I was approached this past week with something that looked great at first but turned out to be a major scam with the potential to take advantage of many artists. Thankfully my brother who is a photographer knew all about this and warned me before things progressed too far – but other artists need to be aware. It goes like this:
A man emailed me, (the letters always seem to open with “Good Day” and then they introduce themselves) and said he had seen my art and was interested in purchasing a particular piece, if it is still available. He said he is relocating to the UK for business immediately (creating a sense of urgency for speedy service), and that he has his own shipper ready to take care of that end of things for him including insurance.
I initially assumed this was legitimate, and wrote back to tell him that the piece was available either as an original or a giclee, and described pricing and all other pertinant info. He informed me that he would like the giclee, to consider it purchased, and that he would be sending out a cashiers check immediately with an overdraft that would cover my piece as well as the shipper.
I was instructed to deposit the check, and then pay the shipper for him at that time. I wrote back to say that I preferred that he send two checks, and I would be happy to give one to the shipper upon pickup, and that I would need a receipt for the shipping so I know the total and the company info. He replied that he was sending only one check as this was easier for him and that I should just pay the shipper out of that.
Red flags for me:
With each email I asked politely for his contact info and address so I could keep it for my records, and also I inquired how he found my site. He never gave me this info. Finally he gave me an address in North Carolina (hm…he is instantly relocating to the UK so this is useless).
Also, who would tell a business person how to conduct their business? If I ask for two checks that should be no big deal, as it is still only one trip to the bank. Also, why can’t his own shipper just bill him?
I asked him if his shipper would be handling the packing, and said that I assume he is familiar with handling artwork, that I would not be responsible for the safe delivery of my piece once it left my studio, and to please confirm that he understood this. He never responded to this.
Well…thank God my brother warned me about this as he had seen the scam before. Here is how it works:
The assumption is that you will receive the check, deposit it and send out the goods and pay from your account to the “shipper” who will leave with your money and art. The check will ultimately never clear, or bounce or something and you are out the money and art. (I have shipped art from LA to DC and it was $500. for one large canvas…imagine the cost to the UK!)
Well, I have run a business for too long, and was not planning to process any order or release any goods until the check cleared in my account, but I still felt that this might come back to bite me.
Finally, I emailed the man back, saying that I was not comfortable with the arrangement, and that he would need to send two checks or pay the shipper directly or I would not proceed. He wrote me back that it was too late…he had already sent the check and so we would need to proceed as planned. He also said (I guess because he knew I was suspicious) that he heard about me through “a friend” (hm…what friend?? This did not do the trick).
My final email stated that I would simply send the check back to the address he gave me in North Carolina when I received it, and that I was sorry for any inconvenience. I have not heard back.
It seems that there are many variations on this scam, but all have a similar phrasing and all involve an overdraft of some sort to be paid to a third party from the person targeted.
My brother now responds to these saying he does not do bookings by email, and to call his studio to make arrangements (which seems to end it right there).
So – be careful. There are many scams targeted at parting enthusiastic artists from their art and their cash. Don’t let your excitement over a potential sale overshadow your common sense!
Editor’s Note: Guest Author, Tanya Mikaela is an award-winning artist from Southern California. She was recently showcased in our Featured Artist section.
Yes, Look out for Tracey Coey! I got the same scam-song, "I'm in London at my sister's wedding,… moving to Cape Town, South Africa, etc. Interestingly, she never asked the two questions all
buyers ask: "What is the price and how long did it take?" When she insisted on her shippers (I'd already told her that I've used the same carriers for 30 years without damage or loss)I smelled a rat. After informing her that I would not be able to sell her the painting as I did not permit unfamiliar shippers onto my studio property,I got an e-mail from her (probably her) shipper, David Wood for World Wide Movers. Googled WWW and found that they indeed do ship to quite a few African countries, but NOT Cape Town or South Africa! Searched Tracey Coey, Facebook and found your scam warning site. Thank you for your wonderful service. Keep up the good work!
We should call this the Tracey Coey scam as I have received the exact same email as others above. Thanks for communicating this everyone. Good community of artists watching each other’s backs. Thanks.
Ha!
I just received and responded to the same message… only from “Tracey Coey”. As I was doing a search on this name, I found my way here. Thanks for saving me from wating time… great site here…!
Linda
I had the same scam from Tracey Coey yesterday, figured it was a scam but replied to be polite. and got the whole twin sister thing. I have emailed back saying I do not conduct busines in this manner, lets hope that is an end to it! Thanks for your site!
I am in the UK by the way so she is a busy young lady!
Tracey Coey has contacted me as well….. Thanks to this website, I have the skinny on this situation. At first I thought it was legitimate. I just emailed her back and asked for 2 seperate certified checks… One to me and one made out to the shipper/cartage company. Let's see what happens…. I would love to sting THEM if I can….
RA Moats
This was my reply to them yesterday….. I have not heard from them since…..
Tracey… After presenting this final deal to my buisness manager….. He has now insisted that we use our own shipper (local Fed Ex Store) which we have used for 25 years…..This requires that you provide me with your final destination address so that I may get a quote on shipping costs. In addition he is now asking for payment for the painting in American Express travlers checks. If those terms are not acceptable…. Then we have no deal……
Sorry, RA Moats
Hard to believe "she" is still at it. They almost got my wife an I a few months back but she was smart enough to search for Linda (Tracey) Coey on the web and thankfully this site popped up. Great resource!
