Although it's nothing new, I thought it might be good to post something here about a different type of scam that takes place over the internet.

In this one, you receive an e-mail from someone eager to buy something you've got displayed on your website or someone else's website. In my case, I have some of my paintings shown on our local art association website. Typically, the guy e-mailing me would send me a check to cover the painting, plus a few thousand extra dollars to cover the expenses of shipping, letting me know to simply send him whatever funds are left over. Of course he expects me to quickly ship the painting and mail him a cashier's check for the "extra funds". The only problem is that his original check is bogus. So, I'm out my merchandise and the "extra funds".

I figured out this was a scam pretty quickly by his butchering of the English language. So, I decided to bait the guy to see how long I could keep him on the line. Below are our first messages. I'll post more later if I get a response back:
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From: morris whiye [mailto:m_white112@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 8:48 AM
To: markcotton@mywdo.com
Subject: INTERESTED IN PURCHASING YOUR "Elemental 1" Rust and beeswax on canvas over wood panel

Hello,
I'm Mr. Morris residing at 24307 SE 41st Pl. Issaquah, WA 98029 USA, i saw your item posted for sell,and i am willing to purchase it, so i will kindly want you to get back to me with its present status of condition, your last price offer that you are willing to let it go

Elemental 1" Rust and beeswax on canvas over wood panel

I will be happy to see more pictures of it ? I will appreciate an earlier reply and pls let me know if you are the real owner
Regards, And awaiting for your response

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Thank you for your interest in my painting. The painting is hanging in my home and still available for sale. It is priced at $500 plus the cost of shipping. If you are interested, before you commit to purchase, we should discuss the delicate nature of the beeswax that covers the canvas and possible effects of shipping the painting during warm weather.

Mark Cotton

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From: morris whiye [mailto:m_white112@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:28 AM
To: Mark Cotton
Subject: PICKUP METHOD OF THE "Elemental 1" Rust and beeswax on canvas over wood panel

Thnaks for the prompt reply and how are you and how is the family and i really appreciate your interest in selling the( "Elemental 1" Rust and beeswax on canvas over wood panel $500 )am ok with the price,but i will like to inform you that right now am in UNITED KINGDOM for MY HONEYMOON

I will have to instruct my CLIENT to send you a check or a money order, since that is the only means of payment I can offer now due to my present conditions
Please provide me the following information so that my wife can send you the payment asap

Full Name To Be Written On The Check................
Full Contact Address,City,State And Code.................
Home Or Mobile Phone #..................
Permanent Email Address..................

So that I can instruct my CLIENT to send you the payment

NOTE: Never bother about the shipping I will handle it myself. I look forward to hear from you as soon as possible and also i was advice by the shipping agent to include the shipping charges in the same check
You can call me on my private number +447031983979

Many Thanks

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Mr. Whiye (May I call you Morris?)

The family is fine, but thank you for asking. Mama’s leg is much better once we got her to quick sticking that yardstick down in the cast to deal with all the itching. I told her she should have never been up on the roof trying to fix the Dish antenna anyway, but she just told me what she always does: “Children are meant to be seen and not heard.”

I’m thrilled that you like my painting so much that you contacted me and really want to pay that much money for it. I’ve got to talk to Jolena (my wife) to make sure it’s OK to sell it first. She really likes the painting because the little wire snake I used to make it is the same one we used to unclog the drain when she cooked her first meal from me after getting out of jail that time. (She was in for intentional bodily harm for an incident with a curling iron at The Cue-Tee-Py School of Beauty)

What’s your new bride’s name? And, how old a fella are you? I need to know for a sort of demographical study I’m doing of those who appreciate my art. When we have the art show down at the Mini-Mall and I show my best work, I usually leave some recipe cards there for people to write down their name and age. Some people write other things, but I just ignore them. A real artist has to learn that it takes all kinds.

How long will you be in the United Kingdom? Is that close to England?

I also think I have some good news about the shipping. I talked to a friend of mine who lives in Seattle and he will be making a trip out here in a few days. He will be able to deliver the painting right to you instead of worrying about how the shipper will treat it. Isn’t that great news?

Your friend,

Mark Cotton