ART SCAM ART SCAM ART SCAM ART SCAM

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE POSTED OF AN ART RIP OFF

This below makes me really want to throw up.  I mean as artists we already have to pay out our ass to enter anything these days.  Who the hell else has to pay for their job interviews?  I don't know of any other profession that does this.  Maybe it's because the rest of the world really doesn't consider being an artist a real profession anyway.  I mean decorators are happy to paint red canvases to take up wall space in hotels and residences. Why the hell do they need us.  The real joke is that very few artists end up making a living as artists.  If they do its because they have found their niche with a few good galleries, they self promote like mad balls, or are on a lucrative festival circuit.  I am used to seeing fees to enter art competitions but this shit below really made me mad. I mean what the fuck, let me say this again-- WHAT THE FUCK.  You are a gallery, you are wanting artists, and you want us to pay you for consideration.  FUCK yourself you fucker!  FUCK FUCK FUCK YOU!  We have had it! And we are not going to take it anymore!




WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD ARTISTS.

CALL FOR ENTRY: We are considering artists to represent with exhibits in late 2011 and throughout 2012 at Austin Details Art + Photo in downtown Austin, Texas. We'd like to get to know emerging and established artists as people and partners. We hope you'll be a part of our art.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT if you are an emerging or established artist creating original visual art, craft and photography, in any media, 2-D, 3-D and are practicing your art within Texas or the Southwest United States, with a focused style or theme that is both identifiable and in series. If chosen, we'll review your current work in person at our gallery, and work with you to create and promote a new body of work for a 2012 exhibit.

ENTER BY JUNE 20 (midnight) to have your work considered for representation at our gallery.










JURIED BY: gallery founder/director Jann Alexander.

HOW TO SUBMIT: You must submit four jpeg images for one entry fee of $35. Entries will be judged by Jann Alexander on your originality in creating work; on the basis of your creativity in expression; on the basis of your unique interpretive style; in consideration of your professional execution; and the wow factor of your work. Your dedication to your creative output will be considered based on your bio and website and other information you provide in the entry form. If chosen to participate, your work will be exhibited in downtown Austin at Austin Details Art + Photo gallery, 106 East 8th Austin, TX 78701, on a schedule we will determine together.

EXHIBITS WILL BE PLANNED FOR FALL 2011 OR 2012. Opening receptions occur during Austin's I Art Congress second Thursdays monthly art walk.

ART SCAMS- ART SCAM THAT COMES BY EMAIL

This below is an ART SCAM that comes via email.



Hello hope you are well,

I recently contacted you regarding our Xmas Exhibition and have not yet received your registration.

We have been inundated with requests and only have a few spaces left so if you register Today I can still offer you the discounted rate of £27 (basic regitration) +

£49 Exhibition Fee. The event will be held on the 3rd December 2010 and promises to be Huge.

All Artists must have original work, no copies or prints.

The event will be held at the Real World Gallery: 65 Hanbury St London E1 5JP


To register your place Today please go to www.newartoriginals.com/artistlogon and click REGISTER HERE.
Once you have registered please pay your discounted Exhibition Fee by selecting 'SEND MONEY' and send £49

Many Thanks



Jules

media1@newartoriginals.com

0207 193 1792

Art Scams

Do you know how to protect yourself? Get the scoop on the latest Internet art scams and learn how to avoid becoming a victim...

Unfortunately, con artists are becoming more sophisticated and fraudulent activities are on the rise. Local police departments and federal agencies such as the FBI are overburdened with mounting cases of identity theft and fraud. Banks and shipping companies are also aware of these scams, but seldom intervene on your behalf. Thus, it is becoming increasingly important to learn how to protect yourself from these threats. While you can't entirely control whether you will become a victim, you can take some steps to minimize your risk.

Ways to protect yourself from becoming a victim of a scam:

1. Be skeptical...
   Artists are increasingly being targeted in Internet scams. After all, what artist hasn't dreamed of being "discovered" and selling several works of art to an admiring collector or a wealthy buyer? A few tell-tale signs to look for in any email you receive from a prospective buyer: misspelled words, poor grammar, and an urgent overseas buyer (particularly one from Nigeria). They also typically want to make the shipping arrangements themselves or have someone pick the work up for them, rather than have you ship it to them.
   Examples of email scams aimed at artists »
   More info about art-related email scams, including known scammer names & email addresses
   
