[Lindy]

Hi everyone!

I just received an order from my website that is a scam and I would like to pass the information along. Here is Canada there has been a lot of news of people being sent cheques for no logical reason and being told that they had gotten an inheritance, or whatever and to cash the cheque. They then want you to send them some of the money back.

Well now they are hitting artists websites and saying they have their own shipper so they'll send you a money order that will include this shipping, but you will need to cash it and then send it back to them.

Following are copies of the emails received and sent regarding this scam.

Message - 03/20/2008 at 06:42:23
E-Mail: luizaaustin@yahoo.com
Last Name: Austin
First Name: luiza
Information: yes
Contact: no
-----------------------------------------------
Comment:
Hello

My name is Luiza austin ,i saw your ad about the art work and i m interested in purchasing this artworks .if you could get back to me with the final price and details about the artworks .i will so much appreciate it ..Its a very nice one i found on the ad and i would to have it in my home someday

Title : "DALL SHEEP "

Get back to me at:luizaaustin@yahoo.com Hope to hear from you soonest

Second email after my reply giving price, etc:

Hello ,
Thanks very much for your email, , The reason I am sending you this email is to make final reconfirmation of the ARTWORK and also to let youknow that payment will be by certified Money Order OR Cashier Check... In view of this I need you toemail me any information that may be required to send the Money Order Or check to you, as I do not want to send the Payment to a wrong location let they gets into the wrong hands I Live in Bowie Texas.i got your ad from the Magazines online .
Regarding the shipping, I have a companythat takes care of the pick up of my consignmentsfor me and ship to my destination anywhere in the U.S.A, So you do not worry about shipping, thecompany will send down a representative to arrangethe sales documentation and the pick up from your end for onward transfer to my destination....I also want to alert you on the fact that you will be recieving an overdraft Money Order, which will cover the money for the pickup (pickup and shipping to the final destination) as well as the money to be paid to the company that will take care of the pickup and the documentation with you. So please, as soon as you receive the Money Order, go and cash them immediately, deduct the money that accrues to you, and send the balance to the Head Office of the company that handles the shipment In United States OR United Kingdom Okay.
The Money Order will be in your name to make it easier for you to receive payment, deduct your money and send the balance via Western Union Or Moneygram as regards my earlier direction, pleasereconfirm your details one more time. I will give you the details of my shipping company that you will send the balance of the money to in United States OR United Kingdom once I get a reply and agreement that you will send the money to the shipping company via Western Union or Moneygram money transfer immediately you cash the Money Order.
Once the money is received by the agentfrom any of there locations,the shipping agent will contact you immediately to arrange the documentation as well as the pick up immediately. So in view of the above, here are some of the details I will need
for final issuance of the USPS Money Order to you.
(1) Full Name
(2) Mailing address, No P.o.Box Please
(3) Your Direct Telephone Number
(4) Acceptance Of My Offer
(5) Final Price
Once you get back to me with all of the above details needed, The Payment will be issued out immediately and it will be sent to you.
Hope to hear back from you immediately.....
Regards,
N.B. : I will pay you extra $50 to reserve The artwork for me.
Luiza Austin

Now here is my reply to them:

Hello Luiza
Thank you for your quick response. Our terms are that we don’t send out the artwork until our bank has confirmed that the funds have cleared – this can take up to a month – we usually promise delivery within 8 weeks to accommodate this waiting period. Once we receive your certified cheque or money order we will place a hold on the piece that you wish to purchase.

If this is acceptable to you, please advise. The money order needs to be made out as follows:

Name & Address given with phone number given here:

I look forward to hearing from you.


I went on high alert as soon as I read the second email and I wanted to alert everyone in our community that this is happening. It's great to sell our work but I'm not so anxious that I'll fall into this trap and I hope this will help make sure no-one else will either.

Lindy

[Mark N. Akers]

lindy:
Thanks for the heads up,glad you didn't fall for it, my Dad always said"If it sounds to good to be true ,it probably is".

[Alice in Wonderland]

Thank you Lindy for taking the time and warning us about a scam it is just amazing the ideas people develope to get money out off anybody and now attacking artists? Do they thing we are so desperate?
Thanks again
Alice

[hobo]

Thanks Lindy scams are everywhere and the way things are going these days its pays to watch close.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Most of those are nigerians....a guy got tired of their scams and scammed one of them back....even managed to con the guy into getting a tattoo on his leg that read something to the effect "you have been duped" LOL can't remember the exact wording but very funny!