SCAMMER: "Hey, I really like your profile/ picture and I would make such an amazing mural out of it! If you don’t mind your profile picture could be my inspiring muse for an art project i’m working on for a client. You will totally get paid for it as well as a bonus also get credits.
This totally isn't any sort of MOBILE DEPOSIT SCAM in which I will try to trick you into depositing a fraudulent check through a mobile banking app---I just really like your art!"
GENE (typing): "You're really bad at this"
Seems Gene receives these messages on his DeviantArt, too, but Gene won't be fooled so easily.
Not that any of my watchers would ever fall for this---y'all are perfect, but for everyone else, please click this link to better understand how these scams work and how to protect yourself: https://www.1stunitedcu.org/more-for-you/financial-well...
Those who use DeviantArt have seen these messages a lot, though there was at least one case in which someone tried this same scam with me here on InkBunny. I reported it and the IB staff nuked the scammer's attempt pretty quick; it's not happened to me here since, albeit I seldom upload anymore (the scammers are looking for active users).
An actual conversation with one of these scammers (slightly abridged),
SCAMMER: "Hello, I wanted to let you know that your post has inspired me and I would like to incorporate my creativity into one of your artworks for an upcoming project. I am willing to compensate you for using the post. Please let me know if you are interested"
MARTEN: "Absolutely! Please tell me more!"
SCAMMER: /SENDS A LINK TO ONE OF MY UPLOADS WHICH THEY THEN FAVORITED/ "This post inspired me to think creatively and I would like to use it as inspiration, if that's okay with you"
MARTEN (knowing this is a scam): "All I wanna know is how I'll be compensated!"
SCAMMER: "A private client in Yonkers City, New York has commissioned five pieces of art for his new studio. You will receive $500 for your post featuring an oil on canvas, 50cm x 50cm portrait painting. The client is eager to make payments promptly so the piece can be completed before next weekend. I can provide you with a copy of the finished artwork.
MARTEN: "Truly you are doing the Lord's work; I've not eaten in days! How will you get the money to me? I want us to start right away!"
/I was trying to get this person to the point/
SCAMMER: "Thanks, I will ensure that the project is completed to a high standard. The payment from the client will be made by check in your name and sent to you, as we are working together on this project"
MARTEN: "Will I need a bank account to cash it?"
SCAMMER: "Yes what institute do you bank with? I want to inform you that your payment will be made via paychecks. Are you familiar with the process?"
MARTEN: "No I'm not. Please walk me through it. Do you need any account numbers?"
SCAMMER: "I don’t need your account number for this you will be depositing the paycheck yourself using the mobile deposit feature on your bank app.
What bank do you have to deposit the paycheck I can provide evidence of other profiles whose pictures I have used for this project that l’m close to completing, have been compensated prior to starting the painting.
My client will require your complete names for the check, as well as your email address where you will receive it"
MARTEN: "Hold up... Ok, so the amount will be for $500? I'm making sure with my bank that it's not too much money"
/I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY---I WANTED THE SCAMMER TO TALK MORE/
SCAMMER: "What bank do you use?"
MARTEN: "Is the amount for exactly $500? I need to know this first because it's a lot for them to hand me at once---I've never cashed a check for so much at one time"
/I was trying to play dumb/pretend I needed the money/
SCAMMER: "You will receive full payment from the painting, which will be sent to you by my client to deposit into your account. This will serve as proof of payment in the event that you decide to take legal action for unauthorized use of your images in the future. They’re ways to know the exact amount you can deposit daily via checks in your bank app that why I needed to know what bank you use"
MARTEN: "Ok. And what's his name and from what bank will the check be issued from (sorry, the bank's asking me questions---I just want my money already lol)"
/I wasn't talking to anyone but the scammer/
SCAMMER: "Do not worry, I completely understand. It is common to have some hesitations. However, I want to reassure you that contacting you was simply a means of connecting, and the payment process is reliable, secure, and legitimate"
MARTEN (I was over it at this point): "I'm sure it is, especially since you've assured me the payment will be for exactly $500. Usually these types of scams will overpay and have me make withdraws to recompense you. But you'd never do that, would you (unlike the other 20 or so Deviants who've sent me this and similar requests over the last several months)!"
/I tried to be as obvious as I could with this person. These scammers are dumb, but they are many and what they do is dangerous/
SCAMMER: "Oh I really understand how you feel but trust me I’m not one of those who go online to screw other people have got good reputation and I don’t joke with it"
/It went one a few minutes longer before the scammer realized he was wasting his time and moved on/
Next time I will drill them on who their client is and waste even more of their time as they try to come up with a story. If it's funny enough, I may even make a comic out of it. :3
Reports say that the fake Marten can be recognized by his green eyes, long hair, and continual prize of his own work.
I had a nice one on a site recently 'Click Allow to prove you're human' Uh-huh...
It beats 'Steps to confirm: windows+R key, ctrl-V enter'
Sadly, of course, a lot of these scammers are seeking to exploit th vulnerable, those with dementia, mental issues or desperation.The more obvious they are, the more helpless their intended targets.
Reports say that the fake Marten can be recognized by his green eyes, long hair, and continual priz
I would LOVE to see you do a comic on this! Seeing the whole gang (giggle) "GANGRAPE" a scammer so to speak would be epic! And naturally you'd have to include a very special pencil for the story. :D
I would LOVE to see you do a comic on this! Seeing the whole gang (giggle) "GANGRAPE" a scammer so t
You are potentially being scammed, if any of these are true. If more than one of these are true at the same time, the probability of being scammed shifts rapidly toward certainty.
