Scam Email: Tony Grider

The use of English language looked suspicious to me, as well as the 'cashiers check', so I found your site -- very informative and helpful.  I'll just ignore any future emails from "Tony Grider".  Thanks.

Here's the emails.


Fwd: AWAITING PAYMENT DETAILS......REPLY TODAY
Geri

Begin forwarded message:

From: Tony Grider [tony.grider@aol.com]
Date: August 16, 2018 8:12:36 AM
To:
Subject: AWAITING PAYMENT DETAILS......REPLY TODAY

Hello,

Okay I'll take it and will offer $900 for

Hatteras in Harbor $450
Hatteras Jetty $450

and will proceed straight with cashier's check which will clear instant or the next day to avoid delays, I am located in LAS VEGAS i will handle the shipment once the check as cleared your bank and funds have been made available to you, the shipper broker will come over to your location to pick up and have it delivered safely to me at my residential.


Please email me back the following details below to issue out the check to you.

Full Name that will be on the check
Full Address to send the check to
Cell phone number

  Waiting to read from you.

Thank you.

Tony Grider
tony.grider@aol.com


-----Original Message-----
On Aug 16, 2018, at 06:02 AM, Tony Grider [tony.grider@aol.com] wrote:

 Hello,

 I am interested in your art work, Kindly please get back to me the asking price for these below:

[list of 4 paintings here]

Thank you


Tony Grider
tony.grider@aol.com

Scam Email: Bill Burrus

Hello Kathleen,

Having read your really useful art scam website I’m pretty sure the below is a new name for you, just received!

Kind regards,

Gerard



From: Bill Burrus [mailto:bill.burrus1@gmail.com]
Sent: 13 August 2018 10:58
To:
Subject: Re: [name of 4 paintings right in subject line]

Hi Gerard,

Thanks for your reply, regarding the prices I have seen it with your reply. Yes I am truely interested in purchasing.

I want you to know that I am purchasing the paintings for a Wedding Anniversary and it really need to get to my destination because the date of the Anniversary is around the corner.

Below are the paintings I am interested to purchase.

[name of 3 paintings listed here]

it will be better to discuss the payment and the shipping on Skype either verbally or typing due to the urgent of the Anniversary if possible it will be better to view the artworks on Skype Video.

My location and address of delivering are below..

1476 River Road
Titusville, NJ 08560
USA

Concerning the payment, the payment I am 100% sure about is to send you a Cashiers check or personal check or transfer the cash into your bank account for the total amount, base on the advise given via my bank.

My Skype name is bill.burrus1@gmail.com [mailto:bill.burrus1@gmail.com]  I am available throughout today on Skype to discuss and conclude.

[note: you can bet this scammer will have some reason to never show his face on Skype!]

If you don't have a Skype name kindly go to www.skype.com [http://www.skype.com/]  and register with Skype then download it and fix a time to Skype today.

Cheers,

Bill Burrus

Scam Email: Sean Pringle

Hi Kathleen,

I'm forwarding an email I received yesterday through my art website. My immediate reaction was that it looked like a scam so I didn't respond. When I googled art email scams looking for his email address, I didn't see it. But, I did come across your site and thought it would be helpful to other artists to have his info added to your list.

Thanks so much for helping by sharing this info. Glad we can all work together! If you need anything else, please let me know.

And...I just enjoyed looking at the paintings on your website. Hope all is going well for you!

Thanks again,
Di

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sean Pringle [sean.pringle152@gmail.com]
Date: Thu, Jun 7, 2018 at 6:45 PM
Subject: Artwork:



Hello ,


I'm Sean Pringle from Pontiac, Michigan. 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 piece as a
surprise to my wife on our anniversary. Also, let me know if you accept
check as method of payment.


Regards

Sean Pringle

Scam Email: Kevin Waters

They didn't lose the website address. They send out hundreds of thousands of email and are hoping their potential victims will respond and tell them the website. Then the scammer can continue on to the next step of the scam, which is to pretend to want to buy individual pieces and then overpay with a counterfeit check and ask to have the difference wired either back to them or on to some fake shipping company.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Kevin Waters [kwaters671@gmail.com]
Date: Wed, May 9, 2018 at 10:13 PM
Subject: Artwork Inquiry


My name is Kevin Waters from Jacksonvile, 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. I am writing you because i need your assistant to get back to your
website so as to be able to retrieve the details of your work that interest
me or send me images of some of your new works with price.
Best Regards,
--

Scam Email: Megan Sweet

Notice the frequent email changes from the scammer in this below exchange as well as the fake story of why the check was so much more than the amount owed.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Megan sweet [sweermeg09@gmail.com]
Date: Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 7:57 AM
Subject: Re: Artwork
To: Christy


Dear Christy,

I am so excited and can't wait to have the piece in our home. I hope to
give it a very good home and enjoy the piece for many years.
Regarding the check, Just find out my husband made a terrible mistake and
overpaid you because he didn't have full details of the transaction, been
busy when he sent it. I am very sorry for the confusion but I will like you
to go ahead and deposit the check, deduct the cost of the piece inclusive
the shipping . I spoke with my husband and he will like you to send the
difference back to his chief accountant. Pls get Two (2) Money gram or post
office (USPS) money orders of (1) $1000 USD each & (1) $400 totaling $1400,
you might be required to pay extra fee for the purchase of the money orders
and money orders should be left blank, include purchase receipt and use
FedEx Overnight. The money orders should be sent to the address below.