2. Never ship your artwork to someone without making sure the payment has cleared.
   Be aware that even though your bank may give you cash for cashier's checks and postal money orders, they can still be counterfeit. Cashier's checks and postal money orders can take up to a month to fully clear. If the payment turns out to be fraudulent, you could be held responsible for the entire amount withdrawn from your bank.
3. Beware if you have been overpaid for an item you are selling by cashier's check or postal money order and have been instructed to return the overpayment amount to the buyer or other party.
   Never agree to return an overpayment. See explanation #2 above.
4. Don't deal with persons who insist it is "urgent" or those who claim that they need the item in a hurry (perhaps for a gift).
   Con artists will try to pressure you so you don't have time to ensure the funds have cleared. Honest buyers should understand that you need to wait until their check has had time to clear.
5. Perform due diligence if a gallery wants to exhibit your work, or a company wants to license your art.
   Check with the local better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce as well as your Attorney General's office to find out if they are a legitimate business and to learn if there have been any complaints lodged against them. Insist on a contract with all of the terms in writing, signed and dated by both parties. Carefully scrutinize the document and read all terms of the agreement before signing. Don't sign anything you are uncomfortable with or anything you do not fully understand. Remember too that contract terms are often negotiable.
   More advice for artists »
6. Beware of vanity galleries and publishers who charge artists to have their work included in a publication.
   Vanity galleries charge exhibition fees for artists to exhibit their work, rather than commissions on sales. The fees can be very high and the galleries do not have an incentive to effectively promote your work since they make their money from exhibition fees, rather than sales of your art. The same is true for vanity publications - publishers who charge artists to have their work published.
   More advice for artists »
7. Beware of phony emails disguised as legitimate businesses.
   Criminals attempt to get you to provide personal and confidential information, such as online IDs and passwords, or Social Security numbers and account numbers by posing as your bank, an online payment service such as PayPal (read PayPal's Phishing Guide here), a Credit Card company, or just about any company with which you might do business. These emails, referred to as "phishing", often use text, images, or logos from the legitimate site to fool you. Typically, they make claims that your account has been compromised, needs to be updated, or is soon to become inactivate. Do not reply or click on any links provided in such emails. If you believe you may actually need to update your credit card information, etc., open a web browser and type in the company's website address yourself. Log in to your account and proceed from there. The FTC recommends that you forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email. NOTE: Many companies now post consumer fraud alerts on their websites and often provide an email address for reporting fraudulent or suspicious emails that use their company name. Also, the latest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer (version 7) includes a new Phishing Filter that alerts you when a website appears to be fraudulent.
   Examples of fraudulent PayPal emails »
8. Beware of emails from a Nigerian or other foreign government official requesting assistance in the transfer of excess funds from a foreign country into your bank account.
   Again, these scam artists attempt to steal your money. The persons perpetrating these scams are considered extremely dangerous.
9. Safeguard your online transactions to help prevent identity theft or unauthorized credit card charges. Purchase only from a trusted retailer or use an online payment service, such as PayPal, which allows you to shop without sharing financial information. Website pages which request financial information, such as credit card numbers, should always have a website address that begins with "https". The "s" lets you know that your personal information is encrypted when it is sent, preventing unauthorized people from seeing the information that is sent across the Internet. Also, a padlock symbol is displayed by some web browsers (usually in the status bar in the bottom right hand corner) to indicate you are viewing a secure web page. Never send personal or financial information, including credit card numbers, in an email. Emails are not transmitted securely across the Internet.
   5 Actions to help protect yourself from identity theft »
10. Protect your computer from viruses, spyware, adware, worms, trojans, or other malware.
    Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software programs (offered by companies such as McAfee or Symantec), and keep them up to date. Also, use a firewall to shield access to your computer. Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them (It is easy for someone to fake their true identity). Never open email attachments with a .exe, .pif, or .vbs filename extension or a double extension, like "heythere.doc.pif". Finally, use pop-up blockers to avoid pop-up advertisements which can harbor dangerous spyware or adware.
11. Don't open spam. Delete it unread.
    Spam can be used to access computers without authorization and transmit viruses. Never respond to spam as this will confirm to the sender that it is a "live" email address. Have a primary and secondary email address - one for people you know and one for all other purposes. Avoid giving out your email address unless you know how it will be used. Never purchase anything advertised through an unsolicited email.
12. Don't forward hoax emails.
    Check to see if an email you receive is really just a hoax: About.com's Hoax Encyclopedia »
13. If you suspect fraud or are a victim of fraud, take action.
    Contact your State Attorney General's Office of Consumer Affairs if you are uncertain or suspicious of a telephone, mail or email solicitation. If you feel you have been the victim of fraud, you can access the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) at www.ic3.gov or contact the Federal Trade Commission through their web site at www.ftc.gov. Forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email. Most organizations have information on their websites about where to report problems. If an identity thief is opening credit accounts in your name, these new accounts are likely to show up on your credit report. You may catch an incident early if you order a free copy of your credit report periodically from any of the three major credit bureaus. See www.annualcreditreport.com for details on ordering a free annual credit report. You can learn other ways to avoid email scams and deal with deceptive spam at www.ftc.gov/spam.
14. Stay informed by keeping abreast of consumer fraud trends.
    Several artists have already fallen victim to the scams described above, and it is our sincere hope that the advice provided here will prevent this from happening to other artists. There are also other website resources that provide excellent sources of information.

