Scam warning to my fellow artists!

I've been emailing back and forth to an "Elena Simpson" (email address blair.simpson20@gmail.com) about two paintings she wanted to buy from me for $2505. I am fully aware of these scams, but played along with it for well over two weeks. Her grammar was perfect, and much of what she said was not that out of the ordinary, but on Friday, the $4550 check arrived.

Early Saturday morning, I got the email from her that said:

"Regarding the check, I spoke with my husband and it seems he made a terrible mistake and overpaid you because he didn't have full details of the transaction since I was too busy when he sent it. I am very sorry for the confusion but I will like you to go ahead and deposit the check, you can then deduct the cost of painting plus shipping to my new address below. Then you can forward the difference back to him.

Here is part of what I said in reply:

"I totally understand how there could have been a miscommunication with your husband about the check, being married myself. But there seems another thing miscommunicated. I asked that the check have your name and home address on it, and of course the exact amount of the sale.

I've read on the internet that there are people out there who try to fraud artists by writing checks that are over the amount. I KNOW that you'd never try to do that to me. So to protect myself, I am asking you to please send a new check with 4 Cambridge Way, Alpine, NJ 07620 on it, for the exact amount of $2505 to me ASAP, and I will send you the paintings. ...

I'm very excited for you to have my artwork on your walls too, because I know it'll bring you great joy. I look forward to your email telling me that a new check is on the way."

What I didn't tell her was that I looked up her supposed address. Google Street View shows it's a vacant wooded area. Google also showed the phone number she sent was listed as a scam number, and her name, email and phone number were also listed as a scam on many websites.

I have not heard from her again. No surprise.

If you get an email from someone wanting to buy your work, even if it sounds like it could be legitimate, do some investigating. Google the email address, the name of the person, the street address, and phone number.

It might turn out that the person is really interested in wanting to buy your work, but it could also be a scam.

Please note: I did call the bank the check was drawn on on Saturday, and I was told there was money in the account to cover it. Yesterday I called and emailed the company whose name is on the check, but they have not responded to date. Today I turned the check, envelope, and the complete email conversation over to my local police department. There's probably nothing they can do about it, but at least there will be a police report about it. You never know if it could be helpful some day.

Another Art Scam

I got another art scam email last week, much different than from the scam a few weeks ago. I followed up with it just in case it was real, even though I was 99% sure it wasn't. If you read the exchange, you'll see that it quickly changed to the usual.

At the same time, an art friend of mine got a totally legitimate inquiry, that at first sounded a bit off, that has led to an upper four figure sale of her work, so I think it is sometimes worth a careful short follow up if there aren't too many red flags.

There were a lot of emails back and forth, so I've reduced the type size so it doesn't completely take over my blog.

I'm posting this because I'm still hearing about artists who are falling for scams, and I'm hoping this will help educate people about it.

From: Etherington Parton

Subject: INQUIRY

Hello,

I'm Etherington Parton and I'll like to order some items from your gallery/store but before we proceed I'll like to ask the following questions.

Do you ship to Australia?

Do you do E-Mail Order?

Do you accept credit card as for Payment (US Master and Visa card to be precise)? NOT PAYPAL

I await your urgent response so we can proceed.

Etherington

To: Etherington Parton

Subject: Re: INQUIRY

Hi Etherington,

Thank you for writing. Depending on the size of the work you would like to buy, I can ship it to Australia. You can let me know via email what you would like to purchase. I take Mastercard, Visa and American Express, but I do prefer to use paypal when possible.

Please let me know what work is of interest to you.

Jeanne

From: Etherington Parton - Owner

Subject: QUOTE NEEDED.

Jeanne,

Thanks for waiting to read from me.

Below are the items needed:

Patterns in Fences #7

mixed media on cradled board

10" x 10" x 1.5"

2010

Qty - 1

Fall Fence Landscape (panel 4)

mixed media on cradled board

12" x 6' x .75"

(12" x 12" x .75" each panel)

2011

Qty - 1

Patterns in Fences #12

mixed media on cradled board

10" x 10" x 1.5"

2010

Qty - 1

I will like you to get back to me with the total cost plus shipping cost and here is my shipping address for you to calculate the shipping cost via UPS, Fedex or DHL or any other alternative shipping company.

Please kindly get back to me if these items are in stock.

Shipping Address:

50A Marshall St,

Surry Hills NSW 2010

Australia.

Waiting to read from you soon.

Warmly Regards

Etherington

From: Jeanne Williamson

Subject: Re: QUOTE NEEDED.

Hi Etherington,

My pleasure talking to you.

Fall Fence Landscape #4 is only available as a group of six, with numbers 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, displayed all in a row as shown at the top of the page on my website. They are not individual pieces. If you are interested in all six, please let me know.

All of the Patterns in Fences are available on Artful Home's website : http://www.artfulhome.com/artist/Jeanne-Williamson/3691

They became available there earlier in the week. If you would like to buy them, I ask you to please go through their site and they will calculate the shipping. I have an agreement with them, and hope you understand why I am referring you to them.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please let me know.

All my best, Jeanne

From: Etherington Parton - Owner

Subject: Re: QUOTE NEEDED.