The person initiates contact with you first, and money is involved. The person's profile is blank, nearly blank, or is less than a month old. The person can't or won't link you to their profile. The person can't or won't show you exactly what you'll get for your money. The thing they are offering doesn't exist yet, or depends on an unspecified third person. The goods, services or money being promised sounds too good to be true. Your gut feeling causes you to think that something isn't right, or you feel uncomfortable. The person asks for any of your private info, like account number, password, birth date, bank name, etc. You're being asked to use a payment method or app that is not typical for the community you are part of. You don't understand, or never heard of, the payment process they wish you to use. You feel like you are being pressured or rushed into whatever their deal is.
You are potentially being scammed, if any of these are true. If more than one of these are true at t
The first time I got one of these, I replied by saying, "The art you see on my page is one of the following, commission, gift, or adopt. If any of it interests you, contact the original artist and get their permission to use it." I never got a reply. The next time, I said the same thing. Once again, no reply. By the time I received the third one, I was a little, no A LOT, P.O. I lit into that person and told them to stop sending me those notes and leave me the hell alone. I don't know if I'll get another one but at least that person knows he'll(?) get another taste of my temper if he does.
The first time I got one of these, I replied by saying, "The art you see on my page is one of the fo
"If it's funny enough, I may even make a comic out of it. :3" Maybe if you do that, it'll alert those a-holes that we're on to them and their scams. I remember how my sister unknowingly agreed to let someone send her a check to deposit into her checking account. She would be allowed to keep a significant amount of the check as a fee for assisting the scammer. However, when she took the check to the bank the teller suspected something was odd about the check. She made a photostatic copy of the check and in BIG letters could be seen, "Invalid" or some such. Later when the person asked about receiving their money from my sister, she told them that she had mailed the check to them. (She was lying because she never sent the money.) She never heard from them again.
"If it's funny enough, I may even make a comic out of it. :3" Maybe if you do that, it'll alert tho
It's nice to mess with a scammer because we all know that a thief will never call the police if they got their stash stolen. I kept getting those IRS scammer calls so I was told by a friend to pretend to be part of the IRS and to ask for their supervisor to get into contact with my supervisor. That usually make them hang up.
It's so much fun to mess with scammer. But, at the same time, it sucks that we have to deal with them.
It's nice to mess with a scammer because we all know that a thief will never call the police if they
Indeed. It's the elderly and the gullible they prey upon, so we're basically safe. Still, I agree it's annoying and it's sad that the scammers are, at times, successful.
Indeed. It's the elderly and the gullible they prey upon, so we're basically safe. Still, I agree it
The sad thing is: with the advancement of technology, the scammers are starting to be believable to even young savvy people. Plus with AI and the advancement of voice AI, it's only going to get worse.
And remember: it only takes one successful attempt to keep them going. /sad_panda
The sad thing is: with the advancement of technology, the scammers are starting to be believable to
Well, even this person managed to get her work published: https://sta.sh/01se32f8gvev albeit self-published ...and that doesn't make the art/writing any good.
Here's the thing, so long as I upload here and keep my art free, I'm pretty much safe from criticism, esp. given I do all the criticizing myself (so anything some wiseacre has to say about my art would be redundant). Should someone come along to tell me my art is shit, I can report them for harassment and (as long as the platform is either IB or FA) I'd win ...so there's no reason for anyone to bother (don't like me or my art? Ok, don't look at it).
However...
The moment I offer work for sale, ALL that goes flying out the window because my art would be competing against that of others AND is available only for hard-earned money. THAT is when most (perhaps including yourself) would eye my art in a different way, "Yeah, this is shit" and move on.
It's better to upload here two or three times a month; it's easy to ignore and any criticism one could have has been voiced already.
Well, even this person managed to get her work published: https://sta.sh/01se32f8gvev albeit self-pu
Lol, these scams. Silly scammers. Something similar like this has happened to me a few different times before lol. And given the work I do & what I know, I know when someone is being serious or it's just a flat out lie lol. I'm definitely not that gullible.
And you decided to waste the scammer's time? That's EXACTLY what I would have done too lmao. In fact, that's all I do when scammers try to contact me lol. It's so fun
Lol, these scams. Silly scammers. Something similar like this has happened to me a few different tim
I do not get those scams . I get the scams that say : "Hello My Friend, Pleasant greetings to you !
I am Kishore Venkat, The Head Of Finance in charge of Auditing and Accounting section of Emirate Investment Bank of Dubai,"
Yeah, I do not think anyone from Dubai is contacting me for anything I want . I hope you are doing well . I thank you for starting a very important conversation about sams you are doing a great service to your felllow artists . I never knew about those deviant art scams
I do not get those scams . I get the scams that say : "Hello My Friend, Pleasant greetings to you !
Some scams are entertaining in their way, as they're hoping to take advantage of the victim's greed (a lesson learned if they fall for them), but these shouldn't happen to begin with.
Some scams are entertaining in their way, as they're hoping to take advantage of the victim's greed
I agree they should not. But luckily we have people like you to inform us on scams that go out as a counter. A nice person who shares, and who cares for thier fellow artist. Thank you, for being you :)
I agree they should not. But luckily we have people like you to inform us on scams that go out as a