Attn: Mr Karl
9915 198TH ST

HOLLIS NY 11423

-3321

FedEx or UPS First Overnight delivery cost about $45. Overnight shipping
FedEx charges can be deducted from the money remaining. I'll appreciate if
you take care of this as soon as possible and advise with the tracking
number. Please acknowledge this email. Thank you.
Cheers,
Megan


On Fri, Apr 20, 2018 at 2:40 PM, Christy wrote:

> Good afternoon, Megan,
>
> I hope that you are enjoying your Friday?
>
> I just got your check and was rather astonished to see that it was 4 times
> the expected amount! I was going to send your prints, but now I feel that
> we should resolve this. Here are some ideas:
>
> 1. I can destroy the check and you can send me another for $800
>
> 2. You can choose 6 more prints. This would give you 3 more in each
> series, or from different ones. Whichever you like best, of course.
>
> 3. I can have the images matted and framed,  but I'm pretty sure that,
> even with shipping, it would not cost $2400, so you could either choose an
> additional 2 prints or I could destroy the check and you could send me a
> new one for the new amount.
>
> Please let me know what you would like to do.
>
> All the best,
> Christy
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 19, 2018 at 10:31 AM, Christy
> wrote:
>
>> Hello Megan,
>>
>> I am sorry that you were struggling with your health! I hope that you are
>> feeling better.
>>
>> Thank you for sending the check and the tracking info. I am planning to
>> send your prints either today or tomorrow and will send the shipping
>> information when I do.
>>
>> Thank you again for your interest in my work!
>>
>> All the best,
>> Christy
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 19, 2018, 9:51 AM Megan sweet [sweermeg09@gmail.com] wrote:
>>
>>> Good morning Christy,
>>> Hope this message finds you well. Apologies I have not been able to get
>>> in touch for a very long time as i have been battling with health issue.
>>> Just to confirm that payment was sent by my husband on Tuesday via USPS
>>> with tracking number 9405503699300216219950 and he was advise you will have
>>> it deliver today or latest Friday please be on the look out for it.  Kindly
>>> acknowledge receipt of this email as soon as possible.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> Megan
>>>
>>> On Thu, Apr 5, 2018 at 12:52 PM, Christy
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Megan,
>>>>
>>>> Thanks so much!
>>>>
>>>> I'll get the prints ready to send to you!
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Apr 5, 2018 at 9:09 AM, Megan sweet [sweermeg09@gmail.com]
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Christy,
>>>>>
>>>>> Awesome , the price is okay for the piece . May I confirm if payment
>>>>> could be mailed to you by check to your address, Unfortunately I'm unable
>>>>> to complete this transaction by credit card or Paypal . If you can email me
>>>>> your full name,address for payment that will be helpful
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Mar 30, 2018 at 7:45 AM, Christy
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Megan,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Now I must apologize to you!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have been thinking a lot about this, as I did not have prices
>>>>>> listed on Saatchi. Is $400 per print an acceptable amount for you?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> About the pieces; I started combining negatives when I first started
>>>>>> working in photography back in the 1990's. I don't consider myself a
>>>>>> serious traveler, but when I am able to make trips, I try to take as many
>>>>>> images as possible. These images from Greece came around because of the
>>>>>> landscape itself; the desolate rocks contrasting with the beauty of the
>>>>>> sunset. Greece itself is very inspiring; I draw a lot from the philosophy,
>>>>>> the poetry and the ancient dramas. A lot of who we are, as people in the
>>>>>> West, comes directly from the Greek thinkers. I try to pay them some subtle
>>>>>> homage, particularly in the titles. I'm glad that you enjoy them!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As payment goes, it might be better to send a PayPal, if possible?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Let me know what you think, and thank you again for your interest in
>>>>>> my work!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> All the best,
>>>>>> Christy
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 2:22 PM, Megan sweet [sweermeg09@gmail.com]
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Christy,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Apologies for not getting back to you sooner,It's nice to hear back
>>>>>>> from you. I will like to proceed with the purchase of the 2 pieces (Buried
>>>>>>> in the Sky & Beginning and End), would mind telling me what your
>>>>>>> inspiration behind this piece. I think it is a lovely work and I hope to
>>>>>>> give it a good home. I am presently away on vacation but I should be back
>>>>>>> in few days. Pls confirm it listed price
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 19621 Doris Lane
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> N. FortMyers, FL Lee 33917
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Meanwhile, can you please confirm your mailing address and phone
>>>>>>> number so I may inform my husband on where to forward the payment. I can
>>>>>>> have him send the payment asap. About shipping, you can handle it from your
>>>>>>> side to my mailing address above, either by USPS, or FedEx, UPS postal
>>>>>>> service
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I will look forward to hearing from you so I can know how best to
>>>>>>> proceed.
>>>>>>> Cheers.
>>>>>>> Megan
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Fri, Feb 2, 2018 at 4:49 AM, Christy
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi Megan,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thank you for your kind words! Here's a link to my Saatchi page:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Most of the works are for sale. I am open to discussion about
>>>>>>>> process if you see something you really like.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> All the best,
>>>>>>>> Christy
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Thu, Feb 1, 2018 at 4:47 AM, Megan Sweet [vinesdd494@gmail.com]
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>>>>> I came across your web page , I like your inspiration as an
>>>>>>>>> artist. How about you email me your recent work on sale for me to look
>>>>>>>>> through?
>>>>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>>>> Megan
>>>>>>>>>

