Scam Email: Abigail Spencer

Hi Kathleen,

I haven't received an email like this before and was getting red flags from the beginning, but replied anyways. Now am pretty confident from reading the info you have on your site that this is indeed a scam. 

The address isn't coming up legit as written here (although misspelled) and all this asap stuff sounds really hokey to me.  Thanks for getting the word out on spam info.  I really appreciate it!

H.

From: Abigail Spencer [abigailspencer478@ymail.com]
Sent: Friday, February 8, 2013 12:48:59 PM
Subject: Re: Artwork Inquiry

Hi,
I am okay with the cost of these three therefore i want you to get them packed

A View to the North Shore is also available for $2300
House on a Hill  is available for $800
The Stadium is available for $1800

On the shipping one will have to pay additional fee at the delivery point here in Guernsey  because they will never bring to ones house. courier like Fedex, UPS are not worth it here especially USPS all of them are not rendering good service here probably because they already known very well. You can contact this courier Drone Logistic (dronelogistic@live.com) as well with the weight and cost of the artwork for the shipping and insurance to my address because they ship and deliver safely without one paying any other money before collecting the goods unlike some other courier where it will not be delivered to your address rather you will have to go to their office to pick it up and when you get there you will be told to pay other money before collecting it.

I will be looking forward to hearing from you asap.

Thanks
 

Shipping Address
15 The Monic St. Peter Port, GY1 2PX
Channel Islands Guernsey

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Scam Email: Tamara Walter

Katie,

It is so difficult to get an email to you via your blog?

But I've been scammed before and wanted you to add another email to your blog for other artists to watch out for.

Tamara Walter  -   t333walter@rocketmail.com

Email Content:

Hello,
I am emailing to inquire about availability of artwork for sale in your
gallery, if you can ship international and also if you are able to process
Electronically Visa and Master Card Number/Expiry date/Cvv as payment. Let
me know so that i can communicate with you on the artworks that interest
me,you can also indicate to me which of the arts are sold and which are
available on your website.
I will be looking forward to reading from you.
Sincerely
Tamara

Thanks Katie ... You're doing great things to help others.

Scam Email: Teresa Palmer

Here is a scammer that has put a really long number in their disposable email account, no doubt setting up hundreds of these to use in their scam.

In this particular scam, the scammer is saying they will pay with paypal - because users think this is the safe way to avoid scammers. But it is not. What the scammer does is they create a fake payment confirmation email that looks exactly like it is coming from paypal, but it is not. There is no money sent to paypal. But the trusting victim thinks money has been sent. The scammer is hoping before the victim ever bothers to manually check their paypal account, they will have already forwarded money to the scammer via wire transfer (supposedly for the nonexistent shipper) and the scam is already over and the money gone. Doesn't work in every case, but unfortunately, it works in far too many cases.

Moral of the story? Always open a brand new browser window, type in paypal.com manually and log into your account and check it before sending any money anywhere.

Bottomline moral of the story? NEVER ever ever wire money to someone. Make this rule for yourself and you will avoid this scam.

NEW scammer Teresa_Palmer19821029123@hotmail.com ?????

Hello i saw you listing on artscad.com and am interested i want to know if you still have this item available for sale?i can only pay through pay pal.please get back to me on my private email address..

Teresa_Palmer19821029123@hotmail.com.

Thanks.
_____________________________________________

Thanks for the lovely respond to my purchase of your Painting i really want to buy the item from you as soon as possible..Currently am not in the state travel to have a program but will soon be back home...I want you to know that i have the pick up agent who are coming for the pick up of the item from you after i make the transfer of money into your PayPal account..

Now i will want you to get back to me with your PayPal email address and your final asking price for the item so that i can make the transfer into your PayPal account soon.

I will be waiting to read from you soon..

Regards.
______________________________________________

1. all of them are on BOAT or TRAVELING AROUND THE GLOBE ?
2. they all have some AGENT to pick up ART ?

HMMM ???

Thanks for your* HELP !*

Scam Email: Lisa James

Thanks for your Blog!

I just received this!

I was about to pull art for this person!!

I posted a thanks on your face book too... You are awesome!

-----Original Message-----

From: Lisa James. [mailto:trazzywittss@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2013 4:03 PM
Subject: Artworks Inquiry...

--
Hi,

Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your website
and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still
available for purchase.

Purple Ocean , Reflection and  Embrace

I will appreciate an urgent reply.

Best Regards,

Lisa James.

Scam Email: Wagner Antonova

Dear Kathleen,

Thank you for your blog and information. I regularly get emails from artist scammers.

This name I couldn't find on your scammers list. Maybe it will help somebody.

