Fake “Certificate of Origin”
- You should always check the originality of your contemporary painting BEFORE you buy them. Your vendor shouldn’t be offended by such a request because they are supposed to be selling you authentic works anyways!
- If they get mad and refuse to provide this information, it’s a clear sign that something is not right.
- Regardless of where you purchase your paintings, always ask for authentication certificates if the seller hasn’t provided any before making a deal.
- If they don’t have these documents with them, contact their previous customers and ask for references (the worst thing that can happen to you is getting scammed, too!).
- It takes just one quick email inquiry to save yourself from buying a fake painting! And if you don’t receive a response within 24 hours. Move on to the next vendor!
“Phishing” Scam
- These phishing scams are quite tricky because they rely on good-quality pictures and descriptions of paintings that reputable vendors actually sell.
- You may think you’re actually getting a painting from your favourite artist when really, it’s just a picture used for phishing purposes.
- Never buy artworks directly from an auction website without first checking with the seller about any special payment methods or requests they have (fake emails often ask customers to use alternative forms of payment).
Pay Per Lead Scheme
- This type of scam is similar in nature to a pay per click scheme, where you “buy” leads that can supposedly lead you to the seller of your dream painting. But again, unnecessary payments should always raise a red flag!
- You might get stuck with some crummy work produced by an inexperienced artist who doesn’t have any proper documentation and is just looking for some easy money. So, make sure those loans are necessary before you sign anything!
Fake Pay Per Click Ads
- These ads will usually appear at the top of your search results when you google something like “paintings for sale”. If you click on them, they’ll redirect you to a site that resembles some sort of online auction or gallery space.
- Be very cautious because most of these websites are scam sites, and their goal is simply to steal your personal information!
- So never disclose any sensitive data such as credit card numbers or social security numbers before you’re certain that the website is secure (don’t forget that fake emails look completely legitimate!).
- Take note of the domain’s name (in this case, it’s “artdailydeal.com”) and do quick internet research to see if it’s a legitimate site or not.
Fake Online Auction Sites
- Always double-check for any spelling errors (for example, “Painting” instead of “Painting”), punctuation mistakes, or even really low price ranges.
- Keep in mind that many scammers will use an extremely low starting point just to get people interested in their products. If you have any doubts about your seller, contact your bank immediately and contest all payments related to these transactions!
