The Artist's Guide to Spotting and Avoiding Common Scams
Two years ago, I wrote about the prevalence of art scams. Unfortunately, rather than disappearing, these scams have become more sophisticated. It is disheartening to see scammers exploiting innocent artists who only wish to share their art with the world. Presenting one’s creation takes immense courage and confidence, and when someone shows interest in purchasing their work, it brings immense joy.
With this in mind, my goal is to educate and empower artists to identify scams and take appropriate action. Here are five common types of art scams to watch out for:
1. The “Too Good to Be True” Buyer
An individual approaches you with an urgent need to purchase your art but doesn’t specify which artwork they’re interested in. This is often a red flag.
Indicators:
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Vague praise
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Urgency
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Bulk purchase offers
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Requests for payment only via check, money order, or through a shipping agent
Scam Goal:
The scammer sends a counterfeit check for an excessive amount and then requests a refund. Artists may refund the money before realizing the check is fake and ship the artwork to the scammer, losing both money and art.
How to Protect Yourself:
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Use verified payment methods (PayPal Invoice, Square, Stripe, Venmo Business).
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Do not refund overpayments or transfer funds to third parties.
2. Fake Galleries, Art Fairs, or Contests
Artists may receive contact from a “gallery” expressing admiration for their work and claiming to have interested collectors. Scammers exploit this fantasy, offering “representation” or “exposure” services and then requesting a fee.
Indicators:
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Flattering messages
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Promises of exposure
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Requests for fees upfront
Scam Goal:
You pay for their services without any tangible results. Real galleries make money through sales, not artist fees.
How to Protect Yourself:
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Conduct thorough research on the organization (Google is an invaluable resource).
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Request contracts and contact artists who have worked with the organization.
3. Engage and Earn Trust
You receive a random email or direct message asking about locating artwork or a specific artist.
Indicators:
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Unsolicited messages
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Requests for personal information
Scam Goal:
The scammer engages you in conversation to build trust, eventually requesting payment.
How to Protect Yourself:
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Be cautious with unsolicited messages.
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Avoid sharing personal or financial information.
4. Send Invoices for Products or Services
You receive an invoice for a product or service you did not purchase.
Indicators:
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Unexpected invoices
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Requests for sensitive information
Scam Goal:
When you contact them, they may ask for your credit card information or for you to click a link, which could result in your computer being hacked.
How to Protect Yourself:
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Double-check any invoices you receive.
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Do not provide personal information unless you verify the source.
5. The Fake Gift Card
A trusted person emails you requesting immediate assistance and asks for gift cards, promising reimbursement.
Indicators:
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Urgent requests from a known contact
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Requests for gift cards
Scam Goal:
They want you to purchase and send the gift card codes so they can drain the funds. They impersonate a trusted person to manipulate you into providing money that is difficult to trace and recover.
How to Protect Yourself:
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Verify the request by contacting the person through a separate method.
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Be skeptical of urgent requests for gift cards.
Additional Indicators
If you receive an email that seems too good to be true, look for:
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Generic greetings, poor grammar, inconsistent names, or unofficial email addresses (e.g., Gmail/Outlook)
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Verify the sender’s domain and search the message text online with “scam” to see if others have reported it
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Beware if the buyer’s “mover” or “courier” will collect the artwork, or if they request your address or shipping payment
If You Suspect a Scam
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Do not respond. Any response confirms your contact is active.
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Report the email or message as phishing or spam.
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Block the sender.
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Alert fellow artists or your local art association.
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If money or personal data were shared, contact your bank or credit card company immediately.
Quick Self-Check Before Any Sale
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Does the buyer mention a specific artwork?
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Is payment verified before shipping?
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Does the opportunity have reviews or a history?
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Are there any unnecessary fees?
If any answer is "no," slow down and confirm before proceeding.
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