The Digital Artist, an international art and design website representing more than 1500 exhibitors, has sent out a warning about a new Internet scam targeting artists.
(PRWEB) December 12, 2005 -- The Digital Artist, an international art and design website representing more than 1500 exhibitors, has sent out a warning about a new Internet scam targeting artists. After receiving a number of queries from artists asking about emails they had received from potential buyers, The Digital Artist investigated the situation, which turned out to be a variation on the so-called Nigerian scam.
Typically, an artist receives an email from an alleged art buyer, flattering the artist’s work and offering to buy quantities of artwork, usually for US$1500.00 or more, for a home-decorating project. One such email reads:
Hello,
My name is Brono Artar,I really appericate all your artworks and i will like to buy some of these from you.I have looked at your artwork shop,I found different types of your work,I am interested in buying some of this artworks.What are the prices for your painting,oils,pastel e.t.c
We are travlling to Egypt from our UK home to supervise our house project . i will like to beautify our new apartment with your artworks. I will like to pay you with Money Orders/cashier check .I will arrange for the shipping through a shipping company. Kindly get back to me with the price excluding the shipmentand your full contact details where the MO should arrive at so that you can go and cash it easily.
I am looking forward in hearing from you as soon as possible to make the payment for this products available asap.
Regards,
Mr Brono Artar
Although the details may change, the substance of the emails is almost unvarying:
- The “buyer” offers to purchase pieces seen on the Internet.
- The “buyer” wants to use a particular shipping company to transport the work once the sale is complete, and will bear all charges associated with shipping.
- The method of payment is by cashier's check or money order so that “it can be cashed easily.”
What happens next? If the artist responds to the email, hoping to sell some work, the “buyer” will respond that a money order or cashier’s check for more than the agreed-upon price for the art will be sent. This check is to come from the buyer (often in Africa), with the excess to be sent to a third party in the USA to whom the buyer says he owes money. The artist is asked to cash the check, keep the right amount for the sale of his artwork and send what is left to this third party. (Alternatively, the check is said to be coming from the third party, with the remainder to be sent back to the buyer.)
The cashier’s check or money order for the larger-than-necessary amount arrives and is deposited in the artist's bank account or cashed. The check or money order appears to clear, and any freeze the bank had placed on these funds is removed. Satisfied that the check is good (the bank had released the funds, after all), the artist sends out the remainder and waits for the shipping company to pick up the art.
No one ever comes to pick up the art.
Two weeks later, the artist learns from his bank that the check or money order is a forgery.
The artist must then repay the bank for the forged check or money order.
“It is possible to make legitimate sales online, but you must certainly do your homework!” remarks Carol Pentleton, owner of The Digital Artist. “First: know your buyer! Be sure you can verify the name and address of any potential buyer. Ask for references, and check them out. Talk to the person on the telephone. Use a payment service, such as PayPal, which offers seller protection and dispute resolution. Consider having any large payment escrowed. Make sure any payment you accept is legitimate before you send any merchandise anywhere. If you have any doubts, ask your banker - that is one of the reasons he or she sits at that big desk!
“These scams may seem ludicrous, but their targets are usually young or inexperienced artists. It’s sad, but some people actually do fall for these cons. After all, if the scams never work, nobody would be trying to trick people out of their money with them.
“Remember - if something sounds too good to be true, it virtually always is.”
The Digital Artist has posted a warning on the home page of the website (http://www.thedigitalartist.com) and sent out a special edition of its monthly newsletter alerting subscribers about this swindle. Artists are urged not to reply to suspicious email and encouraged to investigate carefully any offers to purchase work.
A major international website for artists, designers and artisans, The Digital Artist hosts exhibits by more than 1500 artists, designers and artists from more than 60 countries. The website offers free exhibits, articles, newsletters, forums, ebook library and art news updates, as well as a bookstore and magazine stand.
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