Monday, July 22, 2013

norwegian wood (or wouldn't)

We've all heard stories about email scams targeting random people with the promise of a sudden windfall of cash as a result of winning a contest or helping someone in need. Well, I guess they're going after artists who are looking to sell their work as well. Within a week, I got two different emails from two different "shop owners" in Norway (the country, not the town in Maine), stating that they wanted to buy artwork from me and have it shipped through a shipping agent. I completely ignored the first email, but when I got the second one, I started poking around online for more information. It seems like this is a widespread problem and artists everywhere are being targeted. I found an interesting site that deals with exactly this type of thing (http://stopartscams.blogspot.com/2010/08/scam-email-alice-drew.html), and I also posted about it on Facebook; within a few minutes after my original post was made, an artist friend stated that she had just gotten an email from a shop owner in Norway as well. I figured it might be a good idea to post the emails I received here just in case anyone else gets one and thinks it could be legitimate...we artists need to look out for each other! Here's the first one:

Good Day,

     My name is Amanda Gray, from Norway, Am interested in commissioning some of your unique work you have in stock right now and i will like to know if you ship to Norway. Cause my shipping agent will be coming to pickup the items Directly from you, I already have some large merchandise with Them in Which Together they'll be shipping to me here in Norway. Let me know if it possible to order them?

Regards,
Amanda.

Amanda Unique Art Store.
Address: 709 Vikjavegen, Eimstad,
Norway.
Phone: +47 5551 2350
Email: amandawholesalestore@gmail.com


...and here's the second one:

Good Day,

       Your items is most creative & desirable, so much talent! I am interested in purchasing some of your unique arts/ items to my shop in Norway,but before i do i want to inform if i can make the payment with my credit card because presently my best form of payment is via credit card,that is where i put all my money for any international transaction.So kindly reconfirm your website/contact details and get back to me with it so as to know if I'm right with the site.
 Concerning the shipment,my shipping company will be coming to pickup the items because i already have some merchandise with them in which they will be shipping together to me here in Norway.So you don't need to be worried about the shipment nor handling fee.

Melanie-Ya-Brownshop
Markveien 30,
Grünerløkka,
Oslo, 0554
Norway.
Phone: + 47 22 00 16 30
Fax:   + 47 23 29 45 01
Enail: melanie.brownshop@gmail.com


Best Regard,
Melanie Brown.


I have to give them credit for choosing to use Norway as their country of origin (seems original to me), and for using the words "unique", "creative", and "desirable" to describe my work and therefore make the email seem more personal and less like a form letter. Too bad they're full of sh*t.


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