and out of the country. Just despicable to use the military as their cover story to trick people.
I've been getting a bunch of emails, from artists, so my guess is this scammer has found some site that has a bunch of artists that can be contacted. In any case, if you see an email from this name, or any name where they are trying to pay with a certified check, claiming to use their own shipping company, and (here's the for-sure red flag) they overpay and ask you to wire the difference to the shipping company (or back to them) - DON'T DO IT! Just delete everything, ignore all future emails, come share the emails with us and post them online, but then go back to making great art.
Kathleen,
Thanks for your post.
I received emails from a Robert Hallins (sgtrobhallins@hotmail.com), as well as from a Tom Woodruff.
Foolishly, I made the mistake of responding to the Hallins email. He immediately wrote back. But, I was suspicious, so I did some Googling and found your post.
The reply email states that he's out of the country on business, but will send a bank certified check and would like me to work with his shipper. I have a background in corporate law, and it is my understanding that there's no such thing as a bank certified check. There are checks certified by banks, which are called certified checks, and there are checks drawn on a bank's own account (as opposed to a client's account), which are called bank checks. Banks don't certify their own checks.
I will now just ignore his emails, and if I get any calls I'll record them and refer them to the authorities.
Too bad there are people like this out there. The Internet can be a dangerous place.
Thanks again for confirming my suspicions.
Ken
OMG!
ReplyDeleteRead this from bottom to top:
*************
I'm a marine engineer and work with the us army.what else do you want to know?get back to me with your name and address with your phone # for me to proceed with the payment.
Will await your message.
Regards.
From: elangerman@comcast.net
Subject: Re: Thanks for the details
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:35:45 -0400
To: sgtrobhallins@hotmail.com
I need to know more about you before I send you more information.
On Sep 18, 2012, at 12:35 AM, Robert Hallins wrote:
Thanks for the message,i am very happy to know that the Artwork is still available for sale. i must tell you i am very much interested in the
immediate purchase and i am willing to pay the asking price.Will be paying you via certified bank check,this will not take time at all because the payment will be sent out immediately i read back from you.You don't have to worry about shipment, my shipper will handle it.This is because i am currently out of the country on a business proposal. So get back to me with the information needed to send you the payment I:E :Full Name,Standard Mailing Address
Phone numbers
asking price reconfirmation so that i can proceed with the payment arrangement, consider it sold get back to me with the details.will await your message.
From: elangerman@comcast.net
Subject: Re: Artwork
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 07:28:26 -0400
To: sgtrobhallins@gmail.com
Hi Robert,
More details about "The Life Force Rests in the Liver":
Liver Series #1: “ The Life Force rests in the liver”, 10/7/03, 11” x 14”, mixed media on prepared panel. The first of a series of 10 paintings. Price: $950.00.
Centuries ago it was thought that the seat of our vitality was in our liver.
And, yes, the painting is available.
Would you like to tell me anything more about yourself? Are you now living in Washington, DC?
Elaine
On Sep 17, 2012, at 1:28 AM, Robert Hallins wrote:
--
Hi there,
My name is Robert,im from hawaii,was browsing through the internet and my eyes caught this particular work("The Life Force Rests in the Liver",),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. i will be waiting to read from you.Regards.
Just received the exact same e-mail this morning from Robert Hallin in Hawaii; not even bothering to fix his grammar!
ReplyDeleteI am also an artist in DC, why pick on us!
Got this same message from "Robert Hallin.
ReplyDeleteI'm an artist in Memphis who is very grateful for bloggers like you who keep us informed on creeps like this.
Thank you.
Hi
ReplyDeleteI am an artist in Va. I too got his email the exact copy of the one that he sent to Anonymous. I htought it was genuine so I wrote back.
Hello,
Thanks for the details which Ive noted down and have also forwarded it to my shipper.He's due in the US sometime next week and will definitely be getting in touch with you for the pickup.The truth is,i would have handled this much differently if i would be at home but Im a bit pressed for time myself. Im moving to south africa this month as im being transferred.Asit is, I'm sending you an overdraft which will include my shippers fees as well.He has asked for an upfront before coming and since I have no access to a lot of cash, i'm trying to kill two birds with a stone.So, once you've received and cashed the check,deduct your funds and PLEASE help me send the remaining funds to him(shipper).I'll forward his contact details to you once you've received the payment.Now I'm concluding you are a responsible person and i can therefore entrust you with this arrangement.Ill let you know Immediately the check is sent out to you so you should be looking out for it.
