One well-known local painter is encouraging other artists to heed her warning after almost getting taken by a growing art scam recently.
Bev Bunker said that people must exercise caution, especially in the age of modern communications.
“These are things that usually I just don’t even open,” she averred, referring to an e-mail with an intriguing offer. “It was specifically directed to me. I sort of had the feeling that it was a scam. Something was just dubious.”
The sender of the note claimed to be Thomas Hogan, an employee of an oil company located in Saudi Arabia. He was interested in opening up an art gallery and wished to purchase several paintings in the $300 to $700 price range, far too low for Bunker’s works.
“He said, ‘I looked at your website and I saw nine paintings that I would like to purchase for the gallery, if you’d kindly like to send them.’”
He provided contact information and the shipping address along with instructions that he would pay by credit card.
Bunker was immediately skeptical but played along for a while. “First of all, Saudi Arabia … click!” she remarked. Regardless of the offer, she doesn’t sell directly through her website anyway because she is represented by a gallery. Her website even instructs prospective buyers to contact the gallery.
“My brain was thinking that this guy is either an idiot or wants something for nothing.”
The person was adamant that he would only deal directly with her and not purchase anything through a gallery. Bunker laughed at the offer since her website doesn’t offer viewers a method to pay directly.
This is called cheque/credit overpayment fraud. If the ruse is successful, the victim receives an overpayment but not by cash. After the paintings are shipped off, the scammers then demand a refund of the surplus amount but credit card companies can only refund full amounts. This then leaves the victim without the goods and in the unpleasant situation of asking the scammer for the correct payment, which never arrives. That’s also when the scammers break contact for good, leaving the victim to pick up the pieces.
Bunker believes that it all started when the scammers discovered her name in an art directory or other public information source.
The Government of Canada’s Anti-Fraud Centre recommends that people protect themselves by:
• knowing any purchaser by independently confirming their name, address and phone number;
• never accepting payment for more than the selling price;
• never agreeing to wire overpayments back; and
• resist the purchaser’s pressure to act quickly.
This scam is also commonly aimed at business owners for things like hall rentals or restaurant reservations.
People can learn more about different scams and how to protect themselves by contacting the Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or by visiting www.antifraudcentre.ca. Anyone who has a complaint or a concern can contact them directly.
