Opinions Please

[morgaina]

I got this email:

Good Morning and how are you doing? I am Ralph Baldwin i would like to know if you
do portrait painting , i have a picture of my friend that just got married, but i
was not around for their wedding, so i want you to help me paint the picture of the
couple i want to present it to them as a gift please Advise how long would it take
you to get this done.. i have the specification of what i want below. and also
advise if you accept credit cards




Frame size: 18"x24" (45cm x 60cm)


What ever question you need please feel free to ask me via email


Thank you
Best Regards
Ralph
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does it seem like a scam?
Its abbreviated text seems scamy? But some people just aren't erudite writers.
He may have gotten my business card from one of the places I show, but why does he is asking a potter rather than a painter? Am I the only artist he knows of, or did he see one of the very few drawings I've displayed?
I could possibly do the commission, but won't, as I“m not a painter I would take so long and struggle so hard I would loose money and gain frustration. So if this is legit, I would pass it along to one of my painter friends. But it would be terrible if it scammed them. My art club gals aren't as cynical as I am ;-)

Comments

[katanubis.livejournal.com]

I'd be very suspicious of this, considering that if he got your card he'd know you were a potter. And if he got your card, he probably had access to other artists who are not potters. Also, he doesn't give any information about where he lives. If he were local, this might make more sense that he was just looking for a local artist who might know painters.

You might want to look at the email address to see if it looks like something that would be local or at least have a physical address associated with it (even though you probably don't have the tools to find out the address.) For example, things like Comcast.net are associated with specific physical addresses. Ones like yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, gmail.com and the like can be started by anyone for any reason, including spamming. Don't answer unless you're comfortable because they get more information about you when you answer than just from knowing your email address well enough to send you an email.

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

The email given was an aol address. Not much information there.
I wouldn't feel confident about passing the supposed job on to a friend, so it wont go any farther. I've gotten some scam emails before aimed at artists. Artists are so vulnerable, so desperate to show their work they often don't pay attention to important details.
I keep telling the other ladies in my art group that the City of Moscow is scamming them, as it constantly has these ‘Opportunities‘ for them/us to do free art for the City. But I am a voice crying in the Wilderness over that one.

[gattagrigia.livejournal.com]

I'd say scam, or ... Well, it feels creepy. I guess it's in how I read it, "I want you to help me paint the picture" just sounds wierd. He kinda assumes you will agree. And yes, the potter vs painter thing. I'd say trash the email (and you could always say you never got it).

I hope you are staying warm. It's chilly over here. BTW, I love your new Roman line!

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree about the strangeness of the wording. Almost "Nigerian Prince" wording but not quite.
Not acting on that email in any way.
thanks.

[mrq-laurellen.livejournal.com]

Ew... it feels creepy and scammy. Go with your gut feeling.

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

Good advise. And I think it was creepy and scammy too. Thanks.