P.S:I`ll require that a reconfirmation of your address is done for me now. I await your reply.
I think there should be some way to report his to the authorities.
Hi Kathleen!
ReplyDeleteOur gallery just got emails from a man named Robert Hallins. His email address is: sgtrobhallins@hotmail.com
His phone number he gave me is (307) 213-9710
THEN, his friend emailed me about it too. His name is Keith and his email address is: psych23@bellsouth.net
Mr. Hallins wanted to buy a Jane Filer painting. But he wanted to send more money than was needed so we could pay his shipper. He is moving out of the country.
Thank you for doing this!
Sybil
I too am experiencing the same scam from Robert Hallins as all of you have described. My plan is to turn over all the information I have including emails to the USPS Fraud Investigation branch in San Francisco. I'm sure it won't do much good, but I would love this guy to get caught. He gave me his shipper's name as Harold Rodgers in Richmond, Va...but that's probably bogus as well. As of right now he thinks I have deposited his check and am waiting for it to clear the Bank of Texas in Plano.Do you think he reads this blog. Just in case he does....eat shit Robert....you slimey ass wipe. And then rot in a gutter somewhere.
ReplyDeleteIam another artist in Memphis and received similiar email under the name Micheal Hallins. same MO. Googled him cam up with your site. promptly deleted all contact.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Thanks for making the effort to post a blog about this scam. I received the same exact email, word for word, same broken english. I was suspicious because of the tone of the email. Nice to find this blog with a quick google search so I could prevent wasting any time on this thing.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate it -- Brian in Akron
one more of us. I got the email too; he really should have someone correct his grammar, as it is a dead give away. It immediately seems suspicious hence the googling of his name. thanks for starting this blog.
ReplyDeleteSheryl in California
I too have received several e-mails from "Robert Hallin" and am now waiting for his "check". If and when I receive it I will turn it over to local authorities.
ReplyDeleteDiane, Ohio artist.
Thanks for this site. Just received almost same scan from Robert Hallins and when I googled him, found your site. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteOregon Artist
Hi Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteHere is the full monty on "Robert Hallins"
Thanks so much!
Fran
Return-path: [sgtrobhallins@hotmail.com]
From: Robert Hallins [sgtrobhallins@hotmail.com]
Subject: RE: Thanks for the message
Okay, will await your message.
Robert.
On Apr 12, 2013, at 8:41 AM, Robert Hallins wrote:
Thanks for the message, i am very happy to know that the Artwork is still available for sale. i must tell you i am very much interested in the immediate purchase and i am willing to pay the asking price.Will be paying you via certified bank check, this will not take time at all because the payment will be sent out immediately i read back from you.You don't have to worry about shipment, my shipper will handle it.This is because i am currently out of the country on a business proposal. So get back to me with the information needed to send you the payment I.E. Full Name, Standard Mailing Address, Phone numbers, asking price reconfirmation so that i can proceed with the payment arrangement, consider it sold get back to me with the details.will await your message.
On Apr 12, 2013 at 12:19 AM, Robert Hallins wrote:
Hi there,
My name is Robert, im from phoenix, 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. i will be waiting to read from you.
Regards.
Yep - I've been receiving emails (and texts) from a "Richard Staat" who uses the same phone number: 307-213-9710. He uses this email: richiesanwo@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteHis emails read almost word-for-word like the ones on this blog. I started completely ignoring him.
Today I received two bank drafts, for the same amount, made out to me personally. The amount of the drafts comes to more than the amount of the painting. I'm not thinking they are for real - but will take them to the bank to have them examined. Very weird. And feels very much like harrassment. He's threatening me with legal action (for what?) because supposedly I'm sitting on his funds.
Wish I'd seen this blog sooner. But, I'm only wiser. Have not lost any money - just time and energy. What a crazy world!
I got the same email from Robert Haller last night- and was glad to have this blog to refer to when I googled him . Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOregon Artist
Yep, got the same thing today.... thanks for posting on your blog so we hard working artists know about this worthless scam! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOregon Artist as well
Yup, still up to his old tricks even today. Thanks for the warning.
