Friday, November 10, 2017

Art Scam/Art Spam


Did you know that the traditional gift for 20 years of marriage is art? I had no idea until I received the following 3 emails in the past week...

My name is Jeffery Hewlett from Snyder, Texas. I was looking for some artwork online and i found your contact while searching. I would like to purchase some of your work for my wife as a surprise for our 20th anniversary. Please kindly send pics and prices of some of your art which are ready for immediate sales within price range $500-$5000. I hope to hear a lot more about any available piece in your inventory ready for immediate sale.

Thanks and best regards, Jeffery.

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My name is James from Charlotte, NC. I was looking for some artwork online and i found your contact while searching. Will like to purchase some of your work for my wife as a surprise for our 20th anniversary. Please kindly send pics and prices of some of your art which are ready for immediate sales within price range $300-$1,200, i could be flexible with price. So i hope to hear a lot more about any available piece in your inventory.

Thanks and best regards, James

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My name is Kevin Spiker from Washington, DC. I was looking for some artwork online and i found your contact while searching. I would like to purchase some of your work for my wife as a surprise for our 20th anniversary. Please kindly send pics and prices of some of your art which are ready for immediate sales within price range $500-$5000. So I will hope to hear a lot more about any available piece in your inventory ready for immediate sale.

Thanks and best regards, Kevin

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Somebody should tell James that he needs to up his price range!

Anybody else hear from Jeffery, James or Kevin?

29 comments:

Nikki Acton said...

Lol! Not seen it before! Thanks for the info x

Paul Watson said...

Yes, I got one of those yesterday

CERULEAN said...

That's a niche in the art market, I guess you're sold out now?:)

Louise said...

Yes, I did received that kind of email. I was sure it was a scam, but I answered to it anyway telling that all the information is on my website, including the prices, the payment method and the terms of sales.
I did not get further emails...

Sisterhood of the Muse said...

I got the Kevin email too. 'Tis the Season, I guess ;-)

donna joy said...

I can tell you this...Snyder is a very small west texas town. I had to spend an unexpected night there once when car broke down. I would be suspicious since a search would bring up your page and any of that info :) and the 20th is china-or platinum.

Anonymous said...

Got one a while back, it was a hack to a gallery site and they sent them to everyone. Make sure it wasn't a hack from somewhere you show art.....xox

john said...

I have and felt right away it was a scam but I wonder how many got caught! It is exhausting fending off these intrusions. I know there will be more especially to the aging baby boomers. Glad you wrote about it, Seth.

A Pink said...

I am so sorry this has happened to you Seth but so glad you picked up on it being a scam from the get-go. Thanks for the info x

Cal said...

Wow! If you had just received one inquiry it might have seemed legit. Did the requests come in all around the same time? Glad you realized they were scams. Thanks for sharing this warning.

Jean Bee said...

Too funny!

Poetryqn said...

Wow. I'm glad you posted about it, Seth, but this makes me incredibly sad.

Karenliz Henderson said...

Yes, I received two from a Kevin and he also posted a comment on my blog.LOL

Jackie PN said...

hahaa I thought i had seen it all!!
Thanks for the warning share!

Gwen Lafleur said...

Ha! Haven't seen those... I'm still just getting the "my dear..." emails from dying strangers who want to give me money. Have you watched the James Veitch videos where he interacts with the spammers? Maybe you can do your own version and get Jeffrey, James, and Kevin in a bidding war for your art.

Unknown said...

Just got the exact email. Looked around and found your post. Answers my question.

PeteM said...

Ha! found it!. We received this exact email. Not an artist but we own a bed & breakfast that has some unique restored or re-purposed furnishings and our own and some local artwork so I think it strange that we were "targeted". I can't see how the math would work out in their favor, so much work, but I guess if you get it out to enough people, it may pay off. Normally we get requests for scam bookings for many or all rooms with extended stays (3-4 weeks). Anyway, thanks for posting, now I don't have to reply to this "person".

Dee said...

Too funny! I am glad you did not bite.

Anonymous said...

Yup....Kevin has been in contact...seemed to know a lot about my work....obviously gleaned from either my website or the gallery that represents me. His story goes on to say he's moving to Ireland...needs to ship right away...then the stuff about sending a check with extra to cover the shipping fees....all sounded crazy.

RI artist

Unknown said...

Just got the Kevin note today, I always search the name when I get an inquiry, first time it was a scammer! Thanks for shining the light Seth!
Sid Smith

Peter Bennett said...

I got this email. I am not an artist and I do not own any art so I sent him a picture of the Mona Lisa.


My name is Scott Denilson from Washington DC was looking for some artwork online and i found your contact while searching. I will like to purchase some of your work for my wife as a surprise gift for our 20th anniversary. Please kindly send pics and prices of some of your art which are ready for immediate sale within price range $500- $5000 I hope to hear a lot more about any available piece in your inventory ready for immediate sale.

Anonymous said...

Just got a note from Mr. Spiker.
Wish these scammers would take a hiker!
Thank you for your warning sign,
So gullible ones might pause from buying.

Unknown said...

Me too, just heard from Kevin today!

TS said...

yep- got the same one from good ol' Kevin. Ha!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your post. I appreciate you saving me time wondering what this Kevin Spiker email was.

Anonymous said...

So sad - just got this yesterday. Why pick on artists?

Greetings... I am Bill from Snyder Texas. 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 some of your works which i found quite impressive and intriguing. I must admit your 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 works, 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 $5000.

I look forward to reading from you in a view to knowing more about your pieces of inventory. As a matter of importance, I would also like to know if you accept check as a means of payment.

Have a great new year.

bill.grants-1@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Got Jeffery’s today from Conway, Arkansas. First time I’d seen it. Glad to have my suspicions confirmed. Do poets get these? Perhaps it would make a good poem.

sandy said...

I got one also. sent him to my websites! thanks for posting!!

Sarah said...

I got a follow up email today (first email dec 2018) saying Kevin Spiker was moving to Dublin Ireland. Of course he asked for my contact info to send a check. Then I looked up Kevin Spiker scam on google. This page was the top link.

I just want to say thank you so much for sharing all your stories. I'm so thankful I didn't get caught by this scam!