Hi I just got an nice email from this " Tracey Coey " from [email protected]
she say " Hello,I appreciate your works and would like to have the one titled:Free the treasure – 2008 .Please get back to me and lets arrange the purchase if it is still available.
Thanks,
Tracey. "
I'm not going to replay to him/her I know its a scam !
Yep… Just got the same e-mail from "Tracey" Coey. Once I figured out it was a scam here's how I responded:
_____________________________________________________________________
Hi Tracey,
That's a great! I'm honored that you've chosen my work for your daughters nursery. Although this seems like a very odd choice for a nursery who am I to say that your future daughter won't "drool" over a beautiful landscape painting of colorado.
As I mentioned earlier the painting that you want is currently with my gallery in Colorado which coincidentally is located next to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Colorado office. From time to time my gallery owner lends a painting or two to the FBI in order to beautify their offices… much like my painting will soon beautify your new girl's wall. In exchange for my gallery owner's tremendous generosity the FBI has offered to handle any sales transaction for those pieces that hang on their walls. As it turns out, that the painting you are interested in just happens to be one of the paintings currently hanging in their office! But don't worry, I have notified them of the pending sale and they assure me that they will handle it. Please, if you could mail the check to:
James H. Davis
Byron G. Rogers Federal Bldg.
1961 Stout Street, 18th Floor
Denver, CO 80294
I have forwarded your information to them as well so they are expecting to hear from you. Thanks again Tracey… I know your daughter will absolutely love this painting.
Sincerely,
Dave
P.S. Please feel free to forward the above address to your shipping people.
____________________________________________________________
I heard back from them and apparently the irony of who they were sending the check to went right over their heads because they were excited to proceed with the purchase!
Yes…I too received the Tracey Coey at [email protected] email and did respond to her before I knew what this was about. They responded back with the same email everyone has been getting about being in London with her twin sister and didn't I know how intimate identical twins are….bizarre.
Thanks for the heads up and I'll be adding this email address to my spam folder!
I really wish I had googled the name Tracey Coey before wiring the money. Thankfully, I didn't send the entire amount so I'm only out $2500 and not $3800. I have promoted this page on my facebook and twitter accounts, so hopefully the word will spread. I just wish I'd seen this page beforehand.
What kind of world do we live in that people think they can just cheat others like that? It's evil.
Thank you for this article. I received Tracey Coey's inquiry letter this morning re: one of my paintings. This is an old trick. Probably the 10th such scam in as many years for me. Artists: spread the word!
I, too have been approached several times by different scammers.
Always google the email address of a potential buyer to see if they've come up as scammers. So far, everyone already has!
I've been approached by a store with a [fake] address in Seattle – who wished to buy inventory – without even finding out what I sell – for a store in New Zealand [another fake address]. Of course, it was needed immediately.
I knew from experience about this sort of scam, so I made sure to ask the potential buyer to first send by SNAIL MAIL – a purchase order on company letterhead with tax license and resale information.
They must pay by credit card via PayPal and only for the exact amount – and payment must clear prior to shipment.
I would only use my shipping company [they offered to have someone pick it up] and only to a valid US address [who wants to deal with customs?]. I told them no one was to come to my studio. I did offer to use either their corporate FedEx or UPS account if they would forward it to me.
I did contact the company whose address was used in Seattle to let them know someone else was using it…
Sorry, I would have pasted the text here for these emails, but I deleted them.
This is now May 2010 and this Linda Coey has one loooooong wedding to attend, lasting months!
So her letters reached Trinidad and Tobago, asking Art Galleries to ship her the art work, same wedding story still. And by the way, that letter was probably written by one MAN, sitting at the key board in Nigeria in a cyber cafe or some other country ( Eastern European for example) scamming the rest of the world. You must give them credit for the very creative stories they invent.
Thanks for having these posts up, I put a link to this website on our Art Society's website.
I got Tracy's letter recently. Of course I was excited, but wondered why she would buy an abstracted version of the muses for her daughter's wall–some sophisticated baby. Just like everyone else's experience except I googled her after her confirmation of the intent to buy. I wish I had read Dave Santillanes earlier–good one. I just said if she sent the check, I'd pass it by my bank's fraud investigator.
She should google herself.
Practically word for word experience with Tracey. My line was no painting till cheque had cleared—— Silence.
I think another one is trying to hook me now. Is Paypal the best way to go?
Thanks John.
Actually, I did not receive an email from Linda Cooey.
But strangely enough, in the last week, I have won four lotteries and several million dollars, and inherited billions from Africa! And all I have to do is send my bank account number to claim it!
Yep, just happened to me, and I almost got taken. I was sent a 3,200.00 check for 550.00 worth of artwork. The "mistaken" amount was so odd that I just didn't feel right, and then when "Alicia Jones" asked that I simply deposit the check and send back the difference, I REALLY didn't feel right. So I googled "art buying scams" and discovered I was being scammed.
I received the same "Twin sister's wedding in London" email. Plus their "Cartage" company wanted to arrange for the shipping.
I am sorry for anyone who has lost out in a scam like this. It is truly insidious.