It has become very common for some people to try to scam artists.
It is very easy to identify them:
1. They always have a story ("my wife was looking at your website and I want to surprise her...")
2. They want the artist to pick a work for them (they don't want to waste time choosing a painting they are not even buying)
3. They have their own payment method and shipping company. They will try to send you a fake check and they will have this complicated story as to why they can't pay you directly using paypal or a credit card. They will ask you to reimburse them excess payment for shipping and my guess is that it takes some time for your bank to find out that the check is bad and in the meantime the fake buyer pressures you to send him money.
I usually ignore this type of people or sometimes I reply with a few words just for fun. It is very sad that these people spend their time finding artists and sending tons of emails hoping that someone might fall for their tricks. Wouldn't it be more profitable to have a normal job? How many people nowadays fall for this? I hope nobody falls for this anymore.
In hopes to put and end to this I decided to start copying the emails I get to make people aware. I will keep adding more if I get more.
From: Trent Harrison, trenthaqrrison6777@gmail.com
My name is Trent Harrison from California. I have been on the lookout for some artworks lately in regards to I and my wife's anniversary, which is just around the corner.
I stormed on to some of your works which I found quite impressive and intriguing. I must admit you're doing quite an impressive job. You are undoubtedly good at what you do.
With that being said, I would like to purchase a surprise gift to my wife in honor of our upcoming wedding anniversary.
It would be of help if you could send some pictures of your piece of work, with their respective prices and sizes, which are ready for immediate (or close to immediate) sales. My budget for this is within the price range of $500 to $8,000.
I look forward to reading from you in order to know more about your pieces of inventory.
Regards,
From: Eric Schultz, ericshultz674@gmail.com
Hello There,
How are you doing? My name is Eric Shultz from Devon Philadelphia , I have been on the lookout for some artworks lately in regards to I and my wife's anniversary which is just around the corner. I stormed on to some of your works which I found quite impressive and intriguing,I must admit you're doing quite an impressive job. You are undoubtedly good at what you do.
With that being said, I would like to purchase some of your works as a surprise gift to my wife in honor of our upcoming wedding anniversary. It would be of help if you could send some pictures of your piece of work, with their respective prices and sizes(bearing it in mind that my budget is within $500-$5000)which are ready for immediate sale.
I look forward to reading from you.
Best Regards,
Eric.
From: Mike Owen, mikeowen806@gmail.com
Hello, My name is Mike. I noticed my wife looked into your website and i think she might be interested in your piece of your work so i will like to buy the piece attached as a surprise for her on our first wedding anniversary, and i hope you still have it and what's your final price.
Thank you i will look forward to hear back from you
Subject: artwork urgently needed
Hello,
How are you doing? So i came across your page while searching for art
pieces online. I am interested in purchasing a piece as a SURPRISE
GIFT for my wife, she seems fond of your designs. I'd love to receive
further information if you would confirm the art pieces available for
sale on my mail - tuckerjohn004@gmail.com
Best regards.
Tucker John
From: Thomas Chris
To: arte@marlenellanes.com
Reply-to: Thomaschris021@gmail.com
Greetings,
My name is Thomas Chris from Sc, USA. my wife has been on the lookout for some artwork lately viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she really likes what you do, I'm also impressed and I like the contrast of your colors , : ) You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. I would greatly appreciate if you could
possibly recommend a few completed original piece, Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales .
Thanks and best regards ,
Thomas.
My response (eventhough I knew he was a scammer):
Hi Thomas
Thank you for your comments.
Please visit my store https://artbymarlenellanes.mysupadupa.com/ and you
can purchase art directly from there.
Marlene
His response:
Dear Marlene,
Thanks for the message, I must tell you I intend to give my wife a
surprise with the immediate purchase of the piece NEW HARVEST NEW HAPPINESS (ORIGINAL, 40X30 IN) of $2800 . If you'd like to know, I’m relocating to the Philippines soon and our wedding anniversary is fast
approaching. So I'm trying to gather some good stuff to make this event a surprise. As regarding payment, I would like to inform you, that my wife handles the family
credit card and paypal Bank transaction. So i would authorize a check to you for the payment as soon as i have your full name and contact address (preferably for FedEx delivery no P.O box). Also, as soon as you receive the check and it clears your bank, my shipping
agent who is also moving my personal effect will contact you to arrange shipping/pick up of the piece from you (this is to avoid my wife receiving it, if been shipped directly to my address which would ruin the surprise for this event). You both have to sign a proof of pick up at the most.
I would have handled this much differently if I'd been at home but I am actually going offshore and won't be back for another couple of weeks, and do not have access to a lot of cash over here to expedite this transaction... trying to kill two birds with a stone. :-)
Have a Positive Day!
Thomas .
PS: In the meantime, kindly get back to me with your cell phone no. so i can try and call you later as the phones may be working better when this storm passes through.
Richard Mills
Hello, I am Richard Mills from Virginia. I was looking for some artwork online and I found your contact while surfing and I must tell you, You are doing a great job, I would really love to purchase some of your works for my wife as a surprise present regarding our forthcoming 30th anniversary, I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you. Also, kindly email me back with some images and price list of your artworks that is ready for immediate sales within my price range ($1,000- $15,000). Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks and best regards.
