This is a PSA for other artist out there so you don’t get duped into an art scam like me! I am going to outline the Con step by step so you can see the red flags way before I did! Essentially this turned out to be an Overpayment Cashiers Check Scam.

Summary of the Con: I was emailed directly through my website. By a “woman” named Emily Hernandez. She requested to commission me to paint 4 canvas paintings of 4 different animals for the San Francisco Library. She offered to pay $300 per painting. She needs them in a 3 week timeline. I sent an invoice requesting a 50% deposit. She sent an overpayment check by email. I deposited the check and once it cleared my bank she request I pay the couriers fee of $900 by Zelle. Then by Apple Pay, then by Cashiers check when those others methods didn’t work. Thankfully I recognized it was a con by this point and did not loose my $900. Later the check she payed me by was returned by the bank.

Part 1 Video:

Part 2 Video:

Red flag #1: In the first email, bad grammar and no formal name or organization identification. (Not that my grammar is great! Don’t judge! 🤣)

Red flag #2: They were expecting 4 canvas paintings in 3 weeks. This is not a reasonable timeframe for any painting project.

Red Flag #3: When I wanted clarification they would not call me even when I asked. They just continued to email.

Red Flag #4: When I asked the name of the Library Museum she said VALLEY/SALLY BRUNN BRANCH in San Francisco. When I looked it up it is know by Noe Valley Branch.

That one I paused and thought, gee I hope this is legit… as I continued to buy the canvases, paint and frames, and sketch the art.

Red Flag #5: They sent full payment by a check online. That included a courier fee. So this was an over payment by $1,300! With a total check of $2,500!! Which I happily deposited. The check was from New Jersey, not San Francisco.

Red Flag #6: The day the check cleared my bank they asked I send $900 to the courier so they can schedule to deliver the paintings. Even when I insisted that I can deliver the paintings myself. She gave me a random guys email to Zelle the payment.

Red Flag #7: When the Zelle didn’t go through, she gave me a random phone number from Illinois to Apple Pay the $900.

Giant Red Flag #8: When I wouldn’t do the Apple Pay, she request I get a cashiers check and send it to her.

That is when I finally admitted to myself that I was being scammed! I called the Noe Valley branch of the San Francisco Library. They verified that Emily Hernandez does not work for them, and that they do not have an art gallery. I should have made this call day 1! Before I went and bought the canvas, paint and started sketching! Mary, the Manager of the SF Branch, even called me a couple days later after doing her own investigation to confirm that I was being scammed. She was so kind and felt terrible that I was in this position.

Miss “Emily Hernandez” just kept emailing me asking when I was going to send the $900. Each request was more threatening. Shen then started to text me threatening to get an attorney and involve the police. Once the bogus check they paid me with was returned from my bank, I never heard from her again.

I am going to finish the paintings since I already started the process. But I’m so irritated and deflated!