10/12/2026
šØ A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR MY FELLOW ARTISTS! šØš¾
I want to share something that recently happened to me because I think itās important for other artists to know.
Someone contacted me about a pet portrait. They sent me photos of their dog, we discussed the size of the painting, and we agreed on a price. Everything seemed completely legitimate. I thought I had a new commission!
Then came the time to collect payment, and thatās when things took a turn. š©
The conversation shifted to getting my Zelle information, and it became clear that this wasnāt about purchasing a painting. It appeared to be an attempt to use a payment scam to get money from me.
Thankfully, I recognized the red flags before going any further.
Hereās my takeaway: Even when someone sends photos of their pet and agrees to a size and price, it doesnāt necessarily mean theyāre a genuine customer.
I love what I do, and I never want to become suspicious of every person who reaches out wanting their beloved pet painted. But we artists need to look out for one another!
ā¤ļø Be careful with unusual payment requests.
ā¤ļø Never share verification codes or banking login details.
ā¤ļø Donāt send money back because of a claimed overpayment or unexpected payment issue.
Iām sharing this not to scare anyone, but to help another artist avoid the same experience.
Have you ever had something like this happen to you? Letās share our experiences and help each other stay safe! ā¤ļøšØ
