My work is finally getting recognition!

[froyd]

Finally, my amazing photography is getting recognition... Or do you think the email below is scam?


On May 25, 2016 7:01 PM, James <valeriperka@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello,
My name is James Grillo from San Jose California. I want to purchase an artwork as a surprise gift for my wife on our anniversary, I noticed she viewed some of your works on my computer few months ago and I thought getting her one of your piece would be a great surprise.
I will appreciate if you can forward some of your piece of work within this price range,$500-$3000 available for immediate purchase.
Thanks and best regards,

James

.....................................

In case the prospective patron is in earnest, I crafted the following reply:

Dear James,

Thanks for the interest in Dr. Fed's work. Your spouse has good taste in fine art, but you are unfortunately mistaken about the purchase amount. Dr. Fed's pieces have been quoted in a range well above the million dollars (USD) mark by the leading international galleries.

Should you still be interested in enriching your collection with one of his pieces, please indicate your preferred work and deposit an amount of diamonds and other previous stones equivalent to $1,499,999.99 at the artist's address (I trust a man as resourceful as you will have no trouble locating it), but mind you not to leave it on the stoop or it might get stolen like his last Amazon Prime shipment of paper party straws (less than $5 for 100!).

We look forward to adding you to our clientele.

Regards,

Reginald Seemleys, Assistant to Dr. Fed.

 

[charjohncarter]

Good response, as you indicate a rather crazy way to do business.

 

[x-ray]

My wife is an established painter and had almost the exact email two weeks ago. At first she thought it might be legitimate and picked up the requested pieces from one of he galleries in another city. The person buying was buying for his wife's anniversary and said he would send a check plus some over payment for tge company that would pickup the work, pack it and ship it to him.

As promised the check arrived by express mail. My wife had told him the check must clear both our and his bank before she shipped the work and it could take several weeks. The amount of the check was written for almost $2700 over the cost of the paintings which was way in excess of what packing and shipping would be.

The day the check arrived we became very suspicious of the deal. We both took the check which was sent from Boston but drafted on a bank in Ilinois to our bank. We told the manager about the deal and the bank called the bank it was drawn on to f d out that that account had been closed by the bank a year earlier for fraudulent activity. The check was no good.

My wife played along with the supposed buyer. After a couple of emails back and forth the buyer had to have the paintings sooner but my wife said she was no longer wanting to sell the paintings. At that point the buyer insisted she go immediately and wire the full amount back to him by western union.

From this point you can figure things came unraveled and there was no more communication. That day we took the emails and copy of the check to the post office and discussed it with an agent. They stated this is very common and fit the profile exactly.

Using the U.S. mail for fraudulent activity and drafting a check on a non account are both federal felonies. The US postal authorities are now investigating.

This week my wife and I were in the art supply store and told the manager who's a friend abou what happened. He said about a half dozen other artists in the area had the exact same thing happen to them but recognized it as a scam.

Sadly it's a scam so stay away from it.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Legitimate buyers will not ask you for a list of art they can buy for a price range. They know what photo they want, and they will simply ask how much it costs. Some will know what size they want the print, others will ask what size or sizes you sell, but they know what photo they want.

Most people pay me by paypal, occasionally someone will send a check, but its always for the exact amount I quote them for the print, framing (if they want it framed; its an option I offer), and the shipping. Anyone sending more than you asked is a crook.

 

[x-ray]

In my wife's case the buyer had specific paintings he wanted from one of her galleries. He'd done quite a lot of research on her and her work.

I'd suggest playing along to the point of him express mailing a check. It cost the crook $22 to send the bogus check. If you play along it cost him not you plus you should take all correspondence and the check to the postal authorities. I suspect the contact man is in another country but he has to have people working with him here inorder to send the check. In my wife's case the envelope came from the Boston area. If they're losing money they'll stop.

 

[froyd]

Guys, thanks for the advice, but probably should have added a smiley after asking if this was a scam. This info might be useful for other members, but be reassured that I have no doubt this is an effort to steal money.

 

[kuuan]

thank you for the post, specially also x-ray for sharing your experience.