We have heard from a member that a gentleman in Nigeria is approaching members via email offering to buy paintings. We suggest that you have nothing to do with it. If you ever sell work to people you do not know, make sure that you have the actual money in full before you part with the painting. If they do not agree, they were never going to pay you in the first place. This yet another scam from this African country and it will certainly be followed by others. So be warned and let us know of any other such events. happy painting john

John, the problem with this sort of scam (mostly originating in Nigeria) is not non-payment. These scamsters are not trying to steal your art. Indeed they have absolutely no interest in it. These are invariably 'cashback' scams. A worthless (faked or stolen) cheque or money order is sent to the seller for MORE than the agreed amount. The seller is asked to forward the 'balance' to a third party, either a shipping agent or someone the buyer 'owes money to' in the UK. The problem is that many people think that once a cheque shows up in their own account then it is safe and it is OK to draw against it, not realising that a cheque or money order may not be identified as dud for weeks, by which time their own cheque has been cashed. This scam is generally directed at private individuals as it assumed they will not be business savvy. It seems these conmen have latched onto artists making a similar assumption about their lack of business acumen and gullibility. Please folks, don't prove them right! Edit: I should have added - the easiest way to make sure you don't get passed a dud cheque is not to accept that form of payment. Get yourself a PayPal account (or similar) and insist on payment that way from overseas customers. The word 'PayPal' usually sends the conmen running!

Good 1 John, very good point. Tell you why, a few months back I myself had such an e-mail from some 'scammer' from Nigeria...usually us wise artists can see right through them. For one thing their English and grammar is rubbish (not that mines that good), they try very hard but things just don't ring true. They are after your bank details so that they can clean you out. What they don't realise is that not everyones (especialy artists with keen observation) that stupid. Besides John and Jane and all honest people; the best thing is to totaly bypass and ignore any emails pertaining to buy our art. Like John said, recieve funds first, let monies clear, then send works out I suppose. Generally I watch the grammar in the email, that's a good sign. Then delete it.

I back up Jane and Mark one hundred percent on this issue. Certainly I (and Jane no doubt) have had dozens of these scam emails through in the past few years. They are not especially new, although they change their format regularly, and scammers adapt to new approaches with the same efficiency as Star Trek's Borg. The problem is that new artists are too keen to make a sale, so they jump at the chance when a message arrives offering to buy several works. It takes time to spot the scams, but can be done with a little sideways thinking and careful observation.

Don't gorget the basis on which much of these scammers work is by sending a cheque fro

We have had more reports of doubtful potential buyers of members's paintings. Be careful and if in any doubt dont deal with them, especially overseas customers. The goldgen rule is get the money before parting with the pictures and do not give out any of your bank details to get paid. If you think they are genuine ask your bank for the best way for you to be paid and still keep your bank details from the customer. If it sounds too good to be true it almost certainly is!! Please report any such requests to SAA HQ. good luck and happy painting John