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SCAMMER ALERT!

August 20, 2009

While, as the title suggests, the majority of this post will deal with scammers and how to spot them it will also wonder into collaborator territory as well.  Many of the red flags for scammers are also, sadly, red flags for individuals who’d be poor collaborators. First a bit of back story….

…I was recently involved with Rich Johnston in cracking another of Josh Hoopes’ scam IDs. If you’re wondering who Hoopes is dig around on Bleeding Cool and see for yourself.  In fact, it was Rich’s intitial posts on the guy that tipped me off and prompted me to contact Rich Johnston about the new alias. After reading all of Johnston’s posts about the guy (it never hurts to be prepared) I noticed that my e-mail communications with an artist was following a familiar script.

From Joseph Jenkins (aka Josh Hoopes) dated July 15th

” Well I’m right back into the art world after many years of raising a family and working in sales.

Kids are bigger and sales aren’t so good so now a days so I am here giving it my all.
Bare with me as this whole blog, my space art links are new, I used to just send everything the old fashioned way so here it goes.
I got your E-mail address because my friend/agent gathered a bunch of guy’s who are looking to hire comic artist/Illustrators.
I have also sent my stuff to Image, Dark Horse, Marvel and DC, but those guy’s make me go through a grueling process, so in the mean time I am seeing what’s out there.
Take a look at some of my work. I pencil and ink so that’s never and issue.
If you like what you see please get back to me.
Joseph.
This was a blind submission sent to me long after I had resolved my search for a new penciler on Light Storm. (Chuck George BTW and he’s Awesome  new pages tomorrow!) I was bored and decided to check the submission. The art was top notch. In fact, it was a little too good to be true. (RED FLAG NUMBER 1) and this query letter struck me a little too much like the ones I knew Josh Hoopes sent out to run his Art Adam’s scam.
” Hey there up and comers and Indy publishers………          I know you guys are familiar with my work but are wondering what am I doing applying? Not that I’m applying as i am offering the chance at using my services for a limited time for a very reduced rate. My good friend and agent both agreed to do this for a select few through out the different talent sites. Those with new and good stories. For those not familiar with my work can find me. Art Adams art on various different web sites. Any questions let me know. commisions

Art Adams
P.S as well those chosen few will get a spotlight in an upcoming issue of WIZARD MAG!!

A known/forgotten artistic talent has decided to contract at lower rates/step back into the industry, and they’re willing to offer me reduced rates? To top it off they sought ME out I must be big time now. NO, I’m not big time, I’m just the target of a scammer. Trust me, there are enough struggling writers out there that artists NEVER have to look for work. Writers find them not the other way around.  That goes doubly so for Art Adams. When something like this happens to you slow your heart down and think. The scammer depends on you NOT thinking. They want you to get excited, so excited you’ll do any damn thing they say, including paying up front.

RED FLAG #2 They care more about the cash

“Wow……….Yes I have heard of the Zuda before, sounds good. You mind if I ask what’s the pay?? Sorry if that seems forward as I am trying to make ends meet for my family of 7.”
Joe
Here’s one of the red flags that applies not only to scammers but bad collaborators. They care more about the pay than the project. I don’t have a problem with people wondering if they’ll be paid, that’s only natural. It’s when they don’t even care if the project is something they’d want to do, all they care about is the $. In a collaborator you want an individual that cares about the project in some way: it’s challenging, they love the main character, etc. A good collaborator wants to contribute to the overall narrative of the story. If you work with someone who only cares about the money you’ll get the souless, uninspired, work of a mercenary. Argue with me all you want, but I can tell when an artist loves what they’re doing at the time and when they’re pushing a pencil for a paycheck. You want the prior.
“Wow……….Yes I have heard of the Zuda before, sounds good. You mind if I ask what’s the pay?? Sorry if that seems forward as I am trying to make ends meet for my family of 7.
Joe “
Again second email from him. he’s more concerned about the pay he doesn’t care what the project is. This is a theme carried through all my communications with him and bad collaborators more concern over money than project. Again let me reiterate I am OK with people taking care of business but the order you place your questions in tells me your priorities. If money is your first priority I won’t work with you. Not because I am cheap, but because your heart is not in it.
Now something you can do to protect yourself from scammers further is to get them to give you as much personal information as possible. A phone number, mailing address, etc. Verify who they are and where they live. A quick Google search of their name can also bring up loads of info. IF you suspect they’re scammers try to catch them in a lie. Trust is imperative in any collaboration, but especially in internet based collaborations. IF they’re lying to you about something don’t work with them. Life is too short, and there are plenty of brilliant, trustworthy artists out there. You can see a few of them on this website. I hope this has helped and I’ll…
See You in Seven!

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