Scam Information

Many thanks to Boundless Gallery for this link and information!!
For those that use the Google tip: here is the email: kellybeatifullll@yahoo.co.uk

Scams Targeting Artists

We have noticed a rise in the number of scams targeting artists recently so here are some common themes of these scams. 1) The customer never wants to buy your work through the website where it was found. 2) The customer is almost always moving to a different country. 3) The customer almost always insists on paying by check. 4) The customer will have his or her own company handling the shipping. 5) There will be an overpayment, whether the check was accidentally made out for too much or the customer asks you to forward the additional money to the shipping company. 6) The order is always urgent. If you receive a message that seems a little odd Google can be your best friend. Type in the name of the sender or his or her email address and do a quick search. If it is a scam someone has probably posted the name, email and probably the message text as a warning for other artists. These scams usually play out like this. The customer will contact you directly and ask for the price of your work without shipping. If the work is found on a site like ours this should seem a little odd because we list the price of the artwork and the shipping cost separately. The customer will mail you a check for the cost of the artwork plus a few hundred dollars extra either as an “accident” or to pay the shipping company to take the artwork. This is usually when you find out how urgent the order is and how the shipping company is waiting for this money. If you go along with the scam from here the check will arrive and you could probably deposit it at your bank then send out the extra money from your account. Because the check is printed from an international bank (most likely on a stolen check or bad account) it will take some time to bounce and this is what the scammer is counting on. You would be held responsible for the money you sent and the full amount of the bounced check would be removed from your account. Update 8/17/07 Here is the text of the current scam email: Subject: ARTWORK Hope this message finds you well ,I came across your web page while searching for good artworks and I will like to buy some of these creative artworks directly from you which i think will be great for my walls [Piece Title] [Piece Title] [Piece Title] [Piece Title] I will be happy to have these selected artworks in our new home.What are their prices exclusive of shipping cost? We are travelling from our Alabama home to our new apartment in London, I will appreciate an earlier reply. Thanks. Best Regards and the follow-up email: Subject: Re: ARTWORK Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creatives works. I am presently away in London for my twin sister's wedding even though it comes at a time when i was preparing for a big move and also expecting a baby but it means so much to her. I should back in some few days. Yes,i will like to proceed with the purchase of the all the present avalible artworks. I think they are lovely works that will add alot of colours to our new wall. Meanwhile,i will like you to forward your mailing address and phone number so i can inform my husband to send you payment by a cashier check asap for the payment for those creative artworks. And also I can also forward your contact info to the local cartage company that will be moving all our house decors so they can get in touch with you to arrange shipping details. They can arrange pick up FedEx pick up of the artworks from your gallery. I will look forward to hearing from you so i can know how best to proceed. Cheers. Best Re gards