20 December 2009

ARTISTS BEWARE!

In an email on December 6, 2009, "Mary Lee" offered to buy a painting she had seen on my gallery website, saying her husband "Jim" would send me a check. When the check arrived on December 15, it was for almost twice as much as the asking price. Through several emails and a phone call, they/he/she said that I should get a Western Union money order for the difference and give it to the movers when they came to pick up the work, as it was to be shipped to South Africa.

The name of the moving company was given as Dolphin Movers, apparently a legitimate (?) moving company, and the contact came from "David James" [dolphinsmovers1@yahoo.com], who gave the following information in an email [sic]:

James Carter.
For: Dolphins Movers.
The atlantic House.
48 Caledonian Road,
Kings's Cross.
London D 4 7 BT
UK.
Agent No..206-338—3153

In another email "David James" sent me the addresses of all the Western Union offices near us.

The check came in an envelope with the return address: VONNIE TAYLOR (which was printed on the envelope)

(then, hand printed [sic]:)
Jeff Harrison
7301 6th Ave
Tacoma WA, 98406

The postmark was virtually illegible, but it appears to be from Atlanta, GA. We still have the envelope and the emails. The bank has the check. Unfortunately, I do not remember the bank it was drawn on.

We deposited the check with RBC Bank of Moffat Rd, Semmes on December 16th. I refused to do any more about it until the check cleared. Today the bank refused it (AND charged US $5, even though we had reported the scam to them - they'll be hearing about that!)

So the moral of the story is BEWARE! It turns out to be a well-known scam, and had I fallen for it, I would be out quite a lot of money, and worse, one of my favorite paintings would be gone, and probably trashed. Looking back on it now, I probably should have been suspicious from the beginning, but at least I grew to be. It's easy to think someone I didn't know would admire my work enough to ask to buy it - it's happened before after all. But in this case, it was merely a scam.

You can read more about it here.

28 comments:

  1. Thank you, Lynda!
    Your account of the art buying scam solved a mystery I've been dealing with. I received a similar inquiry about paintings on my website and had been carrying on an email correspondence with "Susan Davies" of Lyndhurst NJ. Supposedly, I would be receiving a check for the two works, and then the shipping agent (Yes, James Carter, Dolphins Movers) would arrange to pick up the pieces.
    Today I received a FedEx express mail envelope with nothing in it! I'm guessing that the bogus check somehow didn't get inserted. The shipping label had the name of some guy in Ohio. I found his number via Google, called him, and learned he knew nothing about a Fedex shipment. A call to the supposed FedEx number on the shipping label got me some lady in another town in Ohio who, of course, knew nothing about FedEx, but had gotten another call about FedEx earlier.
    It wasn't till I did a Google search with the full James Carter address, including the "Agent No. 206-338-3153" that the mystery cleared up, because that search yielded your website. I couldn't figure it out till I started checking your blogs and finally found the connection with James Carter.
    I've talked with FedEx security, and they will follow up on the scam. I will also report it to various legal authorities.
    Gee, and I was so concerned about poor Susan, who was pregnant, moving to London, had gone there to attend her twin sister's wedding, gotten ill, etc., etc. Quite a saga!
    I'd been somewhat dubious all along but was hoping it would be a legitimate sale. The empty envelope was the final tipoff, and your blog entry confirmed the whole fraud. If a check had been in there, i might've been taken in too.
    I will alert all my artist friends and contacts. I see the web is full of sites exposing these types of scams. We artists have enough problems without getting caught up in them.
    Thanks again for your alert!
    Irene in California
    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for your blog. I was almost caught up in this. Today I got a check for more than three times the amount. The mistake thay made was that it came via Express Mail. This means that it's a fed offense (mail fraud). I only wish that I had played the game with them to the point that their goons came to make the transaction. I could have had the police waiting for them.
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  3. Hi Lynda!
    I just received the same emails starting in January 2010. What a scam!
    My emails were also from Susan Davies (NJ)...I see from the above comment from Irene in CA, she has also received the same as well.
    ************ARTISTS BEWARE!!!!!!!!
    The "shipping company" also contacted me...James Carter from Dolphin Movers.

    I am glad that I also googled the phone number and found out about this scam.

    Thanks for your alert!
    Artist in Des Moines
    ReplyDelete
  4. The scam continues. I was contacted by a Fabrice Simmons, same twin sister, wedding, London/NJ, almost miscarried story. with James Carter for a shipping agent. It's been fun following her story but I think it's time for me to let her go before I get the check. Thanks for posting all of this. I knew it was a scam but a small part of me had hope.
    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for letting me know about these other attempts. I am SO GLAD that I was able to help some other people avoid getting ripped-off. Please continue to spread the word.
    ReplyDelete
  6. Lynda,
    Thanks for the alerts on your site. I received my first email from Fabrice Simmons today showing interest in two of my paintings. I goggled her name as I am suspicious when an email comes from out of the blue like that. Is there an agency that I should contact to help get this scam shut down?
    Thanks again for your heads up.
    ReplyDelete
  7. And so now I have recieved an inquiry from Fabrice Simmons, how funny? This person must really like art but apparently can't pay for it! Too bad! What strikes me about this is that the writing is so poor! The grammar is terrible! That was my first tip off!

