Please be very careful if you receive an email from a foreigner claiming
to wish to buy your artwork. Typically the person indicates he wants to
buy two pieces - IT IS A SCAM.

Here is a sample of what the email typically looks like:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My name is (Some Name Here), I am interested in buying your item,I want to
inform you that the payment will be remmited via a cashier`s check or
money order issued from a american bank.In order to conclude the deal as
soon as possible, the payment that will be sent to you will include the
money for the sales of your item and the shippers fees for organising a
home pick up service.You do not need to worry as my shipping company will
come to pick the item up from your base for shipment. What I want to
clarify is that will you be able to send the shipping charges to the
shipping agent through Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer method
as soon as you get and cash the cheque and you deduct the money for the
sales of your item?If you agree to assist in this capacity , send your
full name,your address and phone numbers.
Regards.
(Some Name)
BELOW ARE THE ITEMS NEEDED;

(Some Artwork)
(Size)
qty 1
(Some Artwork)
(Size)
qty 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you recieve or have recieved the above email, IGNORE IT. I have been
contacted by several artists who have recieved the same thing. It is a
variation of the Art Scam that has circulated for several months. The
person is attempting to get your personal information and/or your bank
account number. DO NOT provide any information to him or her.

Robert Genn wrote a letter on November 22 covering this subject. If you
wish to learn how the scam typically works, please go to the following
link:

Art Scam by Robert Genn
http://www.painterskeys.com/letters.asp?let=051122

Con artists know that, as artists, we are emotional people and they prey
upon that personality trait. When approached regarding a potential sale,
just step back and think logically and try not to let the excitement of
the sale cloud your judgement.

Real collectors are typically wonderful people who want to help artists
and will understand logical business practices (such as waiting for checks
to clear, etc).

Hope this information helps.

Sincerely,

Clint Watson
Software Craftsman and Art Fanatic