Just a warning - another art scammer on the loose. This email showed up in my Inbox today:
“Good day to you out there.
I am so excited that I came across of your work on internet search,I am interested in purchasing these creative artworks from you…………………
Larger Than Life
bighorn
Snowdog
coyote
Fox Focus
red fox
Let me know their various prices.and how much discounts are you going to give?I will be happy to have these selected artworks hanged in our new home in South Africa. As well, I want you to take out the shipping cost.I have been in touch with a shipping firm that will be shipping other house decoratives.
We are traveling from our Dallas home to our new apartment as soon as possible.On Paying for the artworks,I will be glad to pay you with a Money Order or Cashier`s check in US funds that can be easily cashed at your local bank,please let me know on how to proceed for the payment of the creative artworks.
I will await your advise on how to proceed.Have a wonderful day.Take care,
Frannie Brandsons”
… which also led me to discover a site called Artscam, with some examples of art scam emails.
In general, pretty much anytime I get an email with such incredibly bad grammar and language use I am immediately suspicious. Plus, these emails always ask me for the prices of these paintings - yet my prices are right on my website with the images, so this is another red flag.
Stay safe, everyone!
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December 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
This letter is very ambitious, considering how many paintings she says she wants to buy. I got one similar but a bit more believable, since it was shorter, asked about one work, and did not mention the shipping arrangements (I assumed that would come later.) I had to respond as if it were legitimate, because there was a slight possibility that it was, though I had to wonder why a small-works Alaska painter would interest someone in Indonesia. She also said she had found my website through the site of Oil Painters of America, of which I am a member. I looked and, yes, I am there with everyone else, probably well over 1000 lisitngs. So maybe everyone got the same letter, just insert name of painting. I contacted OPA to let them know of the possible scam, they replied that I was not the only one who had let them know. Anyhow, I told her what I would tell a legitimate buyer, that all my transactions from the website are handled through Paypal. (So, no cashiers check, etc. ) That was the last I heard of her.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
A lot of us artists on DailyPainters.com get these sorts of letters often. Our forum is a great place to compare notes and the email addresses of the scammers and phishers. Usually we don’t respond.
However, if there is ever a question that it might be legit, writing back to tell them payment can be made by Paypal usually shuts them up.
Unfortunately, the criminals have access to artists’ contact info on the internet through various group sites. Letting the site manager know, so their email can be blocked, is a good idea.
Happy New Year to you Julie! We have a ton of snow here in north Idaho too. And the sun is shining today so it’s really beautiful!
Blessings, Diana Moses Botkin
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I received the same email as JULIE CHAPMAN except of course the names of my paintings.
Being new to my website I was thrilled that I had been “discovered” outside of the little town of Brookings Oregon.
But when my head came down to reality I becan wondering why I was chosen from the internet, full of artists, why she was asking the prices, when I too have them listed why deduct the cost of shipping when it wasn’t added, and most of all I couldn’t figure out how she could arrange a shipping firm to pick up the art
Then my common sense kicked in and I googled her name and found this site…
thank you…now i can start the new year right…
January 8th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Bette - I’m glad you found your way here and found some useful info! We artists need to stick together - it’s too easy to get excited about what seems like a potential collector, and overlook other warning flags.
January 31st, 2009 at 8:40 am
Hi ,
I just received a $6,000 check from Amy (Frannie Brandsons)…So, from what I have read this is a scam???
The check is from New York where I live. I told her I would cash the check at there bank…No response yet???
Please advise.
Thank you.
Glenda
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Glenda - first make very, very, VERY sure the check is cleared before you send any art anywhere. And I do mean you need to call your bank and ask them to confirm a transfer of funds into your account. This person has been mentioned in a number of online sources as running a scam - so I would bet quite a lot of money that the check is bogus and won’t clear.
February 21st, 2009 at 8:56 am
Glenda - Hi, I am trying to contact you to see if you are my brother Terry’s friend. I am going to be in NYC in March and would like to catch up with you. If you are the correct Glenda Hydler contact me. I would like to talk about Terry’s art with you.
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