Keefer Photography

I got a phone call today from a nice photographer in the Atlanta area who had received, and briefly considered responding to, the scam I want to place an order in your store email I wrote about previously.

She called in part to say thanks and in part to find out how the scam works.

Here’s what usually happens: “John Carter,” or whatever name the scammer uses, orders multiple items from your website. Artists are so insecure they often are delighted at even the weirdest order, like 20 prints from someone who doesn’t seem to know a thing about the artist’s work.

Once you give a price, the scammer sends a cashier’s check. This is important: The check is bogus, but  worse, the bank will not tell you that for several weeks. That gives the scam time to work.

Cashier’s checks are the most insecure way to get money from a stranger. DON’T ACCEPT THEM.

Of course, once you’ve received the check, but usually before you’ve shipped the work, the scammer gets back in touch and decides to reduce the number of pieces ordered. All you have to do is send a refund for the difference.

You get it now: Your money is good, the scammer’s isn’t. You’re out the work and half the money. Your money is almost certainly gone. Sometimes the work comes back from the innocent person who received your paintings or photographs (Guess what? This isn’t the scammer’s real address.)

Many variations exist on this scam, but this is one typical outline of how it goes.

Two things to remember: If anything feels wrong about an email order, check it out. Start with Google. Look up not just the name — which is probably brand-new on your email — but also some of the phrasing of the email, which is usually copied to thousands of intended marks.

And never take a cashier’s check or bank check from a stranger.