Kind regards,

Olga

03 Jan 2013 om 14:59 heeft Wagner Antonova [wagnerantonova@aol.com] het volgende geschreven:

Good Day,

I see this your beautiful work through my searching, do you still have it available? The work am talking about is listed on the Subject of my email, i will be expecting the price if you still have it available.

I wish you Happy new year.
Wagner Antonova
wagnerantonova@aol.com

second email:

Van: Wagner Antonova [wagnerantonova@aol.com]
Datum: 3 januari 2013 22:25:36 GMT+01:00
Onderwerp: Transaction Proceeds.

Dear Olga,

Thank you for your reply and the Information about the Painting, The price is okay by me.

Regarding the Payment I will issue you a cheque for easy auditing, it will be a cashier and as well certified, "advised by my Auditor" I will inform you as soon as the payment is been sent out from my office here Berkshire United Kingdom.

I will be needing your information to process your payment ASAP. We may also speak on Skype if you wouldn't mind in other to discuss about the transaction verbally.

Name on Check;
Address;
Phone Number;
Skype ID;

Also i want you to know that i will appoint a secured shipping company that will come for the pickup of the Pieces in your destination, and then deliver it to me here in the UK. The shipping fees will be added to your payment. I have had bad experience with FedEx and UPS in the past. So I guess a guaranteed secured shipper will be preferably considered and appoint for the pickup.

Am on Skype as:  wagnerantonova.

Regards,
Wagner Antonova.
wagnerantonova@aol.com

Scam Email: Marcus Quintena

Really, this scam email is pretty much the same as what I've seen for years and years (which sadly tells me that unfortunately it is still working for scammers), but I wanted to post this one because of a little "twist" in the template they use.

This one tries to employ an appeal to a referral. It mentions that a friend referred them, and even gives the name of the friend (made up and probably just grabbed from something they've seen online). I guess the goal is to get the potential victim to believe that because the scammer was "referred" that they'll believe they are a legitimate buyer, when in fact they are not.

Remember the basic red flags of this scam. These have changed very little over time. They'll mention a third-party shipper who is helping them move (or something similar to that), they will overpay for the item using a counterfeit check or stolen credit card, they will ask you to forward the "difference" to their shipper, via Western Union (always via a wire transfer, the scam does not work without this part). Their money is fake but they hope you forward your good money before you find out their money is fake.

You'll stop this scam in its tracks by never accepting an overpayment and NEVER NEVER EVER using wire transfer services in your online dealings. EVER. The scammer will disappear quickly and move on to a more uninformed potential victim. It's a numbers game to them.

From: Marcus Quintena [marcusquintena@yahoo.co.uk]

Date: December 14, 2012 8:53:45 PM PST

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Bcc: [artist email was inserted here]

Subject: Keen Interest in your visual Art

Good Morning

             I need to purchase some work of art to beautify my new apartment and i was told by a close friend  of mine Sandra Brommer that i would get a better deal by purchasing from you. Can you give me an insight into your work of art and a website or images to have them viewed.

Thanks

Marcus

Scam Email: Helen Brown

Hi, Kathleen,

Keep up the good work! I received this message today and another followed shortly. This scammer appears to urgently want many of my paintings! LOL.

cheers,
Lori

First email:

From: Helen Brown [helenbro1111@yahoo.com]
Subject: Artworks Inquiry...
Reply-To: Helen Brown [helenbro1111@yahoo.com]

Hello,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw some creative works on your website and I must commend you are really doing a wonderful and captivating work.

I will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.

“Burn”
“Dance II”
“Cry”

I will appreciate an urgent reply.

Best Regards,
Helen Brown

And here's the second "request," landing in my mailbox only nine minutes after the first one!

From: Helen Brown [helenbro1111@yahoo.com]
Subject: Artworks Inquiry...
Reply-To: Helen Brown [helenbro1111@yahoo.com]

Hello,

Hope this message finds you well. I saw some creative works on your website and I must commend you are really doing a wonderful and captivating work.

I will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.

Reach
Red Chair I
Steeples

I will appreciate an urgent reply.

Best Regards,

Helen Brown

Scam Email: Whitman Duvel; Frederick Kloppenberg

It is also a sign of a scammer, who makes up all the names and then can't keep them straight or even remember which name is a first name or a last name. This is one such scammer. signs off on his email by his supposed last name. Lame. Also, this "on behalf of" phrase allows the scammer to use the same disposable email account to receive replies (until it is shut down) while randomizing the fake names to look slightly different. Notice the second email and it's similar templated format.

FROM : sndtradingagent@gmail.com; on behalf of; Whitman Duvel
[whitmanduvel@yahoo.co.uk] - AUGUST 4, 2012

Good Evening

I hope you had a wonderful day?,i was able to see your work of art from your
website and i must say that your work is fascinating and vivacious,it shows
that you took your time to perfect its creation. I am a resident of Aberdeen
Scotland and am interested in owning some of your work to elevate my
lifestyle, unfortunately i lost the link to your website. I will be pleased
if you can send me the link to your website so that i can select the one's
had like to purchase from you. i await your response.

