Fraud Alerts

Artist members of re-title.com, and other sites should be aware that they may receive fraudulent approaches from time to time. These are usually obvious for a number of reasons including poor language, bad grammar, lack of detailed contact info, etc, but most importantly they are too quick to discuss the buying of works and shipping costs.

At re-title.com we offer a verification service to artist members so that they may avoid replying to fraudulent approaches.
To help us control the abuse of re-title.com, it is important that you forward to us any email you consider suspicious or feel unsure about. (Please first check here to see if we have sent a Fraud Alert out).

We can quickly see if there is pattern emerging ( e.g. The abuser starts to work through the site from A-Z) and alert the other members and fraud alert subscribers.

If you have been the target of fraudulent emails and would like us to publish to this list

please us the contact form here

  

  

Here is a list of recent Fraudulent approaches made to artists:

NUISANCE SPAMMER:

First Name: Hannah
Last Name: Umar
Email: [email protected]

Message:
Hello   I am Hannah Umar, Loverly and carring girl am looking for a man to marry me who I will live the rest of my life with and express my feeling to him because I have alot of things in my heart to express to any one who stand to get married with me, Meanwhile I go through your profile and I like it if you dont mind you can reach me through this email address so that I can discuss the important thing that was in my heart with you this is my email ID to reach me at any time ([email protected]) I will be waiting for your urgent reply as soon as possible.   Best wishes,   Yours in love, Hannah Umar.

 

Gilly Thobela
[email protected]

Cashback Fraud - Same as Janet Clark below

 

 

Sophisticated art enquiry
[email protected]

 

Good morning,
I was searching through google images directory where i came across this sophisticated and attractive work of your's that made me keep starring for moments will love to purchase one or two piece from you and i will appreciate it if you can kindly let me know how and where i can see more of your new works and if possible can i purchase via email because i reside in Sweden. I will like to have your work as a beautification to my living room will await your response as soon as possible.
Regards
Vendrel

 

 

Cashback Fraud

[email protected]

 

Hello, I am Veronica smith, an American but presently reside in Australia for some reasons.I will like to place an order for some items from you, but I will like to know what you have available in stock .Let me have your website address so I can review the products you have presently in stock at the moment and if there is any special pricing I need to know  about. Lastly regarding payment I will be sending you my credit card for the full payment charges for my order .In order to avoid any form of delays can you let me know the type of credit cards you accept? I hope to hear from you as soon as possible so we can proceed with the Order. Thanks with Regards. Veronica.

 

 

 

Nuisance Emailer - please ignore:

First Name: majid
Last Name: farhadi
Email: [email protected]

Message:

I realize the task took a great deal of your precious time. Pleas leave me your sophisticates feedback about my paintings....

 

Cash-back Fraud - 'Janet Clark:
[email protected]

Initial message:
"Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creatives works on your web site and i will like you to get back with more details if they are  still available for purchase.
I will appreciate an urgent reply."

… the correspondence became more and more bizarre, ending after her husband sent a check for $4500, more than twice the price of the work she wanted to buy. She asked that I deposit the check and give the overpayment to her moving company which was responsible for picking up the work. When I refused and said I was returning the check, I did not hear from them again. Besides this last absurd issue and the odd grammar and vocabulary, another tip-off was that she would not tell me how she found my work.

This is a classic example of a cash-back fraud.
The check would have turned out to be fraudulent and the artist would be out of pocket for the 'shipping'.

 

Nuisance Emailer:

Nuisance emailer: Rita Aliyu

[email protected]

Hello My dearest,
How are you doing today with your health .
I believe that you are alright.My name is Rita.You have a nice artistic profile which interests me,i believe we will be good friends.My dear can i trust you,i need some one i will trust and call him my own,i need a trust worthy person.tell me about yourself.i believe so much in honesty..i am looking for an honest person who i can trust and share my hole love with...you can contact me through my email addressI will be waiting to hear from you soonest .
Your new friend.
MISS Rita

Calos David
[email protected]

Message:
Hi how are you doing,i will like to buy your art work (name of work) to my new apartment in Copenhagen,so let me know if we can a have deal on it  Thanks

Penn Cage
[email protected]

Message:
Please Let me know your artworks that are still available for sale.  Penn Cage.

 

Steve Adams
[email protected]

Message:
Hello to you out there. I am so excited that I came across of your work on internet search,I am interested in purchasing some creative artworks from you let me know their various prices.and how much discounts are you going to give? I will be happy to have these selected artworks hanged in our new home in South Africa. As well, I want you to take out the shipping cost.I have been in touch with a shipping firm that will be shipping other house decoratives, We are travelling from our Dallas home to our new apartment as soon as possible.On Paying for the artworks,I will be glad to pay you with a Cashier check or Money order  from the U.S Bank that can be easily cashed at your local bank,please let me know on how to proceed, Have a wonderful day. Take Care,  Mr Steve  Adams....

 

Jane Francis
[email protected]

Hi, 
Happy New Year. Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creatives works on your web site and i will like you to get back with more details if they are  still available for purchase.
I will appreciate an urgent reply.

Best Regards,
Janet.

