How I Got Invited to a Scam Exhibition and Replied Like a Professional Artist
We’ve all been there: the dreamy invite promising VIPs, collectors, and $100K. Too good to be true — because it is. Disappointed, yes. But I reply like a pro. To whom?
Scamming the scammer who disappears
This morning, I received one of those emails.
An exclusive art exhibition.
Private collectors. VIPs. Curators.
The who is who in the Artworld.
Only 20 artists would be selected.
And I was one of them.
It landed in my old Gmail, the one I mostly forget about.
At first it set off a familiarity feeling.
The curator’s name? Yeah I think I know him.
The collector mentioned? Also real.
People from my online circle — curators, collectors, artists — the kind of names that show up in shares or in the comment sections.
So it didn’t scream obvious scam.
Not immediately.
Still, the tone was a bit too polished. The urgency too rehearsed.
And then came the second email.
Full of promises: important names in the art world, the big deal, and six-figure earnings.
Apparently, the sender makes up to $400,000 annually through events like these.
I could earn $100,000 just by saying yes.
Right. rofl
But here’s what I did:
I replied.
Not to accept.
Not because I believed the hype.
But because I wanted to see how far the scared can scam the scammer.
And I replied like an actual working artist would:
“Thank you for reaching out. First off for international exhibitions of this scale, I typically require a production and logistics advance between €5,000 - 10,000 per exhibition, covering artwork insurance, size and shipping location. Please also share a sample contract, list of participating artists, confirmed venue details, and relevant deadlines.”
That was it.
Professional. Measured. Serious. No over excitement. No flattery. Just facts.
I hit send.
From the wrong address — my ProtonMail, the one I use for grant proposals, serious work, and actual curators.
But it didn’t matter.
Because the scammer didn’t write back.
Nothing.
No excuses.
The moment they realized I wasn’t a beginner, the whole thing was over.
No pretending. No follow-up.
Just silence. Which, frankly, says everything.
This is the part I want to highlight — not the scam itself, but what it mirrors.
Because the reason these emails work is simple: they mimic the art world out there.
The vagueness. The pressure. The way real offers often arrive — no structure, no contract, no clarity, just promises.
That’s why they get artists. That’s why it stuck with me.
Because we’ve accepted this. They mirror the market. That’s why they work.
So here’s your checklist:
If an opportunity sounds off even though at the same time its also enticing, yet vague, and maybe even urgent then figure out the following and then you’ll know:
Where’s the venue?
Who are the other artists?
What’s the contract?
Who covers production, shipping, and insurance?
If they disappear after that, you didn’t lose an opportunity.
You dodged a scam.
If They Can Fake an Art Show, They Can Fake a Login Screen Too.
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16 billion credentials leaked from platforms like Google, Apple, Microsoft, Telegram, and more.
If scammers are already mimicking real curators, what else could they fake?
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Whisp away like smoke~
This one was a scam — but not a stupid one.
We’re pretty sure you’ve seen messages like this too — maybe in your inbox, or through friends.
👉 Have you ever received an art scam like this?
Or worse: What if the scammer was your supposed gallerist, art dealer, or even a client?
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