Regards
Duvel

FROM : sndtradingagent@gmail.com; on behalf of; Frederick kloppenberg
[frederickkloppenberg@yahoo.fr] - NOVEMBER 12, 2012
Good Morning

I hope you are having a wonderful day?,i was able to see your work of art
from your website and i must say that your work is attractive and lovely it
depicts that you took your time to perfect its creation. I reside in Paris
France and am interested in owning some of your work to decorate my living
room and office to elevate my lifestyle, unfortunately i lost the link to
your website. I will be pleased if you can send me the link to your website
so that i can select the one's had like to purchase from you. i await your
response.

Regards
Frederick

Scam Email: Andrew Hutton

Kathleen - I received an email from this person several months ago asking about purchasing my art. He asked if I could ship to Dubai and did I accept credit card payment. He contacted me through Fine Art America. I never heard back from him until yesterday. His email is below. Based on what I see I'm betting this is a scam and you'll want add this email / name to you list.

ahutton33@yahoo.com. Andrew Hutton

I do owe you an apology for the delay in reacting to your email. I have read the email you sent and is well understood. I do work as a safety person in an offshore oil rig presently in the Arabian gulf which makes communication a little difficult for me. I love arts and plan on retiring soon and opening a gallery in Dubai (UAE). I presently have some orders and for some, I do have the liberty to make a choice for my growing collection.

I am looking at opening a good business relationship with you, so as to supply me paintings for my Gallery.

Send me pictures of some of your collections so i choose, then you tell me the cost of the paintings will appreciate if you give me an quote too on shipping cost.

Soon as i get these informations i will communicate my card details to you for charge of both shipping and painting.

Scam Email: Luis Clarkson

Notice how the scammer email changed after the first email. And Luis is actually a male name but the scammer could care less about a detail like this when using a fake name. I'm assuming it is the same scammer who I reported on earlier this month, using the fake name Luis Huffman but having the same story about living in Fiji with her husband.

First Email:

"Luis Clarkson" [heatcomps@gmail.com] wrote:

My name is Luis from Baltimore, Maryland. I live in Fiji with my husband. I saw some of your works which i really loved and i will like to purchase them.

In regards to payment and shipping, Do you accept credit card and can you ship to Fiji Island ?

I will await your response.

Luis Clarkson

Second Email:

From: Luis [crustallinesales@gmail.com]
Subject: Re: Order - Quotation

Thanks for your response . I will like to know the availability and the cost of each selected below.

ORDER LIST ...
 
“Circle of Beauty” Photography on Canvas

--- HONEYMOON ISLAND

"Reflections after the rain"
"Embraced by the Light"
"Colorful Honeymoon Path to the Sea"
"A Quiet Bench"

--- DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY

"Sunset on the Dunedin Causeway"
"Time to Rest"
"A Brilliant Day on the Causeway"
"Evening Clouds    2"
 
MY SHIPPING ADDRESS..
74 Naviti St,
Lautoka, Viti Levu, Fiji

Kindly send me the total cost of the above and call either UPS or DHL for a shipping quote , but if you can't ship i can arrange for the shipping . Hope to read back from you with the total cost and we can proceed and finalized my order.

Sincerely.
Thanks.

Scam Email: Peter Johnson

Flattery will get you no where. IF you can recognize it is a scammer. And check out that random number in his disposable email account. Now there is a scammer committed to making a LOT of disposable email accounts.

From: Peter Johnson [peterjohnson5312221@hotmail.com]

Subject: Shipping

Dear ,           

You must have devoted so much time and effort to create this pieces that i am about to purchase because i can vividly see the uniqueness of the pieces.Your work also have  a pleasant and a suiting feeling, I am so sure it will bring comfort and happiness into my life.

The piece listed below are the one's i will be purchasing.

1 piecs Blue nude  24x36................2400€

1 pieces of 14x19 nude...............900€

Total cost of pieces-------------------------------------------------------------3300€

Payment for those pieces will be made by cheque from bank in Germany  and the money can be withdraw from my account, i will be issuing 8,500€  to cover the cost of the piece and shipping of your work.

I have some Furniture  to be picked up from a store in Berlin,so you will deduct your fee from the payment issued to you and have the rest disburse to the shipper that will come over to your location to pick up your work and have it delivered safely to me at my residential address in Manitoba,Canada.

I would inform the shippers about it after have heard from you.They will just come over to your area to pick-up the piece and then have them delivered to me.Before i can proceed to issue to you the cheque  i  will be needing your contact details and phone number to write and send the cheque to you.The address written below is my address for shipping.

