Artists Beware

Artists in generally do not make much money but many scam artists are out there to prey on them, the following are one of my personal experiences:

Like many artist, I have my own site which I used to showcase my paintings Occasionally, I received emails from different part of the world and express admiration of my work but I had never sold any work from it nor I expected to.

So when I received an email from this person inquired to purchase a small watercolor he seen from my site, I was very surprised. At first, I thought it was a hoax by someone has too much time of his hands.

As you see, unless the artists’ work are extremely cheap no one will buy it based on only what they see on the net. An artist site is an excellent way to showcase one’s work and for the artists’ clients to see the new work of the artist.

My first email from this person whom he called himself Johnson Michael never mention where he from or disclosed his contact number and address. (alarm bells here)

 After my email to inform him the price (US$400) and the type of payment (money order) I accept, he agreed on the sale and said he will send a money- order to me soon.

More email later and it started my suspicion on him and I determined it was a scam but I wanted to see how this works, so I play along with him.  The next email he insisted I use his own moving company even after I suggested to send the painting to him by a courier with my own expense. Still, he would not disclose where he lives. To top it off, this shipping company is in Holland!

At later emails he said he has mailed me a money-order in the amount of US$3,000 which also to pay for the shipping for other items he brought from Canada! He wanted me to wire the remaining US$2,600 to a person in this shipping company via Western Union!

Even He claimed he was a very busy person and out of the country often but he has managed to find time to email me a list of all the western union locations near me.  At that time I still had not received the promised money-order but he wanted me to do this right away as he was very anxious for my painting.

(That time I thought it might be some kind of money laundering scam).

A week got by still no money-order from Mr. Michael so I email him since I don’t know what the other items were and I don’t wanted to be involved in any thing illegal. Unless he can send me a document from this shipping company with detail inventory of all items otherwise the sale is off. Another reply from Mr. Michael to assured me they were only household items and the person in charge is away from the company and will send it to me later.  At this point I had enough fun and email him the sale is off and got a angry reply how disappointed he was and demand to send back his money- order when it arrived.

 Another week later I received a very official looking money-order from a Florida bank mailed from Holland with no return address.

  When I contacted the OPP (Ontario Provincial police) they told me they received many cases like mine not only from artists also from store owners.

More scams coming soon on my next report.