First Name: Morgan
Last Name: Cole
Email: [email protected]

Message:
Hi how are you doing? i will like to show my interest in your work let me know the last price you are will to sell the art work

You can contact me on my email [email protected],so that we can talk beter

Nuisance emailer : sherif alex

Email: [email protected]

Message:
Dear Sir,
First Africa Arts Galary is an independent home of visual arts.First Africa Arts Galary is base in Ghana West Africa. We have alot of ambitious youth who are trying to sell their African idiologies in arts to the rest of the world.
First Africa Arts Galary established contemporary art galleries and institutions in paint works,carving and mulding as well.
With regards to the forth coming  Embassy Gallery ,we want to be part of the programme.Kindly let us have an invitation letter.This will therefore serve as a new step of building a good relationship between The Embassy Gallery  and First Africa Arts Galary Arts .
If there is anything we should do,please do not hersitate to inform us so that we can be part of the wonderfull world event.Waiting to hearing from you soon.You may send us the invitation through our postal address below for any other programme you would host in future.

Yours faithfully,
Sheriff A.

First Africa Arts Galary
P.O.BOX 2056
CANTONMENT-ACCRA
+233244115552
+233246115552

Unusual approach :  Marc Weuker

Email: [email protected]

Message:
Dear artist
I am an avid collector of African American art. I have never considered photography as I try to stick with one medium. Yet while streaming the web for art in my area, I stumbled into your website.
The photo "Jess" is just incredible!!! I would like to own one, but the price of $1100. is steep for me - not that your talent doesn't command it.
Nevertheless, is there some chance I can go through you to obtain this "piece" rather than the gallery and do better?

Hopefully,
M. Weuker

 

Nuisance Emailer: 'David Roberts'

Email: [email protected]

Message:

Mr David roberts

It's pleasure to acquaint you with this proposal for a financial and busines isssue. Don't worry I was totally convinced to write you in reference to the transfer of $14.5M to your account for onward investment in your country. Pls get back for more info.

regards

Mr David roberts

Comments

[sima Amid wewetzer]

Thank you so much for your information.

[display stands]

fair enough the rest are scams but that "Marc Weuker" could have been for real? what made you think he wasn't, based on that one email?

[Dawn Blair]

I received two of the "Veronica Smith" emails above. This morning, I received another one worded a bit differently than the other two. I'm pasting it below to help get the word out about the new one circulating now.

Thank you for posting these scams -- it's good to have peace of mind that it is a scam and not an honest customer.

***

Hello,
I am Veronica smith, an American but I live and work here in AustraliaThis message is to make inquiry on the below question.1- Do you carry overseas? (though i already know of a freight forwarder thatwill pick my packages from you,since they ship lesser than any other courierand they are so effective in shipping my goods to me here inQueensland,Australia is estimated to be 3-4days) I have used their servicesin the past and it was splendid.2- Do you accept credit card for payment(my U.S.A Master and Visa card to beprecise)? Kindly let me know your comments on these, before i send theitems i am interested in purchasing from you.
Veronica.

[NP]

I received the same email from "veronica smith"...and it is because of your post that my company was able to confirm that it was indeed a fraudulent inquiry. DAWN, I thank you for sharing this information online. I really appreciate it!

[L T]

horrible! I just got one from Gill Thoebella and Im glad you have this info up or I would have been suckered in for sure. I need art sales and this is just plain mean to toy with an artist hopes!

[Tomokazu Matsuyama]

I was sucked in,, just few days ago, I ve western union-ed 3,000 USD back.. same method.. damn,, when she first contacted me, i googled her name and was not listed anywhere.. if it only had been a few weekes later, I would not have lost this large money.. be aware,, everyone, I ve exchanged over 30 emails with her, easily over few weeks and she almost bacame a friend....

[Tomokazu Matsuyama]

forgot to state who it was, its Gilly Thobela..

[artsy ants]

Wow, so they also try to scam artist? Thanks for posting, everybody!

[Tomokazu Matsuyama]

Assuming, now that the they ve seen this, they will change their names,, since Gilly Thoebela mistakenly send me an email with a different name of Betty as well,, When you sell work and get a check that states higher qoute than what you expect, do NOT cash them, when they ask you to wire money back through Western Union, do NOT wire them. this is most likely a SCAM..

[jean s]

i did received fraudulent approaches from janet thobela ,with the same language and words i did read in your web site !!!! thanks to luck i went in your web site ,as i was putting the name Thobela on Google for research on this potential buyer ! So of course now i am not going to carry on MERCI THANKS BRAVO ;JEAN

[Callie]

Debby Barnes

Used the story of being pregnant, in London for wedding of twin sister. Overpayment sent. Very pushy and rushing things.

[Carrie Brightbill]

I received one from Donna Hoynik, thank you for posting it allowed me to confirm my gut feeling that it was a scam. Here is the email that was sent:

On 4/6/11 5:54 PM, "Donna Hoynik" wrote:

Good morning,

I was searching through Google images directory where i came across this sophisticated and attractive work of yours that made me keep starring for moments will love to purchase one or two piece from you and i will appreciate it if you can kindly let me know if you have piece priced between $1000- $2000 because that is my budget.I hope to read from you with weblink of work in my budget or kindly send me images of it.

Regards

Donna.

[חדרי תינוקות]

For me, This blog is the most valuable one. Because from a fortnight or so, I am communicate with a guy and similar kind of mails. It prevented me from loosing money. I am fortunate to find this blog....