Scam Email: Renata and Robert Dennis

Hi Kathleen -

In the spirit of trying to keep scammers from taking the joy of receiving an actual purchase order for our art, here an email I received that looks pretty fishy to me - down to the email address:


Renata [info9842@gmail.com]
May 7 (1 day ago)
to bcc: me

*Good Day,How is everything with you? I picked interest in your artwork and
decided to write you. I will like to know if your artwork can be purchased
and shipped internationally?.I can email the artwork of interest and
payment will be completed in full once you confirm my purchase order with a
quotation.Kindly let me know when you are in office and ready to take my
artwork order also let me know if you accept either PayPal / Stripe
International Payment or Visa Card or Master Card for payment?Furthermore
you can email me your recently updated website or art price list in your
response.Best Regards.*

------

I responded confirming that I did ship worldwide and for her to go to my website and click on the "Buy Art" link where most of my pieces (with the exception of two new original works) are available for sale direct from the website. She then responded with a link to the exact 2 pieces that are not
available for sale online. Adding more "weird" to this interaction, I noticed that at the bottom of her message, there seemed to be another email from a "Robert" (same period after the name that "Renata." uses) requesting nanny services (LOL):

--
Hello,
     My name is Robert Dennis from Kansas, I will like to know if you
render nanny service? If yes kindly get back to me 7858160171.

Where you locate?

Regard.

Robert.

----

So yes, even as I write this I see scam written all over it. Thank you for your site and consider this my contribution in the fight against these idiots who rather spend time and energy trying to make money on honest people who are trying to spend their time and energy being honest abiding citizens with a dream to live of what their passionate about!

Thank you

Scam Email: Michael Kleemann

Kathleen,

I have a website which I'm still working on, from which I sell the odd painting. While I do illustrate scientific journals, I also do "gallery art" or whatever you call it, but I keep it all simple.no galleries, no reproductions, low prices, direct transactions and so on.

Anyway, last October a "Michael Kleemann" contacted me, purporting to be a businessman in Texas, on the cusp of moving to Turkey.   He wondered if I had any other paintings to offer but the then relatively few for sale on my website (I still have only posted a fraction of what is available). Not knowing what his interest was, I just said that I did and sent him a few samples.

He choose the [name of piece], and the [name of piece]. The former is framed, so I told him the shipping would therefore be more expensive than if it weren't framed and made some sort of general conversation about my love of Texas, and southwestern birds.   But I admit alarm bells were already ringing in my head as most first-time buyers express their interest in birds or comment on art or whatever, and Michael Kleemann was very terse, polite, but nothing personal.

He said that because he was moving he was in a state of flux and would it be okay if me mailed me the money in advance, with enough to pay the shipper at the door.

I had explained that I normally use a specific courier because I it is a local family-run company that I've dealt with, favourably, for years.

He instead said that he'd have his movers in Canada do the actual shipping.

That seemed strange, but hey, maybe he was a wealthy Texas business guy with all kinds of flunkies working for him, and a finger in many different corporate pots.

So I said, well, okay, fine.

But nothing happened.

Then, last Monday, my stepdaughter said there was a folder leaning up against the front door.  It was from UPS.  It contained a single check (or "cheque" as we write it up here) and it was $3,599.00.   An odd sum.  I had no idea what it was for.  It was a company cheque, and the company was in Manitoba, as was the credit union it was drawn on.  Google showed both existed.but the company manufactures medical equipment.   I have only sold two or three paintings to Manitobans, none recently, no one there owes me anything and I don't produce a darn thing that would be of interest to a manufacturer of medical imaging equipment.