ReplyDeleteI received the exact same email. What a racket. Can any thing be done about this?
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting!!!
ReplyDeleteReceived the same email today however it seems he has changed his name from Robert to Mark Hallins.
Ditto. Mark Hallins is also interested in my piece. You'd think he'd have found someone to at least clean up the email, so he'd look legit...Brenda
ReplyDeleteWatch out for scam from Michael Bennett - says he wants to buy your art. Poor English.
ReplyDeleteMichael Bennett
8:50 AM (7 hours ago)
Hi there,
My name is Michael Bennett from Connecticut, I 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. i will be waiting to read from you.
Regards.
I just received this exact same email art scam email from 'Michael Bennett'...UG! still going around the internet I guess. Sounds fairly convincing aside from the broken English...
DeleteAnd here's another alias for, obviously, the same guy:
ReplyDeleteMark Hallins (email academicss001 at gmail dot com)
Hi there,
My name is Mark,im from phoenix,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. i will be waiting to read from you.
Regards.
Received the same email as Anonymous (above). Exact same name and email address from *phoenix*. The email is exactly the same, word for word. So thankful I decided to check him out before responding.
ReplyDeleteIt seems *Robert Hallins* has changed his name to *Mark Hallins*. Thanks for your blog! I researched his name and did not reply to the email.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post on this topic. Here is a note I got this month from Mark Hallins under a gmail account.
ReplyDeleteHi there,
My name is Mark,im from phoenix,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. i will be waiting to read from you.
Regards.
yes, reared his ugly head again as Mark Hallin
ReplyDeleteJust got one from: Michael Bennett
ReplyDelete--
Hi there,my name is michael 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.
I received an email from Michael Bennett too! I've seen these type of emails before and told him to move on. ;)
DeleteWow, I just got the same email from Michael Bennett. As I have done art shows in CT I thought I would research it a little farther and so happy this blog popped up. Seems like Michael is on the move again. Thanks!
DeleteKathleen,
ReplyDeleteI just had a scammer incident you may want to add to your art scam blog. Here is the email chain from the alleged "buyer" Mark Hallins (academicss001@gmail.com)below:
Hello,Thanks for the details which Ive noted down and have also forwarded it to my shipper.He's due in the US sometime next week and will definitely be getting in touch with you for the pickup.The truth is,i would have handled this much differently if i would be at home but Im a bit pressed for time myself. Im moving to Cairo this month as im being transferred.As it is, I'm sending you an overdraft which will include my shippers fees as well.He has asked for an upfront before coming and since I have no access to a lot of cash, Im trying to kill two birds with a stone.So, once you've received and cashed the check,deduct your funds and PLEASE help me send the remaining funds to him(shipper).I'll forward his contact details to you once you've received the payment.Now I'm concluding you are a responsible person and I can therefore entrust you with this arrangement.Ill let you know Immediately the check is sent out to you so you should be looking out for it.P.S:I`ll require that a reconfirmation of your address is done for me now. I await your reply.
--
Hi there,my name is Mark 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.
I too have received an e-mail from a Michael Bennett. How do I notify to report him?
ReplyDeleteJust got one from Michael Bennett:
ReplyDeleteHi there,my name is Michael 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
I just received this same exact email from Michael Bennett...Seems like he needs a lot of artwork for his new apartment! What a scam...UG! Why do these people target artists? I almost believed it.
DeleteI also just got the same e-mail from Micheal Bennett on Feb 5th 2014. Wondered if it might be a scam and found this. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI have been dealing with the exact same thing and received a payment, after telling (Joshua) I was not interested. Any idea want I should do about the check? Go to the bank and inform them?
ReplyDeleteNo one much does anything with them, to my knowledge, though I think bringing them to your bank and letting them decide is fine.
ReplyDeleteAnother one ... Michael Bennett at mmmoreef@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHi there,my name is Michael im an art collector from New Brunswick,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
yet another one, this one from "General Ferrari":
ReplyDeleteHello,my name is General Ferrari am an Art collector from Virgina.I was browsing through the internet and my eyes caught this particular Artwork (Transcended" 40x30 in. acrylic/canvas),will like to have it for my new apartment 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#.