Jeanne,

Thanks for your swift response.

Yes, am interested in ordering all the six of Fall Fence Landscape #4 and I can only place my order through email and with you. I'm not safe placing my order online.

Let me know if this works out.

Etherington

From: Jeanne Williamson

Subject: Re: QUOTE NEEDED.

Hi again Etherington,

The Fall Fence Landscape series #1-6 is $4200, plus an estimate of $500 shipping, all in US dollars.

I do want to assure you that ArtFul Home is a very honest and trustworthy company that has been around for a long time on the internet. You can trust them completely. In fact, since you don't know me at all, I would have thought that you'd feel safer ordering from them and not me.

Take care, Jeanne

From: Etherington Parton - Owner

Subject: Items Cost Only.

Jeanne,

Thanks for your swift response and I promise to contact them for the patterns but let proceed with the Fall Fence Landscape series #1-6.

I want you to calculate the total cost of Fall Fence Landscape series #1-6 ONLY and don't worry about the shipping because I just got a response from my personal logistic agent in US that will come for the pick up of the items at your address and it will only take 2-3days Express Shipping to my shipping address and I've inform them about this and they told me the best way to come for the pick up in your store is for you to email me with your store address and the time the items will be ready for pick up with your convenience time & date.

So please kindly get back to me with this details for pick up, so that I can email you my credit card details to charge the payment now.

Waiting to read from you soon.

Warmly Regards

Etherington

From: Jeanne Williamson

Subject: Re: Items Cost Only.

Hi Etherington,

The total cost of Fall Fences #1-6 is $4200, without shipping, as I stated below.

I just looked at the guidelines for my credit card company and found out that I can only accept charges of up to $1000 a month, so if you do purchase these pieces, it will have to go through my paypal account since I don't have a limit. I apologize for my not researching this sooner in our conversation. If paypal is not desired, I do accept cash, which I really prefer.

Jeanne

I did not hear back from him, so the next day I sent ...

From: Jeanne Williamson

Subject: Re: Items Cost Only.

Hi Etherington,

Are you still interested in buying my work? Please let me know ASAP because I may have someone else who is interested.

Thanks, Jeanne

From: Etherington Parton - Owner

Subject: Items Cost Only.

Jeanne,

Right now I can only email you my credit card details for process. I'm not safe using PayPal.

Let me know if this works so that we can proceed.

Regards

Etherington

From: Jeanne Williamson

Subject: Re: Items Cost Only.

Hi Etherington,

I am not safe processing your credit card, so if you can't use paypal or buy my work through ArtFul Home, then this transaction will not be happening.

Take care, Jeanne

Too Much Fun

I couldn't resist this back and forth with a scammer:

From: Howard Brown

Subject: Fence Detail #21 mixed media on cradled board 6" x 6" x .75" 2011

"Good day to you out there, My name is Howard Brown, I'm from South Well-fleet, MA. Need some artwork for an exhibition,We have being buying and collating different artwork samples from across the world. why surveying i came through your work, going through it, my eyes caught this particular work, i will like to have it 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.Regards."

From: Jeanne Williamson

Subject: Re: Fence Detail #21 mixed media on cradled board 6" x 6" x .75" 2011

"Hello Howard,

Thank you for writing. Fence Detail #21 measures 6" x 6" x .75", is mixed media on cradled board, and costs $125.

Please let me know more about the exhibit.

Thanks, Jeanne"

From: Howard Brown

Subject: Artwork purchase

"Thanks for the message,am glad to know that the Artwork is still available for sale. Am very much interested in the immediate purchase and i am willing to pay the asking price .But i'll prefer it framed.I will like to let you know that your payment will be in a Certified Cashiers Check and i will wait till it clears in your bank before telling my shipper to come for the pick up, i assure you there will be no delay at all because the payment will be sent out immediately .You don't have to worry about shipment, my shipper will handle it.I am currently out of the country on a business trip, So get back to me with the information needed to send you the payment.

I:E :Full Name

Standard Mailing Address

Phone numbers

Consider it sold and pls get back to me with the details asap.I await your reply.Thanks.Yours sincerely."

From: Jeanne Williamson

Subject: Re: Artwork purchase

"Howard,

The piece is sold as is. You can frame it after it's in your possession. I will accept cash only, plus Massachusetts sales tax since your gallery is in South Well-fleet, MA and I am also in MA. There is no need for a shipper to be arranged. Please give me your address in South Well-fleet, MA and I will be glad to deliver it in person since your gallery is so close to my house, you are so kind to offer to buy my work. Please send me your address and phone number, and the name of your gallery, and I will drive it to you tomorrow.

I am really looking forward to meeting you.

Jeanne"

Surprise, surprise. I didn't hear back from Mr. Brown, so I unfortunately didn't have a good reason to drive to Cape Cod this weekend, to go to South Well-fleet, which is really (South) Wellfleet MA, which if he would have known if he really had a gallery there.

I never got to deliver my work to a scammer claiming to be from Dallas in 2009 either, but it was fun then too.

Be careful about scammers everyone. Some scams are posted on the Stop Art Scams blog, if you ever want to investigate a questionable email.