    Thank you Lynda!
    ReplyDelete
  8. Fellow artist here... I got an email recently from Fabrice Simmons. I will cease and desist all communication with her immediately. Thanks so much to all of you for posting this information!
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  9. thanks SO MUCH for posting this information. guess what i got in the email this month? a request from FABRICE SIMMONS to buy TWO of my artworks! haha. here is our correspondence:

    Hi Marcia ,

    Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creative works. I will like to proceed with the purchase of both pieces . Can you pls confirm the actual size and price of the two pieces so i can know how best to proceed. I will also like to know what inspire you to make the pieces.


    I will look forward to hearing from you soon .

    Best Regards,

    Fabrice.



    could you please be more specific?

    marcia

    On May 5, 2010, at 8:23 PM, Fabrice Simmons wrote:

    Hi,


    Hope this message finds you well.

    I saw these creatives works on your web site and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.


    Adam and Eve and Cinderella and the Wicked Stepmother



    I will appreciate an urgent reply.


    Best Regards,
    Fabrice.
    ReplyDelete
  10. what a bummer, had a fabrice lead too.
    ReplyDelete
  11. I too was contacted, almost verbatim by this same Fabrice Simmons and decided to google. You have done a great service here. Thanks so much!!
    ReplyDelete
  12. thank all of you for posting this info. i got a note from fabrice and was following up on the 2nd one, almost identical to several posted earlier on this blog.it was just sounding like a beginning problem --- and now i can get back to work! bless you all!
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  13. I'm so glad I decided to randomly google Fabrice Simmons of New Jersey!!!! Your blog popped up. She contacted me last week to ask about two of my paintings from a specific series. I told her those two had sold but let her know which ones were available. She then chose two of the larger pieces and gave me the whole story: twin sister in London, baby on the way, wedding, etc..Said her husband was going to call this week with payment. I gave her my phone numbers and address because she asked for them so the movers could be in touch. Don't really know what could be done with that information. Bummed that this is a load of crap. I had my suspicions from the start because other small business friends have been contacted by overseas people lately offering to pay large amounts of money for their services and/or merchandise. Thank you for being so protective of other artists by posting this!!
    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you for alerting us to this scam - I have been in correspondence with poor Fabrice in the hospital in London following her twin sister's wedding - I was totally taken in but a little puzzled as to how someone going through so many life changes (moving to SA too!) had time to be e-mailing so conscientiously about purchasing art she'd never seen. This is an old e-bay scam - has anyone tried contacting the FTC about this form of internet fraud? Taking advantage of clueless, starving artists - not nice.
    ReplyDelete
  15. I received the same email, Fabrice Simmons, Lynhurst NJ. Sent check for 3 times the amount of the 2 paintings. The check was mailed from the Timkin Co, Canton, Ohio. The CO.name on the check was Dynamic L.A. Inc, Sun Valley Ca. Signed by James Jarrod. Became suspicious, googled artist scams. There were many similar to this one. I returned the check. RB
    ReplyDelete
  16. Got an email today from Fabrice Simmons but it was signed "Lynda." I was pretty sure it was a scam but I directed her to my Etsy site. If she wants my art, she can buy it thru there. That keeps me safe from the scams. Thanks for posting this warning.
    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for the posts. I just got a poorly written letter from Fabrice Simmons which was signed Lynda. I think those who had previous contact with "Lynda" and her cohorts should report them to the authorities. Sooner or later, an innocent person will be victimized by them.
    ReplyDelete
  18. Me too. Thank you very much for the information on this scam. Good wishes to my fellow artists.
    ReplyDelete
  19. Just received this email supposedly from a Lynda,
    On Jun 5, 2010, at 3:24 PM, Fabrice Simmons wrote:

    --
    Hi,


    Hope this message finds you well.

    I saw these creatives works on your web site and i will like you to
    get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.


    Locked and Woman Looking Back



    I will appreciate an urgent reply.