Get the word out to other artists »


* ArtScams.com is a resource created to help artists avoid falling victim to the many scams that proliferate the art market and the Internet. We are not affiliated with any law enforcement agency, and the information provided here is not intended as a substitute for legal advice.

Art Scam

My name is James Lewis, i will like to order for some piece of your work from your studio as gift for my parent are celebrating their wedding anniversary, so i will be glad to have your reply as soon as possible, i will be glad if you can send me your website address to choose or send me four of your product via email that is available for me to choose.

Waiting to read from you today.so that we can make some progress.I will be waiting to read from you at you convince time.Thanks.

James Lewis

Artists Beware: Scam of Sorts

All artists want gallery representation, thats one of the goals right? There are many reputable galleries out there, but there are many galleries just out to take your money. A reputable gallery will never ask artists to pay for representation. If you pay to have your work shown, there is no incentive on the galleries part to sell your work, they have already made their money. A real gallery will ask you to submit work first, then will take a percentage of the work sold. The percentages can seem high, but they take the cost of marketing and bringing in the clientel. Scam galleries will take any artist and take their money.

Here is an example of a scam gallery below. I recieved this email and the gallery had not even seen my work.

Since 1995, we have been bringing a European flair to the heart of downtown Hot Springs Arkansas. Hot Springs has long been known for it’s art community and has garnered national attention as one of the top art communities in the country attracting collectors and art aficionados from around the world. USA Today lists Hot Springs at the top of their 10 city list for “Great Places for Big City Art with a Small Town Feel.”

With long time gallery owner and art lover XXX at the helm, we are expanding on the traditional gallery/artist relationship and adding a new program that targets "break through" artists needing to find gallery support! With the burgeoning local art market, monthly gallery walks as well as the 3 million plus annual visitors Hot Springs already enjoys, Galerie XXX is poised to make a splash in 2010!

Here are some features of participating in Galerie XXX:
Two Full Months of Gallery Representation (Includes Two Gallery Walks)
3 Physical Pieces of Artwork Featured (Includes Framing For Wall Art)
10 Pieces Featured on Tear-Sheet
10 Pieces Featured on Multi-Media Slide-Show DVD
Professionally Written Bio/Tear-Sheet

We’re very excited at the prospect of having you as a Galerie XXX featured artist. Please feel free to let me know of any questions you may have. Looking forward to working with you!

Galerie XXX

Sincerely,
XXX XXXX
Director of Sales & Marketing
Galerie XXX
Phone: (800) 555-5555 ext. 164
Fax: (501) 555-5555


I then asked what the price of all this greatness was, and here is the response I recieved.

We share the cost of framing, marketing materials, etc... You're not actually paying for the show itself or the wall space. The standard package is three physical pieces, 10 digital pieces that will be in a slideshow as well as a tear sheet for a 60 day show. The standard investment on the artist's end is $1,500. However, this is flexible depending on how marketable the work is. This opportunity can also potentially yield a lifetime of representation for a select few.

I also wanted to include your work in both our Miami and New York shows. When we speak further? (Hello You have not even seen my work yet-- and you want to take me to NY and Miami)

Sincerely,

XXX XXXXX
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Galerie XXX/XXXX Fine Art
Phone: (800) 555-555 ext. 164
Fax: (501) 555-5555

Artists Beware: Art Scam

Hello Artists-

There are many art scams out there. I know you are all smart, savvy individuals, but sometimes scams can get even the best of us. If you recieve a letter like this do not respond. You can either trash it, or send it in here where I can feature it as an art scam to help other beware.

S


SubjectArt & Craft Workshops Classes:::::::::::::::
Date: 5/24/2010 8:22:39 A.M. Central Daylight Time
From: no-reply@nocashfortrash.com
Reply To: jark_smith01@yahoo.co.uk


Hello, How are you doing today ? My name is Jark Smith I want to book for Art & Craft Workshops Classes with you while on a 2weeks holidays in your country.We are a group of 10 people seeking for Art & Craft Workshops training while on holidays and as part of our plans we need Art & Craft Workshops classes/private lessons. We shall be needing a Art & Craft Workshops classes for the whole 3weeks in your area.I would like to book for 2weeks classes for 3 hours each day Monday to Saturday (morning hours) for a group of 10. We are asking for 3 hours per day for 3 weeks - Monday - Saturday. A total of 36 hrs Do you have a training facility where you conduct classes? We can arrange for this,if not available. Do you have rooms or is there any hotel close to your facility?DATE: 7THJUNE2010 TO 21JUNE2010 I would love to know the possibility of working with you during this period.Kindly get back to me with your proposals so that we can make booking asap.The group would be performing for a group of family members over there. I would love to get the total cost or a quote/estimate. What are your payment options? Do you accept credit cards? I would be grateful if you will be willing to do the work to teach quality classes and make us happyRegardsJARK SMITH.