Thanks

Peter Johnson

1344 Waller Ave.

Winnipeg, MBR3T 1P9

Canada

Scam Email: Charles Rooney

Kathleen,

I think you've got another one to add to your list.  Besides all the other clues, the fact that they hadn't really dealt with the actual info in my last e-mail was a giveaway.

Alysia

First email:

Charles Rooney [charlesrooney01@gmail.com] wrote:

Good Day,

Do you still have this your Beautiful artwork available at the moment for Purchase? the artwork am talking about are written on the Subject line of this email.

Please let me know if they are still available for purchase and email me back their price.

Best Regards,

Charles.

Second Email:

Charles Rooney [charlesrooney01@gmail.com] wrote:

Dear Alysia,

Thank you for your email and the information about the pieces, now that you have notify me about the price am really satisfied with it.

I want you to know one Important thing, I should have use PayPal as the method of Payment but I have been scam before through using PayPal and that is why I have cross my mind that I will never use PayPal again for Payment method or to give my Credit Card information to people i did not know for Payment method on the Internet because of my past experience.

Meanwhile I live in Essex United Kingdom, so now regarding the mode of payment I can make available will be through Travelers Check or Personal Check or either Cashier’s Check or Money Order only.

Due to that kindly let me know the Payment method you choose out of the ones I listed above in other for me to be able to make the payment available and send it out to you, also please I hope you are a legit and straight forward Artist.

I will also need your information below in other for the Payment to be send out to you.

Name on Check;
Address;
Phone Number;
Your Skype ID;

When i received this above information then i will be able to Issue your Payment and send it out.

Also i want you to know that i will appoint a good shipping company that will come for the pickup of the Pieces in your destination and deliver it to me, reason is due to the lost of goods, breaking of Paintings and Sculpture and damages that normally happen because it has happen to my shipment several times through FedEx and UPS and so on, that is the reason i cannot use both FedEx and UPS Company again for shipment.

I want you to know that i will include the shipment fees on the Payment that i will send out to you.

My Skype ID is charlesrooney01, I will be expecting your reply.

Charles.

Scam Email: Steve Padilla

Hi Kathleen,

I am very appreciative of what you have done with all of this. Because of your blog and website info, I have avoided being scammed here. It is sick isn't it!? Incredible that these people would pick artists to go after, though we are the most powerful type :) Thank you so very much.

Here is the e-mail and name and address of this one:

Name: Steve Padilla
E-mail: stevepadi01@yahoo.com

Steve Padilla [stevepadi01@yahoo.com] wrote:

Good day, hope you are good. Was going through your website and saw some of your artwork I really like. You are doing a great job. I would like to make
the purchase of the artwork in subject field above if it is still available..i would also like to know what inspired you to paint the artwork. kindly get back to me asap.
Thanks and God bless,
Steve.

 I responded to his e-mail above and gave him pricing etc....And I get this:

Dear Sean,

Thanks for the message, Hope  you are doing  great. i must tell you i am very much interested in the immediate purchase.

Unfortunately,  i am on voyage to France at the moment as i am a civil marine engineer and due to the nature of my work, visiting of website are restricted but i squeezed out time to check this advert and send you an email regarding it :-). I wont be back for another couple of weeks, I would have come to purchase the piece personally.

I'm okay with the price $4500, I think it worth it anyway. If you'd like to know, I'm relocating to the Philippines soon and I'm trying to gather some good stuff for my new abode. I am buying yours (quickly! before someone else grabs it) So, I'll arrange to send you payment ASAP.

Scam Email: Luis Huffman

I've been receiving a bunch of reports on this scam from artists so it was time to add this to the blog so others may be alerted.

It's a pretty standard scam email. Just because they offer to pay by credit card doesn't mean anything. They often use credit cards that are stolen but not yet reported as such, so may "clear" at first but will always result in a chargeback later.

If you receive an email looking like this, it IS a scam and don't spend any more time on it. Delete it and go back to creating art.

p.s. isn't Luis a male name? gotta love when scammers are stupid...unless Luis is gay and got married to a guy...

From: Luis Huffman [ppcsales10100@aol.com]
To:
Subject: Inquiry

Dear,

My name is Luis Huffman, I saw some of your works which i really loved and i will like to purchase them, But i will like to know if you can ship to FIJI ISLAND. I am from Baltimore, Maryland, Got married last year and moved down to Fiji Island with my husband.

In regards to payment do you accept Master credit card. kindly get back to me so i can send you the list of arts i am interested in ordering.

I will await your prompt response,
Sincerely.

Luis Huffman
Baltimore , MD 21244
Tel : (301) 747-6295