Scammers - nothing new under the sun!

There are two categories of scams - the first is a dangerous one that has to do with the purchase of your work and the second is not strictly speaking a scam - as it is not really illegal - it has to do with extending your domain or reregistering it. The would-be new registrar masquerades as a governmental body - you are notified by regular post in an official looking envelope.

If you registered a personal domain through Artspan after September 21, 2007, it is possible that you will receive mail, whether it is postal or email, that will attempt to scam you. Artspan will automatically renew your domain for you on a yearly basis, at $15.89. Ignore any mailings that look like you are renewing your domain but it's actually an attempt to sell you bogus search engine optimization services, and it's usually 75 bucks (though, the scams vary).

To see more details, click here:

http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/domainnamescams.htm

✔ Tip # 1. Know your `buyer.' Ask him/her for complete contact information and any business references they can supply (ie have they purchased anything over the Internet). Always google the name they use - chances are this name is already known. If they cannot provide verifiable contact info, forget about them - they are not real.

✔ Tip # 2. NEVER do anything (pack and ship an artwork, give/send money to a shipper) unless the funds have cleared your bank account. Artists commonly receive a bank or certified check as payment for an artwork purchase - these can be forgeries. Whether a forgery or real, the check is credited to your account and shows up as funds you can draw on. Then, when your bank finds out the check is no good, the same amount is debited from your account. It can take a week or so for funds to clear.

✔ Tip # 3. Get a PayPal account and send a request for payment.

✔ Tip # 4. Take the check to the bank (DON'T DEPOSIT) and have them verify it. The bank can check with the issuing bank right away and find out it's fake.

The way most scams work is that the artist is contacted by the buyer and a price is agreed on. The artist receives the fraudulent check which will be in an amount that is greater than the sales price. The artist is asked to give the difference to the buyer's “shipping agent” who will come around to collect the funds (and the artwork) or who will receive it via a Western Union money transfer. The fee for the shipping agent is what the scam is about. The scammer does not care about the art.

Red flags : poor English (most scams originate in Nigeria or other African nations), emails that show signs of being hastily written (the scammers send out these messages via contact forms by the thousands), emails that show a lack of familiarity with the work they allegedly are buying , etc. These are NOT finely crafted schemes.

Finally, we are frequently asked what can be done about this kind of thing. The answer is nothing. These people are not in North America or in Europe and there is no law enforcement agency that is going to bother with them. Your only recourse is to be careful. Remember that there are a lot more real buyers than scammers - so this is, happily, a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.

Here are some sample messages received:

"Good day Sir/Madam. We seek some unique artistry in portrait, jewels or any unique artistic measure
you can offer. i really don't know how to describe your artistical finding but I believe as we communicate 
we will pass my information clearly to you. Prior to proceeding on what I want to be designed, please I 
will love you to further explain your major artistical capabilities to enable me note if your services is 
what is needed. In addition we would want to know your location to enable us deal with the shipping cost. 
Please get back to me as soon as possible so we could communicate in ideas and proceed to execution. 
Regards Deby Clarissa"

Hope Any Of Your Painting Item On ArtSpan, Is Still Available For Sale, If Its Still Available For 
Sale, Pls Kindly Get Back To Me Through My E-mail Address Which Is engineerbrightwelljohn@gmail.com, Hope 
To Hear From You As Ap.Your Quick And Urgent Reply Will Be Highly Appreciated.

Morning,I would love to purchase Rowing ,please get back to me with details..I appreciate your prompt
response philip philipcolee@yahoo.com.

"Hope Your (The Attack of the 50ft Woman And Pokeweed Energy Field),Painting Art-Work On ArtSpan,Is 
Still Available For Sale, If Its Still Available For Sale,Please Get Back To Me Through My E-mail Address 
Which Is:engineerdavidwright001@gmail.com As Ap, Hope To Hear From You As Ap"

Afternoon,I am interested in buying your Floral Impression #2,i would like to know how payment
would be made,and the price you listed for it.have a nice day..I appreciate your prompt response 
charline

Hello , I want to place an order for your art work.kindly get back to me with your price list, 
including the freight charges via Fedex /Dhl Courier to my location here in Austria. My method of payment
is credit card.I will also need your site where I can view your recent work and place my present 
order.. Thank you.

Am willing to purchase this your ads could you please let me know if you are the real owner of this 
item ads and get back to me with the present condition,your location and your last price offer. Kindly let 
me know how much you can let go and send me pics.shipping expenses will be taken care by me.