Earlier this week I received an email from someone named Buttry Stephen, who saw his wife checking out my website. He also was impressed with my work and was interesting in making a purchase. I wanted to share these emails to show what a scam looks like pertaining to artwork. Here is the first email...
Greetings,
My name is Buttry Stephen from Michigan. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work, I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, You are doing a great job. I would like to receive further information about your piece of work and what inspires you..Kindly confirm the availability for immediate sales.
Thanks and best regards.
I was suspicious the moment I read it. There are several grammar errors and it's strangely worded as though it was sent through an internet translator. The most notable red flag comes from the last sentence, where he asks to, "confirm the availability for immediate sales". "Immediate Sales" is a awkward phrase. I also tracked the email and could tell it was sent from San Francisco, even though Buttry claims to be from Michigan. Though this email was suspicious, I decided to respond. Here is what I wrote...
Hi Buttry,
Thanks much for the kind words and compliments. Inspiration for my work often comes from items that have a great presence. Sometimes these are iconic objects, or nostalgic/sentimental pieces. Many times I'm drawn to witty items because I find them cool and/or fun. Then of course I concentrate on painting them to the best of my ability.
These are the finished paintings I have here in my studio -
"Satisfaction" oil on panel 12"x12"
"Drinking Happy Bird" oil on panel 14"x14"
"Walked in Lincoln's Steps" oil on panel 54"x18"
These can be viewed on my website - http://www.kylesurges.com/nostalgia-series.html
My other paintings are available at McCormick Gallery. Here is a link to their site - http://www.thomasmccormick.com/artists/kyle_surges
All the best,
Kyle
Shortly after sending the email, I receive this...
Hello Kyle,
Thanks for the message, it could be any color, but medium size or large.
However, I would greatly appreciate if you could possibly recommend a
few completed piece within my budget $1000- $15,000- ready for
immediate
sales i check your website but i could not see the price of the art work.
Please do email me back with images and prices of any available works
in that range.
cheers.
Yet another email with incorrect grammar. I tracked the email again and found it was sent from Kansas, which is odd. Also, $1,000 - $15,000 is a pretty large price range. I wrote back with prices...
Here is a list of the prices for the paintings -
Frito Bandito - $2000
Sharper Straighter Cleaner - $2200
Pepsi Cap - $1500
Remembering Iwo Jima - $4500
An Artist's Payday - $3200
Drinking Happy Bird - $3600
Satisfaction - $3200
Walked in Lincoln's Steps - $5000
Please use my website to view the paintings.
At this point, I'm just playing along. Where could this be leading to? This time his response came to me in my spam inbox.
Dear Kyle,
Thanks for the message again. I must tell you I
intend to give my wife a
surprise with the immediate purchase of the
piece. Also If you'd like to
know, I'm relocating to the Philippines soon and
our wedding anniversary is
fast approaching. So I'm trying to gather some
good stuff to make this
event a surprise one..I'm okay with the painting and price,(Drinking Happy Bird $3600 and
Satisfaction-$3200) I think it's
worth it anyway, so I'll be
sending a check after you are done with the frame.
As regarding shipping, you don't have to worry about that in order not
to leave any clue to my wife for the surprise. As
soon as you receive and cash
the check, my shipping agent (who is also
moving my personal effect) will
contact you to arrange pick-up..
I would have come to purchase the piece myself
but, at the moment, am on
training voyage to the North Atlantic Ocean (I'm
an ocean engineer) with
new hires who are fresh from graduate school
and won't be back for another
couple of weeks..
Regards!
PS: In the meantime, kindly get back to me with
your full name (you want
the check payable to) cell phone no. and contact
address (preferably for
USPS OR UPS not P.O box) where a check can
be mailed to so I can get the
check prepared and have it mailed out to you
asap..
Thank you!
Wow! Look at this one, he has all kinds of plans and stories in this email! Buttry is an Ocean Engineer on a training voyage who is from Michigan, and relocating to the Philippines?! What a joke! This is the point where I let him know I'm not sucker.
My gallery will be handling the transaction so contact them for sales. I don't deal directly with clients, there are a lot of scammers out there, and too high of risk for fraud - you know how it is...
Kyle
I didn't hear back from Buttry after this. I'm not sure what the outcome would have been if I sent him my address. There is a good chance I could have received a fraudulent check. Or sometimes with these email scammers, something supposedly drastic will happen to them and they will have a whole new set of plans later on. One thing that is consistent with these email scammers is that they try to make a personal, relate-able connection with you. They usually have a long, drawn out story with ridiculous content to try and feed on your humanity. Buttry was pretty clever in using his "wife's interest" as a ploy to reach out to me. It's not uncommon for spouses to purchase art as gifts for each other. Be careful out there, use common sense when dealing with these idiots.
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