Tips to Help Spot an Art Trickster

Sadly every year, especially before Christmas, a multitude of scams and misleading posts and adverts appear, offering pet portraits. Some are just offering AI or cheap edits of your own photos, made to look like artwork - others are complete cons looking to take deposits from dozens of unsuspecting members of the public - with no portrait delivered. If several of the points below apply, then regard the person with caution.

On social media look out for:

• The age of the account – is it recently created?

• The name used – is it a nickname or unusual/vague?

• The followers or friends – very few or all based abroad?

• The contacts – are they foreign numbers or ask for DMs (direct messages, more a US term).

• The comments or reviews – are there any?

• The website – is there one? Or is it very generic?

The work shown:

– does it look very varied in style, as if not the same hand?

- Is the work signed and does it correspond to their name?

- Is it cropped oddly, as if a signature or watermark has been clipped?

- Are any works in progress shown?

The following can indicate that they are just editing a photo:

• Not showing interest in timescales or if you are UK based

• Asking immediately for a High Resolution/HD pet photo

• Ignoring or fudging questions about methods or medium

• They use the word ‘create’ rather than paint or draw

• Prices quoted can be very cheap £15-20

• Turnaround times very quick – 1-3 days sometimes

• They talk about sending you an e-file

The following can indicate a person is trying to scam money from you:

• They request a deposit almost immediately

• They do not offer any T&Cs or explain the order process

• They require payment via PayPal friends & family

• They require payment by an odd method/overseas details

• They decline to offer any bank details or a name and address

• They decline to offer a phone number or even an email address.

Of course some of the items in this article may just be the sign of a new or inexperienced artist, or someone who thinks editing photos is an acceptable alternative to genuine art. If either is the case a few questions or a phone call should establish who they are and what they are offering.