    Best Regards,
    Lynda.
    ReplyDelete
  20. MY NAME IS DULCIE DEE AND I AM AN ARTIST WHO REC'D AN EMAIL FROM FABRICE SIMMONS AKA LYNDA. I HAPPENED TO GOOGLE FABRICE SIMMONS TONIGHT AND WAS ALERTED TO YOUR BLOG WEBSITE ABOUT THIS SCAM. THANK YOU FOR THIS WARNING BEC I SHALL NOT BE CORRESPONDING TO HER ANYMORE. I AM VERY WARY OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUY MY ART JUST LIKE THAT AND WHO DO NOT GIVE ME THEIR FULL NAME, ADDRESS, TEL NUMBER ETC. THIS IS A BIG SCAM AND ALL ARTISTS NEED TO BE ALERTED TO THIS PERSON. MANY THANKS.
    ReplyDelete
  21. St. Michael the ArchangelJun 7, 2010 05:10 PM
    Received several emails regarding purchase from Lynda via Fabrice Simmons!, Thanks for your Alert!
    Saved me a headache and heartache! God Bless you!
    Thanks!
    ReplyDelete
  22. Haha! I to received the "fabrice" email scams! Sheesh.
    ReplyDelete
  23. So it seems that although the internet is exposing all of us to scams, it is also helping to keep us informed about them. Good for all of you! And I have to wonder if the addition of "Lynda" to the letters has anything to do with this thread!
    ReplyDelete
  24. I am so happy to have found your posting. I got suspicious when "Lynda" sent me an email signed "Barbara" so searched on Fabrice Simmons and found your site. Many Thanks! This is amazing--same story. How can we nail these people?
    ReplyDelete
  25. incredible. this is so horrible. the same thing happen to people I know here in Israel too. They also got lucky, but it is disturbing that someone will target artists this way.
    ReplyDelete
  26. THANKS SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS. WHEN I LOOKED UP 'DOLPHIN MOVERS': YOUR BLOG POPPED UP. THEY TRIED TO PULL A FAST ONE ON ME, AND I TOLD THEM, UNTIL I RECEIVE A CHECK AND IT CLEARS THROUGH MY BANK, NO FURTHER CONTACT WAS NEEDED. AFTER READING YOUR BLOG ENTRY, I WROTE THEM TO SAY I KNOW THEY ARE SCAM ARTISTS AND TO STOP CONTACTING ME.
    I AM CONSIDERING OPENING A PAYPAL ACCOUNT.
    THANKS AGAIN!
    MOYA
    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi,

    I am very satisfied to find your site.
    Excuse my bad English, I'm French, and I lived
    The same story.
    Without the name of the contact is "Betty Green", but otherwise everything is identical.

    The fact whether it is "urgent" that she(it) had almost a miscarriage, that the husband sends the check (with a higher sum), the removal men indeed on "James Carter" of "Dolphin Movers", and the move to South Africa.

    I begin in the job(business) and it is not evident, I found this very bizarre story and I decided to look on internet, you did well to write this article, and I shall not miss to make similar and to make him(it) circulate also.

    I don't have to send of paintings(boards), but I have to dedicate a lot of time(weather) for this history(story) because I also had a small hope.

    Good continuation and thank you for your article which confirmed my ideas.

    Kind regards,

    Violine Perez
    ReplyDelete
  28. LOOK AT THE EMAIL I GOT LAST WEEK!:

    From: ballet ryan [mailto:balletryan@gmail.com]
    Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 5:49 PM
    To: ltouart@touart.com
    Subject: Say Come, Sago


    Hello Lynda,

    My name is Ballet Ryan and am from South Carolina and Was going through your works and love this piece.
    What's your final price for it and am really interested in purchasing the piece.

    Thanks and i await your response.

    On Sat, Aug 13, 2011 at 5:31 PM, Lynda Smith Touart wrote:
    I like that one, too. $ 1,570 (unframed, b/c of shipping, but archivally matted.)

    Hello Lynda,
    Thanks for your prompt reply.I really appreciate your detailed breakdown and frankness on this. Unfortunately, Im on my way to Mexico on an official trip(I'm a marketing Executive) and wont be back for another two weeks, I
    would have come to inspect the piece personally. Im taking your word for true on It though .
    Im okay with the price, I think it worth it anyway. If you'd like to know, Im relocating to the UK soon and I'm trying to gather some good stuff for my new abode. Im buying yours amongst others,quickly! before someone else grabs it.So, I'll arrange to send you payment ASAP as i will be responsible for the shipping (payment) of the piece to my new abode in UK.
    However, I'll have to notify my shipper who's helping me move my stuff from the US,to get set for the pickup of the piece from your place as I MIGHT be delayed in Mexico depending on how things goes.
    Thanks,
    PS: In the mean time, which mode of payment would you prefer? I can arrange for either Credit card payment or check payment. Whichever one you want please get back to me so that we can get started. Regards.
    Ryan

    ------------------------------
    Showed that to my husband who said, "They don't know who you ARE!"
    I was thinking of trying to drag it out, but stopped there. I did go looking for such a person on FaceBook, just for fun. And may have found "him", but who knows. Wouldn't help anyway. If you want to give it a try, have at it.

    And be careful out there on the intertubes!
    ReplyDelete

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