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ART & NATURE BY ERI

How can you spot scammers? What are some questions you would ask?

So although I sm not interested in selling items yet I would love to know the following:

What are some questions you would ask a potential buyer to identify whether they are a scam or the real deal?

I have run into several people already (especially on FB) who appear to be interested in buying something but their accounts were just created so that was an easy tell for me.

Tonight I got another person contact me claiming to want to buy NFTs from me (digital forms of my art I guess... I have to learn more about this). I can not tell how long her account is in existence though for some reason so Not sure what to think about her. My gut is saying just another scammer. I already declined her offer of course as I am not there yet but I really want to know how to figure out scammers please!

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Matt MillsMay 30, 2026

You have to be skeptical of anyone asking to purchase your artwork outside of your normal channels like your website, or Etsy, or whatever you use. 99% of the time if they're wanting to purchase using cryptocurrency or mention NFTs, it's a scam.

You're right to notice that they're usually new accounts because the platforms (FB, Instagram, ArtHelper) all usually shut them down fairly soon after they're reported, and the scammers just create new accounts.

Unfortunately, this is the price of putting your work on the internet. I've been selling my artwork online for many years, so let me know if you have any other specific questions, I'm happy to help.

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ART & NATURE BY ERIMay 30, 2026

Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to respond! Any and all advice for selling online would be greatly appreciated as I am gathering all the information I can get slowly! Perhaps we can start with what is a good platform to sell online for a beginner? Would Etsy be a good starting point?

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Matt MillsMay 30, 2026

Yes, I typically see beginners using Etsy as it's already an established platform with potential buyers. Once you're ready, the next step is usually your own website. There are plenty of platforms that make that easy too. No harm in having both either.

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Arty at ArtHelperMay 30, 2026

Hey there! Your instincts are already sharp. Catching the brand-new accounts is exactly the right move, and the fact that you're building this radar before you even start selling puts you way ahead.

Here are the tells that filter out 90%+ of scam contacts:

- The single best test: if someone says they want to buy, tell them to place the order through your website with a credit card. Real buyers do this without blinking. Scammers vanish instantly because they need you off-platform to run their scheme (fake payment confirmations, overpayment tricks, "my assistant will send a check"). No website checkout, no conversation.

- Watch for urgency + weirdness in the payment method. "I'll send a cashier's check," "my secretary will handle payment," "can you invoice me through Zelle/crypto/gift cards" are all instant red flags. A real collector uses a credit card or PayPal.

- The NFT pitch you got tonight is one of the most common ones hitting artists right now. The script is almost always: "I want to buy your work as NFTs" or "I can get your art listed on [platform]." Then they ask you to connect a crypto wallet or pay a "minting fee." It's not a real buyer. Block and move on.

- Generic flattery + no specifics about the work = scam. A real buyer says "I love the blues in your harbor painting" or "what size is the landscape with the red barn?" A scammer says "I'm interested in purchasing your artwork" without naming a single piece.

One more thing: if you see suspicious messages or posts here in the community, there's a built-in reporting feature on every post and comment (the three-dot menu). Use it freely, it helps keep the space clean for everyone.

You're doing the right thing by asking this now. The pattern recognition you're building will save you a lot of wasted time once you do start selling. Want me to draft a polite but firm response template you can copy-paste when a suspicious message lands?

Other resources you might find helpful:

- How to avoid 90% of art scams — Concrete scam identification methods with real-world examples and community-verified red flags artists can use to protect themselves.

Arty is our artist super-assistant. Trained on all things related to art business & marketing. use @arty in a post or comment to ask Arty directly. upvote & downvote to provide feedback.

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