I ALMOST GOT SCAMMED
FELLOW ARTISTS SELLING COMMISSIONS please be careful! I almost got scammed by someone pretending to buy a commission off me in tumblr messages. I should've seen all the red flags but I was swept up in the excitement of taking on a commission. luckily I clocked on before I sent any money through
the scammer asked for a pet portrait, and offered a much higher price ($200usd) than what I quoted, to "show their appreciation". they didn't acknowledge when I said I generally chat via emails and send invoices, and just wanted my info to "send me money".
the scam works by them claiming they sent $200 through PayPal, and when it doesn't go through on your end, tells you that PayPal's "new protocol" is to limit your account and have the buyer send another $300, making the artist a "business account because they now have a $500 balance". but you need to refund the $300 before your funds clear on PayPal. (it was that point where I was like..hang on). they corroborate the scam by talking in tumblr dm's and sending emails (which I provided mine for them to send the commission money).
it seems like a very obvious scam, but i initially fell for it as i was not aware scammers were targeting artists. we went through the basics of the service, and I was very wrapped up in customer service mode, and excitement of receiving such a huge tip. remember they play on your emotions and vulnerabilities. there is also a sense of urgency and authority, you "have" to send the money otherwise "PayPal" will be "unable to give me my money".
I only didn't fall for it because a) i didn't HAVE $300 to give lol and b) I have dealt with PayPal enough to recognise something was suspicious.
for newer artists or people who haven't really taken commissions before, some general advice from a seasoned commission-taker:
-use invoices on PayPal. PLEASE refrain from requesting money via friends/family from a client, or transferring the money without a proper paper trail. invoices are great because YOU'RE in control of what you charge, and you can choose to let them add a tip if they want
-PayPal WILL list your transaction activity, even if the funds are on hold. IT WILL CLEARLY TELL YOU ON THE ACCOUNT.
-Any info PayPal gives you via email will also be visible on your actual account. I want to stress that, because the supposed info the scammer was sending me wasn't on my actual PayPal account.
-Talk through emails if you can. dm's can be good for quick chats, but I find keeping a paper trail is so important, even for non-scam reasons.
-PayPal will NEVER have emails appear in spam
-If there's any payment issues, the client or yourself need to dispute it through PayPal, not by "sending extra money promising it'll be paid back".
-the account that tried to scam me had no icon, and strange miscellaneous reblogs. they also comment on a huge array of artworks asking for commissions (again, warning signs I ignored out of excitement).
I'm sure there's more I could add and anyone is welcome to expand the advice also, but yeah here's just a lil psa about these scams going around.
