ARTISTS BEWAREThe fraudsters are now targeting artistsThey are sending emails to artists telling them they are interested in purchasing their art works and to send them more information of their art works - pictures and prices etc. The people sending these emails are NOT interested in purchasing any art work. They have a number of scams. Number 1 Ask YOU to send them money - so they can pay off another debt which then releases a 'cashier's cheque' which they will send to you. Number 2 Ask YOU to send them money on a variety of pretences - DO NOT SEND MONEY TO ANYONE PRETENDING TO WANT TO PURCHASE YOUR PAINTING. Number 3 If you do receive a cashier's cheque - it is usually from a 'fake' bank account. Number 4 THE FRAUDSTERS WANT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS TO TAKE MONEY FROM YOUR ACCOUNT. DO NOT GIVE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS TO ANYONE 'SUSPECT' TO TRANSFER MONEY. Number 5 DO NOT SEND GOOD IMAGES OF ANY PHOTOS TO ANYONE YOU ARE NOT SURE IS LEGITIMATE - A good TIFF, JPG file or photograph can be made into a print by a 'fraudster' and sold in huge quantities. Numbere 6 DO NOT REPLY TO ANY SUSPECT EMAILS - usually from a Hotmail or Yahoo or overseas web mail account. Number 7 Any reliable buyer of art works will give you their name, address, telephone number etc. CHECK OUT THEIR CREDENTIALS. (If you want help - Contact us with this form Number 8 DO NOT SEND ART WORKS TO ANYONE BEFORE YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE MONEY AND CASHED ANY CHEQUE ETC. REPEAT: DO NOT GIVE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS TO ANYONE 'SUSPECT' TO TRANSFER MONEY. If you are in doubt - Contact Us and forward any suspect email to us. These examples of emails which are being sent to any artist these fraudsters can find - we have received copies of these emails from many artists: REMEMBER These names are given in good faith, they may be honest people ! ! !. If that is the case Paintings and Prints2 expect to be notified by a solicitor, if not assume they are guilty. The following e-mail is a copy of an artists, this lady was approached by an extremely honest sounding man, she had a doubt though and e-mailed us for an opinion. We came to the conclusion that it was probably a scam, you wouldn't believe the things he said, anyway, we are now able to publish the last e-mail sent by this lady. Her name is not viewable, she has had enough problems as it is. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- COPY OF LAST EMAIL BELOW --------------------------------------------------------------------------- question: Hi John, :D its me (LADIES NAME WITHHELD) again.. Just wanted to let you know that this Guy I wrote you about pretending to buy my art, was a scammer. I went the police with the cheque and Bank and it was fake! I wrote him nOt to contact me ever again and if he would have any questions to call the local police...XD Anyway thanks again for your good advice and please feel free to exhibit my details so he can't harm others! Below is the first Email he sent me. He is calling himself Mr. Steve Olam from Dallas. But the Cheque came from London and the address of his shipping agent is also from London. He came to me over a forum I am in called ArtVitae. So Message and Address below: ------------------------------- Hello to you out there. I am so excited that I came across of your work on internet search,I am interested in purchasing some creative artworks from you 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 travelling 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 Bank draft or Cashier check in Euro funds that can be easily cashed at your local bank,please let me know on how to proceed, Have a wonderful day. Take Care, Mr Steve Olam.... Address of my shipping Agent: 105 catford hill london se6 4pw u.k Name: Derek James --------------------------------------------------------------------------- END COPY NOW -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following people may be genuine. If that is the case Paintings and Prints expect to be notified by a solicitor, if not assume they are guilty. Latest Scam mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it question: Dear, i am really intrested in your art works subject: About a Christine Eynon print field: mark: mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it comments: i am really intrested in your art works and will like to know what are the charges if you have to frame it and i am sending to a freind in Nigeria as a gift from my Company i will like you to get back to me on the price list and the total cost for shipping Thanks --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mrs Jane Smith, Client Partner UKquestion: Dear, We have a client that needs to buy the following arts: 1. Freedom - West Sussex - P135 2. Bridge House - AmblesideCumbria - P136 3. Ben Alder - Scotland - P137 4. Moel-Sibod - North Wales - P138 5. Ashness Bridge - Ambleside Cumbria - P139 Please give us the total bill to be forwarded to my client as he proposed to pay by cheque. By the time we get your total cost, we will instruct our client to issue the cheque and don't worry about delivery. We will be sending our agent to you for pick up and delivery. Kindly reply me with the total cost and your address contact and your name for the cheque payment. Hope to get your quick response. Regards, . FROM Han Hastrop Text1: question: we are international dealers in all types of artworks (paintings) We are presently in need of styles in our showroom when a colleague abroad gave us your store mail and we would like to patronise you. Kindly tell us the styles you have in stock. Get back to us with the quotation and shipment cost of the items so that we can give you our card to charge. the items and quantity are specified Reply soonest Regards ola FROM Mr Maxwell HELLO sales, I am a Business man who owns and operate a store in Nigeria, I got your contact from an on the Internet, presently I'm in the United Kingdom on a business trip based on research, I will like you to give me the shipping Cost to Nigeria for the items you have got for our ARTWORK that is within the range of $600 TO $1500 (Abstract paintings, beads,or any of your handmade artwoks), so i can know how long it will take this goods to arrive in Nigeria. This goods are needed urgently in my store now in Nigeria. Please reply as soon as possible and let me know the Total cost for Shipping and Customs Handling including the tax,I will be paying you with visa or Master or Amex Credit Card and also the Shipping should be via EMS/UPS. I shall be waiting to read from you as soon as possible. Regards , Mr Maxwell FROM This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Hello, Just wanted to find out if you still have your work mentioned in the subject of this mail above for sale, I have a client who could buy it .How much will you sell it for? We will arrange for pick up as soon as the transaction is concluded and payment is confirmed. Please get back to me immediately. Thanks Ceylan FROM : mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it hello I am intersted in purchasing some of your lovely artworks can you please send to me some of your recent works and there prices so that i can make selection based on your own interested and also i will like to know if you have an hotel in your area because my associate really fell in love with your work and he said he is coming over to your area to look at most of your work and also purchase more of your artwork from you. In the meantime kindly send me some details of some of your artwork with prices so that i can make my own selection base on the one you send to me . I hope to hear from you soon,and if you wondering what i want to use it for well i want them to refurbish the wall of my house and office in Bahamas Regards John Maxwell |
You have been warned so take care |
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