Got the email from genferrari. Same language. Total scam.
ReplyDeleteGot one too. So depressing that these people scam artists:
ReplyDeleteHello,my name is General Ferrari am an Art collector from Virgina.I
was browsing through the internet and my eyes caught this particular
Artwork,will like to have it for my new apartment 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.
O and I just found out that you can issue a complaint against email scammers with the FBI:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ic3.gov/faq/default.aspx
Just received these emails from a man name Michael. I thought there was something fishy....
ReplyDelete--
Hi there,my name is Michael im an art collector from Colorado,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
--------
Michael,
I am returning your email in regards to [name of piece], and I have to let you know that it was sold moments ago. A couple came in and did not hesitate. She is quite the stunning image...
I have enclosed a couple of images of like minded feelings, and the same general sizes. Please Browse, I am sure there will be something here that will suit you and make an impact to your heart.
Please feel free to contact me at the gallery any time you need. I would be happy to assist in any way I can.
----
Thank you so much for your message,can you send me more details about
this artwork(blueberry_splash__24x48_ac_nw.jpg)?
Will await your message.
Michael.
Thanks for the message,i am very happy to know that the Artwork is
still available for sale. i must tell you i am very much interested in
the immediate purchase and i am willing to pay the asking price and I
Would be paying you via cheque,this will not take time at all because
the payment will be sent out immediately i read back from you.You
don't have to worry about shipment, my shipper will handle it.This is
because i am currently out of the country on a business proposal. So
get back to me with the information needed to send you the payment I:E
:Full Name,Standard Mailing Address,asking price reconfirmation so
that i can proceed with the payment arrangement, consider it sold get
back to me with the details.will await your message
Seems like they aren't very smart...
I just got a similar email from from "Joshua Lucin" at physiology001@gmail.com. "Hi there,my name is Joshua im an art collector from Hawaii ,was browsing through the internet and my eyes caught this particular work (listed a piece on my website), 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#.
ReplyDeleteRegards.
It makes me sad, that there are people out there so desperate that they'll scam artists. But then, they wouldn't do it if it didn't pay off.
Stay safe,
Laura
Hi Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteI found your site after doing a Google search for art-buying scams.
I wasn't sure that this guy was a scammer at first, but after reading the
description about them at your scammer-names page, I strongly suspect he
might be.
I'm including his original message, my reply and his subsequent answer.
I've not replied again since I will not give out my home address to any
strangers. I thought you might want his info on your list.
Thanks very much for helping artists avoid being ripped off!
Regards,
Teresa
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sgt.Richard Oridon Williams [sgtrichardoridon@gmail.com]
Date: Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 6:49 AM
Subject: Re: New Form Entry: Contact Form
To: Teresa
Hello,
It's my pleasure reading from you,I'm so much in love with your beautiful
painting,and i want to have it purchased immediately as a gift to my wife
for our wedding anniversary.I will prefer to have it framed.
I'm presently on deployment in Afghanistan,so i have limited access to
communication,i will only be able to respond through email at the moment.
The price is totally acceptable by me,can you add up a wooden frame to it.I
will authorized a check payment to you immediately i can get hold of your
information,and i want it to be delivered as a surprise to her in our new
home in Mexico.Please consider the beautiful piece of the artwork told to
me.
However,you don't have to worry about shipment,my shipper will handle
it.I'll notify my shipping agent who's moving my belongings from our old
home in New Mexico,to our new home in Mexico to get ready for the pickup of the artwork from your address,i don't know how long i might be away in
Afghanistan.
I will appreciate if you can forward to me your Full details,(which you
want the check payable to ) such as your Full name,contact address and
mobile number.The payment will be sent to the address provided,i will not
want any delay due to my inability to access to easy communication.I expect your prompt response.Thank you
On Sun, Apr 20, 2014 at 4:47 PM, sgtrichardoridon@gmail.com [no-reply@weebly.com] wrote:
*Submitted Information:*
*Name*
Richard Oridon
*Email*
sgtrichardoridon@gmail.com
*Comment*
I'm so impressed and amazed to have seen your various beautiful works,i'm very much interested in purchasing one of your works,i will want to purchase original painting of "Lighthouse" I will be glad to receive price quotes.Waiting in anticipation for your response
--
Sgt. Richard Oridon Williams
(847) 665-9343
Sgt at US Army,Seattle, Washington (Greater Seattle Area) Military
I just got an email from this same alias with really similar wording:
ReplyDeleteSgt.Richard Oridon Williams
Apr 29
Hello,
I'm so impressed and amazed to have seen your various works,i'm very much interested in purchasing one of your works,i will want to purchase original painting of "In Bed With Her Vices" I will be glad to receive price quotes.Waiting in anticipation for your response.
