To Kathleen or whom it may concern:
I was almost caught up in this scam, until a red flag went up. The series of emails as follows:
Received an email yesterday reading:
Congratulations! Someone expressed interest in buying your work,
name of piece, at the url: website url
The intested party listed their name and email address as:
carolyn (carolynjovanni@-collector.org)
Message from buyer:
Hello Seller I came accross your Painting posted on the site and am really intersting in purchase it and i will like to ask the question below.
1.How long have you own it?
2.it’s new or used?
3.what is the final asking price?
4.did you accept Paypal as mode of my Payment?
Get back to me asap.
Carolyn
Response from so called Collector:
Thank so much for your response am okay with your final asking price but the problem is that i have a private shipping company that will come for the pick up in your location because i have some item that i want to ship along with the paiting so i don’t want you to bother yourself about the shipment am going to handle that on my own if you agree my terms let me know and get back to me.
Carolyn.
Response from Collector:
You don’t have to worry yourself about i saw i want on the site so get back to me with your Paypal account
Action:
I send the Collector a Paypal Invoice for $500
That also lets them know to schedule the pick up from who ever they are using for as their shipment company to pick up after the 27th of August.
I get a response about an hour after I sent out the invoice….this is when the red flag goes up.
RESPONSE from Collector:
Hello ,
I was just about to book the pick up schedule with the pick up agent when i had a problem about their payment method.They are only accepting payment through western union money transfer but i am currently on sea due to my status of work,so i want to add the pick up agent fee to your item cost price credited to your paypal account and he pick up fee is ($400.00) so i will be crediting the total amount of ($1,000.00), the extra ($50.00) is for the western union transfer fee for you to transfer the pick up agent fee
through western union.extra ($50.00) for compensation.Once i have these done and you have pick up agent fee sent to them,the pick up arrangement will be scheduled,just wanted to let you know before i proceed with the payment, please advice and i will be looking forward to read from you.get back to me
with your Paypal invoice
Carolyn
My Response to collector after I research scams directed towards artists on the internet:
I am Sorry. I can not adjust the invoice to increase the amount for any reason. The payment reflects the price of the artwork, which is a taxable income that I need to claim. I also am too busy to make arrangements through Western Union for your shipping needs. I am very sorry, the request seems very difficult to handle. I am sorry we could not make a deal.
This morning I received another email…not in response from the series of emails talking with this collector but again from the site where the name originally generated:
Congratulations! Someone expressed interest in buying your work,
name of piece, at the url: website url
The intested party listed their name and email address as:
carolyn (carolynjovanni@-collector.org)
Message from buyer:
Hello Seller I came accross your Painting posted on the site and am really intersting in purchase it and i will like to ask the question below.
1.How long have you own it?
2.it’s new or used?
3.what is the final asking price?
4.did you accept Paypal as mode of my Payment?
Get back to me asap.
Carolyn
Anyways,
That is all the information I have. Although I did not get scammed, I feel like the time and effort I went through I can empathize with those who have. I really hope that this is something that can be stopped before it really becomes a major issue, before it becomes an issue of artists not wanting to trust such a great means of being able to sell, trade, or promote their works. We should not be afraid of such a powerful tool because of a few that misuse, redirect, or take advantage of our standard practices. Thank you for helping in the fight to protect our daily rights as artists!