Then I remembered Michael Kleemann.  Could this be the money he had mentioned?   If so, it was way too much, approximately twice what would have been necessary for the arrangements we had made.

Sure enough, I got an e-mail from him after all that time, with an apology for the delay in getting back to me.

The next morning I phoned the company named on the cheque.  "It's fake," I was told by the guy before I had fully explained the situation.  "And I bet it's for more than had been agreed upon."  It was.  It turns out that a lot of these cheques were out there and the company quite annoyed, but helpless to do anything.

It took nearly two days to get a live person cop on the line, but I did this morning, and he opened a file, taking down all the particulars, which will then be distributed to fraud departments worldwide.  

Michael Kleemann (obviously an alias) could be anywhere.  He did write to me the name of the "shipper" (a "company" based in Alberta) and a "tracking number" and so on, but the cop also advised me not to open any more e-mails from Michael Kleemann, as they could include viruses (it appears not, thank goodness, but that could change), and certainly not to respond to him again (my last message was designed to keep him interested as I hoped the police might be able to find him by intercepting the shippers, and I'm more than happy to be part of a "sting" if we can catch this crook.  
But I will take his advice.   I do have a viewing pane so when Michael Kleemann wrote to me this morning that, okay, he'd wait until the new year (I told him I'd be away until then) I was able to read it even if I didn't open the message.  

But the other thing the cop told me was that by virtue of my having responded, this person, or one of his or her colleagues, may try another scam, so I am now more on guard than before.

Frankly, it was a rather clumsy effort, but I HAVE sold art (and developed online friendships) from "cold" contacts, usually word-of-mouth, but a few times via my website, and I have sent art off to first-time-buyers before receiving payment.  A sophisticated businessman I'm not.

I've never been cheated, but obviously I now will modify that practice for the first-time buyers.  

I don't know if any of this will help anyone avoid being taken, but I felt better to tell you all then not.

I will forward his e-mails to you one by one, under separate e-mails (I'm not very computer-adept so it's the only way I know to do it).  


Cheers,
Barry

Scam Email: Holmes Raines

Hi Kathleen,

I'm an artist.
I received this email. I did not find anything about the person online, but it smells suspicious.
Thank you Kathleen,
Best regards,


holmesraines02@gmail.com

Wrote:

Hello,
Good day to you over there, My name is Holmes Raines I'm from Leipzig and i
hope this message finds you well.I was going through your works and my eyes
caught The thinker 60x80cm Oil on canvas, i will like to have it for my new
apartment this Month. please let me know if the piece is available, if yes
let me have the detailed price and more information about it. i will be
waiting to read from you asap.

Holmes Raines.

Scam Email: Jonathan Hashri

It is interesting to me that I can dig through the some of the oldest messages on this blog and in my email and the below email template can be found, basically unchanged word for word, from years and years ago.

But really, that's bad news, because if the format and wording of some of these scam emails have basically not changed in so many years, it means it must work at attracting victims. Which of course, I hate.

Or this could just be a really lazy scammer who is using some basic old scam template to see how well it still can work.

In this case, they kind of make it generic enough that you'd want to write back to them to get a little more information and then they have collected their list of more "qualified" potential victims.

But us artists know real buyers do not ask their initial question this way if they are interested in buying a piece.

-----Original Message-----
From: jonathan hashri [mailto:jonathan59hash@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2015 12:18 PM
To:
Subject: info

Hello,

Saw images of your paintings online, which really caught my attention. I am interested in purchasing paintings from your collection, can you please get back to me with the price range, sizes of your paintings, so i know how to go about my purchase.

Await your prompt reply.

Regards.

Scam Email: Todd Rieck

Dear Kathleen,

Thanks for your awesome art-scammers blacklist.  Here's unfortunately another one for you. The bad english from someone with an ultra-american name, combined with the clumsy non-knowledge of art and the mention of a cashier's check, give me 100% certainty.  Won't be wasting any more time here!  The IP address from the initial incoming email is also included.

Thanks for all you do and wishing you great success and lots of REAL collectors.  Hope it's okay to send this to you here; I couldn't get onto the website for some reason.



Name: Todd Rieck
E-Mail: todrieck@gmail.com
Message:


Dear M___,

Thank you for your email and more information about "______(DRAWING) ".

I am purchasing this for myself and my family purpose, I know my wife
will definitely like it because she like everything about Art.  Please
email me more details I need to know about the pieces.

Concerning the payment. I based in Illinois and that's where it will
be ship too. The payment I am 100% sure about is to send you a
Cashier's Check or Bank Draft for the total cost.

I will be expecting your email concerning this.

Cheers,
Todd


Sender IP: 207.244.83.214