Art Scams in Vermont

South Africa + Household in Transit + Lovely Artworks = Fraud

This series of communications have been recieved by at least three Vermont artists in the past few months.

Contact #1

Good day to you.

I am so excited that I came across of your work on internet

search,I am interested in purchasing some creative artworks from you

namely....(Names of Actual Artwork Here)

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

either Cashier check or Money Order in US funds that can be easily

cashed at your local bank,please let me know on how to procced for the

payment of the creative artworks.

I will await your advise on how to proceed.Have a wonderful day.

Take Care,

Miranda Jones

Contact #2

Hello

Thanks for your response back to my query regarding your creative

works of arts.I`ll love to proceed with the purchase.

Therefore,I`ll want you to get back to me with your mailing address

so that my husband who has been shuttling between Johannesbourg and our

Dallas home can make out the payment to you as soon as possible.

Regarding shipping,I`ll forward your contact information to the

shipping company contracted to handle all our house decoratives and

other house wares to get in touch with you and make shipping plans

with you.They can arrange for fedex pick-up right from your

studio/residence.They are also been charged to handle insurance and

other logistics involved with the shipments.

I`ll look forward to hearing back from so I`ll know how best we can

proceed.

Miranda Jones

How the scam works.

You are paid with a money order or a cashier's check. These can take up to and more than a month to truly clear the bank. During this time, you have shipped off your artwork - so if the money order is fake then you have lost the work.

Another variation is that you receive the money order but it is in excess of the purchase amount. You are asked to deduct shipping costs and send the balance to the buyer. In this case you are out your work AND the "excess" shipping costs.

Variation #3: The buyer calls you in a crises after you have been paid but before the work has been shipped. She claims that she must cancel the transaction and needs a refund. If you send a check before the money order clears then you could be out the entire "purchase price" of your artwork.

For more tips about how to avoid being scammed visit this website:

http://www.artscams.com/

Also, one of our Vermont colleagues have come up with this paragraph:

If you become interested in ordering, I'd like you to be aware that due to security measures, a minimum of 50 to 60 days must elapse between the time your check to me is deposited in my account and your order is shipped. The shipment CANNOT be cancelled, and any overpayment of shipping will be calculated and returned after the order is shipped.