Risky Art Business: Don’t Trust Strangers on Instagram

Anyone who has a business or hobby—or even a cute dog—on Instagram is probably aware that it’s rife with scammers looking to swindle you out of money. I’ve been approached by numerous shady individual accounts claiming to want me to be an influencer for their jewelry, dog bandanas, t-shirts, and even just to be their sugar baby. If the deal seems too good to be true, or if the money seems to be too generous, or easy to make—you’re dealing with a scammer. That’s probably not news to you, nor should it be. Scammers are a dime a dozen, I’ve blocked more scammers from my Instagram account than I have followers on the platform, and the only interaction I consistently get is from scammers trying to take advantage of me.

It’s certainly disheartening to know for a fact that real engagement on some social media platforms is rare—but don’t be discouraged from using the platform or from posting about your artwork, hobbies, or business. Instead, just don’t trust random strangers on the internet. Don’t give them money to get money back, if you have to pay someone to get earned money back from them, then you’re falling into the trap they have set for desperate artists and creatives.

A warning for artists just starting on Instagram (like me)…

We’re all in agreement that NFTs are scams, right? Right. Well, keep that in mind when you’re approached by multiple strangers on Instagram in the coming days—they’re flooding my inbox. They’ll approach you with a desire to purchase your artwork, but won’t specify which artwork they’re interested in. If and when you engage in the conversation, they’ll continue to press that they would like to purchase your artwork, but that they only purchase things as NFTs. If you respond saying that you don’t sell NFTs they will attempt to guide you on how to create NFTs. I didn’t go further than this with the scammer.

Research I did into my suspicions confirmed that other artists were being approached similarly. One went as far as to pay $150 for a “gas fee” (for a virtual product…) and then when their NFT “sold” for over $6,000 they were told that they would have to pay $500 to withdraw their $6,000. I almost wish that I had gone further into the conversation with my scammer so that I could have gotten more information on how their con worked. I also wish I had saved the conversation so I could provide screenshots. That being said, this isn’t a researched article, it’s just a warning for all of my fellow artists out there. Don’t get sucked into a scam by desperation, be smart, and don’t allow strangers to dupe you into creating any accounts or paying any fees so they can purchase your artwork. Set your art up on a reputable website and direct any inquiring customers there. If they’re unwilling to purchase your art the way you have set it up to be bought, then they’re not a genuine customer.

Be safe. Be smart. Make art.

Have you been dealing with Instagram scammers sliding into your DMs? Tell me all about it here, it would be great to know what kind of slimy schemes are circulating within the art community!