Richard
--
Sgt. Richard Oridon Williams
(847) 665-9343
Sgt at US Army,Seattle, Washington (Greater Seattle Area) Military
...The fuck's the point of this scam, anyone??
They will overpay with fake money and the afghanistan thing is to explain why they are asking you to send overage to their shipper - who doesn't exist. And they will have an explanation of why it has to be wired (which is how they get your good cash and disappear without a trace). Only then does the victim find out the original money is counterfeit or a stolen credit card.
ReplyDeleteEasy way to avoid this scam: NEVER accept overpayment for any reason, and never wire money to anyone when selling your art. Ever.
done, without those pieces, this scam can not successfully completely and the scammer will just move on to the next potential victim.
Thanks, I found the answer to my question shortly after I posted this through the IC3 link someone posted. Thanks so much for posting about this, I'm spreading the word to my artist friends to keep an eye out.
ReplyDeleteAnother one from "Joshua Lucin":
ReplyDelete---------------------------------
From: Joshua Lucin
Hi,My name is Joshua lucin. I lived and worked in California for
21years.I'm in the process of moving to Germany to expand my business
field. I just bought a house there and I'm interested in collecting
some artworks for some spaces within my house to make it unique and
beautiful. Can I have a few images of your recent works? I won't mind
having your website so as to explore more into your works.I look
forward to hearing back from you soonest.
Regards.
Right - when a scammer sends this stupid story to hundreds of thousands of email addresses, there is just no way for them to keep track so they have to add that bit of 'tell me your website', so you if DO reply, they can personalize their second round of emails to make it more convincing that they are actually wanting to purchase specific pieces. But its all a scam. It's all about convincing you to wire your money to them while their money is all counterfeit checks or stolen credit cards. Best not to reply at all. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKathleen, thank you so much for your blog on the scammers.
ReplyDeleteI have just been contacted by Joshua Lucin.
You are doing a good thing.
Keep it up.
Best wishes,
Pamela
I just wanted to THANK YOU for this wonderful website posting.
ReplyDeleteWe have had at least a half dozen artists get approached by "Joshua Lucin" just in the past few days .. I am sending our group details about these scams and a link to your site, and asking that they send new names for your database.
Thank you, a thousand thanks..
Rhonda
I got this name today:
ReplyDeleteMichael Bennett [mmmoreef@gmail.com]
This was his reply after I gave him info about my paintings:
"Thanks for the details which Ive noted down and have also forwarded itto my shipper.He's due in the US sometime next week and will
definitely be getting in touch with you for the pick up.The truth is,i
would have handled this much differently if i would be at home but Im
a bit pressed for time myself.
Im moving to germany this month.As it is, I'm sending you an overdraft
which will include my shippers fees as well.Im trying to kill two
birds with a stone.So,once you've received and cashed the check,deduct
your payment for the artwork and PLEASE help me send the remaining
funds to(Mover).
I'll forward his contact details to you once you've received the
payment.Now I'm concluding you are a responsible person and I can
therefore entrust you with this arrangement.Ill let you know
Immediately the check is sent out to you so you should be looking out
for it.P.S:I`ll require that a reconfirmation of your address is done for me now. I await your reply."
Thank you, Kathleen, for your Blog about scammers!
General Ferrari is still active, just received same message from him today. He gives a Tennessee address now.
ReplyDeleteI am an artist based in DC
So is Micheal "Joshua L " the same person?
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, scammers pull from a list of fake names, just make names up, or actually use existing names they find on the internet. They will also use variations of the same fake name. One scammer will use many names and a number of scammers will make use of the same fake name.
ReplyDeleteSo - there's no telling if it is actually the same person.