Art Scammers are Getting Smarter

by Carolyn Edlund

Scammers have approached artists for ages with fake offers and opportunities intended to steal their money. Their attempts have recently leveled up in sophistication.

By using artificial intelligence, scammers have overcome the “tell” of broken English and poor grammar that was once the hallmark of their communications. They have created whole systems to start and continue conversations that work to con their victim into believing their deception and lead to their end goal—the theft of your money.

I recently communicated with two artists who reported being approached via email and wanted my opinion as to whether this passed the “smell test.” Reading through their communications, it was clear they were dealing with a scammer who had upped their game by using artificial intelligence to appear legit. Here’s how it worked:

The inquiry

Both artists received polished emails from someone they did not know, praising the “originality and vision” of their work. The sender claimed to be a collector or curator looking to purchase their work and feature them in a digital collection. But the greeting failed to mention them by name, and there was no signature at the bottom. Nor did the letter say anything specific about the artist’s portfolio or indicate a preference for a particular work, which was a giveaway.

Both artists responded to the outreach to see where this would take them, and the insidious scam started to unfold.

The bait

The initial email mentioned a purchase and multiple opportunities for collaboration, inclusion in an exclusive digital collection, and wide exposure with “fair compensation.” The writer indicated a budget of multiple Ethereum (cryptocurrency) for the acquisition of the artist’s work, which was an astonishing amount of money for a digital image. Does this make sense? No. But reason can go out the window when an artist is convinced they are about to make an amazing sale to a legitimate collector. Here’s how that was substantiated:

The credentials

In follow up emails, the scammer provided a link to a profile on a well-known third-party art platform that established him as a photographer/curator/collector with multiple art collections and a CV filled with accomplishments. The profile itself was real, but a closer look revealed that the photographer in the profile, now in his eighties, had been inactive on the site for the past four years. The scammer simply hijacked the dormant profile because it carried a veneer of legitimacy without the owner being aware of the fraud.

The trap

When the artists indicated interest in participating in the sale, the scammer moved swiftly to take control of the situation and direct the artist to use a specific NFT marketplace to complete the transaction. Indicating that it was his “exchange of choice” he instructed the artist to list their works so that the sale could be completed. At all times, the scammer took steps to be viewed as an authority and used language that sounded knowledgeable and authoritative. Using AI made that task incredibly easy.

Any victim following instructions would face a hefty fee, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, paid in cryptocurrency, to list their works. This fee was presented as necessary to complete the sale and receive payment. But the payment never arrives, because the scammer has taken the money and moved on to their next victim. The cryptocurrency can’t be traced, and there is no recourse for the artist.

The marketplace

A closer look at the NFT marketplace used by the scammer revealed that it is completely fraudulent. A search at Who.is showed that the site was only three weeks old. (You can do this too, by checking the domain age and traffic of any unfamiliar site before trusting it.) Additionally, a security site reported that the marketplace had “zero to no traffic.” But the site wasn’t created to sell NFTs; its sole purpose is to steal from artists. Sites like this look professionally built and show images of other art “for sale” but in reality they are run by the scammer. The site can be taken down and recreated easily as the scammer moves to other URLs to propagate their con.

Protect yourself

These scams succeed because they are carefully designed to disarm suspicion and take control of a situation that is foreign to most artists. Flattering praise, apparent professionalism, and links to online profiles give the illusion of legitimacy. And a sense of urgency is created through mention of time sensitivity.

By the time the request for money appears, many artists are already emotionally invested in the opportunity and don’t take common sense measures. But you can protect yourself from scammers by being aware of these tactics. If an opportunity comes out of nowhere or seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

You never have to be a victim of these criminals, no matter how sophisticated they are. Theft happens when the scammer gains control of the situation and begins instructing you on how a sale will progress. But keep in mind that you as the seller are the one who dictates the sales process. Refuse to “bend the rules” or accept alternatives to the secure sales methods you already use. The scammer cannot succeed unless they get you to follow their directions to pay a fee upfront—only to discover later that you have lost your money to fraud.

Although today’s art scams are more polished than ever, their goal is the same: to exploit your trust. Stay safe by learning to spot the warning signs, slowing down before responding, and remembering that legitimate opportunities withstand scrutiny.

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