Fake galleries, contests, and listing fees

Some scams do not pose as buyers at all. They pose as opportunities: representation, a show, a contest, a feature. They prey on the very real desire for exposure. Others impersonate the platforms you already use to trick you into handing over your login.

Pay-to-play galleries and fees

A legitimate gallery makes money by selling art and takes a commission on those sales. A scam "gallery" makes money by charging artists fees, whether or not anything ever sells. Watch for these patterns:

• Upfront "representation" or "promotion" fees. Being asked to pay to be represented is the core tell. Real galleries take a commission on sales, not money up front.
• Inflated entry fees. A reputable juried group show usually charges a modest entry fee. Unusually large fees, especially hundreds or more for a show you have not heard of, are worth a hard look before you pay.
• Pay-to-be-listed directories and "galleries" that require you to buy their expensive framing to be displayed.
• Polished, flattering outreach that name-drops your bio or social media, then steers quickly toward payment.

How to stay safe: research the gallery, contest, or venue before paying anything. Look for evidence they actually sell artists' work, not just collect fees. Get the total cost, the length of the show, what promotion is promised, and the sales split in writing. Sanity-check any entry fee against what reputable open calls charge. Walk away from anyone who wants you to pay to be represented.

Fake account-verification and copyright phishing

These arrive as emails or messages pretending to be from a platform you use, designed to scare you into clicking and entering your password. Common versions:

• Instagram: "Your account has a copyright violation and will be deleted in 24 hours. Click here to appeal." The link leads to a fake page that harvests your login.
• PayPal or Stripe: "Your payment is on hold," "verify your account," or "you have received a payment," nudging you to log in on a fake page or to ship before any real money exists.

A real-looking sender is not proof. In late 2025, scammers found a way to send fake purchase notices from a genuine PayPal address that slipped past spam filters. So do not trust a message just because the address looks right.

How to verify a message is genuine:

• Do not click the link in the message. Open the platform yourself in a browser or app and check its own notifications.
• On Instagram, check Settings, then Security, then "Emails from Instagram" to see the real messages it has sent. Note this lists genuine emails only, not direct messages, so a suspicious DM will not show up here either way.
• On PayPal, log in directly and check the Resolution Center and your activity. On Stripe, log in to the Dashboard directly.
• Report phishing emails: forward them to [email protected] or [email protected].

If you've already responded

Move fast, the first hours matter most.

1. Call your bank or credit union's fraud department now. If you deposited a check or shared account details, they may be able to stop or reverse it.
2. If you sent a wire or money transfer, call the company's fraud line right away and ask them to stop it. Western Union fraud: 800-448-1492. MoneyGram: 1-800-926-9400.
3. If you paid by card, ask your card issuer to dispute the charge.
4. If you wrote a check, ask your bank for a stop payment before it clears.
5. If you paid with gift cards, contact the card company's fraud line and keep the cards and receipts.
6. Change the password and turn on two-step verification for any affected account, and report the message to the platform. Forward phishing emails to [email protected] or [email protected].
7. Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and report online fraud to the FBI at ic3.gov.
8. Save everything: screenshots, messages, and receipts.

Be careful of "recovery" services that ask for a fee to get your money back. Those are scams too.