love your artwork…
I got an email the other day. “Hello, I am so excited that I came across your artworks on internet search, I am interested in purchasing the following works from you….”
The writer wanted to know more information, prices, etc. So I took some time out from making books for the show, and put together prices for the two editioned sizes, matting costs if that was wanted, some description material.
Next day I got a response to my email. “Good to read you again.” Eager to go ahead with purchases. I am moving to a new home. Please send me your address and phone so my shipping agent can contact you….
My radar popped up, for I knew then it was probably a scam. A waste of my time, an attempt to get personal information, or launder a bad cashier’s check. I had heard of scams where a purchaser buys something, sending you a cashier’s check. You deposit it, and send the goods. Then the buyer decides he doesn’t want the goods, and please wire a refund back. After the refund is made, you learn from your bank that the cashier’s check was fraudulent, and you’ve lost the cash of the refund. There are places along the way to stop the scam, but if it carries thru, you come out the loser.
So I tested the buyer by asking first for his shipping address – that I don’t ship to all countries, and stating that I would take PayPal in payment, where he/she can use a credit card or a bank account. Needless to say, I never heard back from the criminal, not one word. Why do we need to deal with this, when there is real work to do in life?