The Scam in Detail

I thought i would make public the emails from the scam artists so that if anyone were to do a search, this blog would come up, hopefully. Also, i have not altered any of the content so the weird wording and spelling are original.
Initial email from cohenjjj94@yahoo.com
Hope this message finds you well ,I came across your web page while searching for good artworks .
I must tell you that your artwork touched me instantly. I\'d been searching the web for art, and everything seemed so one dimensional, except for yours. Beautiful!, i will like to buy some of these creative artworks directly from you which i think will be perfect for my wall which are

Blue One
2007
oil, beeswax on linen
42 in X 52 in

Orchid
2007
oil, beeswax on canvas
6 ft X 4 ft

A Grand Day
2007
oil, beeswax on canvas
5 ft X 4 ft

I will be happy to have these selected artworks in our new home.What are their prices exclusive of shipping cost? We are moving from our Alabama home to our new apartment in London, I will appreciate an earlier reply. Thanks.
Best Regards
Jenny Keith


I thanked them for their interest but that paintings were sold so please check out the website for an alternative.
2nd email:
Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creatives works. .
I am presently away in London for my twin sister's wedding even though it comes at a time when i was preparing for a big move and also expecting a baby but it means so much to her. I should back in some few days.

Yes,i will like to proceed with the purchase of the all the persent avalible artworks .
I think they are lovely works that will add alot of colours to our new wall.

Meanwhile,i will like you to forward your mailing address and phone number so i can inform my husband to send you payment by a cashier check asap for the payment for those creative artworks.

And also I can also forward your contact info to the local cartage
company that will be moving all our house decors so they can get in touch with you to arrange shipping details. They can arrange pick up FedEx pick
up of the artworks from your gallery.

I will look forward to hearing from you so i can know how best to proceed. Cheers.

Best Regards


I emailed them back again saying that the paintings were sold but to check out my website. And then, I received a check for $3400 - no return address, no letter inside, and mailed from England.


3rd email:
Hope this message finds you well. Thanks so much for your concern and
patient regarding the whole transaction. It has been a very difficult
time with a lot of things on the plate...

Anyway, I will like to inform you that the payment for the artwork has
been sent to you by my husband via Royal mail from London and he was
advised that you will receive the payment in THREE TO FIVE working days.
He told me that he included the shipping fee to the payment he sent to
you. Try and be on the look out for the payment.

Therefore, the favour I will like you to do for me is to give the
shipping fees to the Movers after you might have remove your asking price
for the creative artworks when they come for the pickup. I have informed
the movers and they promise to get in touch with you later in the week
ahead.

I will call you later today for more details. Advise on the best time
to call.
Meanwhile, I will like you to have our both addresses ,you can add it
in your mailing list. I will like to hear about your future works and
art shows. Our address in the states is...
2451,Dunlop Circle,
Opelika, Alabama
36801.
While our new address in London is....
12,HARTLEY HOUSE,
LONDON SE1 5RY.
United Kingdom

Try and get back as soon as you see this email so I can be sure that
you are aware the payment is in transit. Cheers.
Best Regards

I emailed them saying that i received the check and what painting would they like? The Cashier's check did not have a watermark when held up to the light. So it is an involved scam requiring forgery of checks.

The second set of suspicious emails from kinstin_jo@yahoo.com

Hello,
My name is Mr Kinsly....i live in New Albany,PA 18833, I\'m highly interested in purchasing the Orchid oil, beeswax on canvas 6 ft X 4 ft you have for sale so i\'ll like you to email me your best selling price and the present condition of the Orchid oil, beeswax on canvas 6 ft X 4 ft.
I look forward to hearing from you ASAP.
Best wishes.
Mr Kinsly

I answered that the paintings were sold and to please check out my website for alternatives.
second email:
Thanks for the mail.i'm interested in purchasing the one of yout items......so let me know your best selling price of the first Art i saw in yout site.
I have informed the Irving Sandler about this second scam artist. They already knew about JennyKeith.

I hope this posting will prevent unsuspecting artists from being scammed. I will continue to update these stories.

Comments

Kate Burnet said…
i just received the exact same email from mr.kinsly! when i googled as much of the information as i had from the sketchy email, your blog popped up and now i just can't believe it. what is the scam though? this is all fairly strange, weird mondays? thanks for the tip though.
kate burnet
Anonymous said…
The exact same thing happened to me, exact same emails word for word. The transaction occurred over a couple of weeks. A few of the times I got actual human responses outside of the canned emails when I asked them about framing & such & which artwork they wanted etc. But there were other questions I asked repeatedly which were avoided . I had asked that they send a copy of my PDF invoice, filled out with their contact info, and required a tracking # & signature confirmation for their letter/check to secure safe arrival. They did neither. The envelope had no return address. I had sent "Jenny" & her imaginary husband a PDF invoice for 800 and received a cashiers check for 2900! Fortunately I use a PO Box for business. Anyway, the check issued by a Sun Trust bank, from an account titled Vista Town Homes. The typeface looked odd, like an old school typewriter and the letters were mis-aligned, they spelled my name wrong, and I could see the imprint of a #5 on part of the check but the digit was not inked in. "Jenny" emailed me one last time when I was working with my bank about the legitimacy of the check, asking if I had received the payment. I told her I had and would have to wait for it to clear before sending the art, of course the bank flagged it & suggested contacting the Secret Service since they deal with counterfeiting.
Thanks for you comment. It amazed me that this has been going on since at least 2006! The details of your experience were very interesting!

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