ART SCAM ALERT:
Guys, recently I receive an email requesting my illustration work and it looked legit but also kind of "too good to be true". We went back and forth and it seemed to be going well, but then I received yet another email, from a different person, with the exact same text.They were well-written and actually decent briefings. The project was to create 5 illustrations and their budget was 1k dollars for each piece (which I think is a lot for this kind of project, but hey, it's very welcome).
I did some research and found other artists alerting for this scam.
They say they'll "need exclusive rights to the images, as they will be printed and distributed to workshop participants".
Also, "proposing a bank draft given the amount involved", but I learned they will send a check and then ask for part of it in return. The check, of course, will bounce.
People say that they'll come up with weird excuses for the money return, which they ask to bee done via Zelle. They also will not respond anything regarding th job itseld, even if you send sketches.
They'll propose video calls but then won't do it.
This is the FULL email I received:
Thank you for your interest in this project. I was truly impressed by your skills showcased on your website, which led me to believe you would be a great fit for this important initiative. Please share your work experience and let me know if you can fulfill the project features outlined below.
I am very open to scheduling a call for better explanation and be sure you understand our vision for the project. I am only available during my lunch hour 12/1pm let me know whatever works for you The workshop project is organized by an educational board aimed at enhancing learning for students at Springfield High School.
We need illustrations for an upcoming workshop titled "Awareness," which targets students aged 15 to 17. The goal is to raise health safety awareness among these students. I require your expertise to illustrate the scenarios listed below. The illustrations should be in a horizontal layout, digital, colored, and set against a plain background. The drawings must fit standard letter size (8.5 x 11”) and be delivered in PDF format. I will need exclusive rights to the images, as they will be printed and distributed to workshop participants.
The workshop will occur in two phases. Phase One: 1. Doctor discharging a recovered flu patient (both wearing masks) 2. A group (no more than 7) maintaining a safe distance from others (at least 1 meter) 3. A group (no more than 7) getting vaccinated
Phase Two: 1. A sick female patient in a hospital bed within a hospital setting 2. A group (no more than 7) washing their hands with soap and water. I've attached a sample for your reference.
The final deadline for submitting both phases, after reviews and corrections, is February 27, 2025. My budget is $1,000 per piece, totaling $5,000. Please let me know if that works for you; if not, I’d appreciate your quoted price and preferred payment method. I’m proposing a bank draft given the amount involved. I look forward to your response!
Best regards,
So, keep an open eye for this. Usually they can change the first few lines and the title of the project (used to be about Covid, then shifted to a generic awareness), but the rest is basically the same.
Now you know. Don't fall for it. I didn't. Hope it helps!
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Pessoal, recentemente recebi um e-mail solicitando meu trabalho de ilustração e parecia legítimo, mas também meio "bom demais para ser verdade".
Nós fomos e voltamos e parecia estar indo bem, mas então recebi outro e-mail, de uma pessoa diferente, com exatamente o mesmo texto.
Eles eram briefings bem escritos e realmente decentes. O projeto era criar 5 ilustrações e seu orçamento era de 1k dólares para cada peça (o que eu acho que é muito para esse tipo de projeto, mas ei, é muito bem-vindo).
Eu fiz algumas pesquisas e encontrei outros artistas alertando sobre esse golpe.
Eles dizem que "precisarão de direitos exclusivos sobre as imagens, pois elas serão impressas e distribuídas aos participantes do workshop".
Além disso, "propondo um cheque bancário dado o valor envolvido", mas descobri que eles enviarão um cheque e então pedirão parte dele em troca. O cheque, é claro, será devolvido.
As pessoas dizem que eles inventarão desculpas estranhas para a devolução do dinheiro, que eles pedem para ser feito via Zelle. Eles também não responderão nada sobre o trabalho em si, mesmo que você envie esboços.
Eles proporão videochamadas, mas não farão isso.
Acima, você encontra o texto completo do email recebido. Então, fique de olho nisso. Normalmente eles podem mudar as primeiras linhas e o título do projeto (costumava ser sobre a Covid, depois mudou para uma conscientização genérica), mas o resto é basicamente o mesmo.
Agora você sabe. Não caia nessa. Eu não caí. Espero que ajude!
