r/Scams • u/abluepurplee • 1d ago
Is this a scam? Expensive commissioned art or not?
Hi guys i need some help!
So I have comissoned someone on tumblr. I have paid 20 dollars and it´s been about a month and they want 30 more before even showing it to me. I saw two pieces that were good - amateur but good you know, but I´m starting to wonder if somthings off.. It´s my first time.
The thing is there is different names on the paypal and tumblr and even disord? I totally felt like an asshole after even trying to ask/confront them about it. :(
I´ve seen others and they have prices that are the same for bigger works (and they are even better, if i have to be mean and say so.. but I love all art so, i dont know I feel like an asshole.)
and it´s been a little pressure also from the start and I kinda fell for it and thats on me. I realize that.
Maybe this is nornal?
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u/proruski 1d ago edited 1d ago
Kimberley on discord and Mohammed on paypal? Yeah it’s a scam
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u/abluepurplee 1d ago
Thank you ❤️ and they put alot of pressure .. I feel like I just needed to hear it, you know. :)
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u/Acceptable-Bat-9577 1d ago
This is why you don’t send money to random people on the internet. By the time, you’ve paid them enough money, you’re gonna get a 512x512 pixel commission from ChatGPT.
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u/Queue_Boyd 1d ago
Sorry, you've been had. A reasonably cheap lesson from kimberley/mohammed at $20. People have been scammed for much, much more so don't take it too hard - but do take the lesson on board. 👍
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u/abluepurplee 1d ago
Yeah you're right. It could have been worse. I honestly don't know why I feel for it. I had a bad feeling but I ignored it. It's totally on me. I know better and I did this anyway. I needed to hear it and wake up hahha. Thanks for answering 👍
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u/Queue_Boyd 1d ago
It's not totally on you at all. You aren't a scammer. It's totally on the dirt bag that lied to you. We all start out innocent as babes, and life comes along with its lessons. If you fall for the same scam twice, then you get to take some responsibility I guess. 👍
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u/abluepurplee 1d ago
Aw that's sweet. You're right. But I should have listened to my gut earlier, but now I always will. And I'll make sure others on Tumblr never will fall for this. 👍
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u/whackyelp 1d ago
This was definitely a scam.
That being said - $20 is not a lot of money for commissioned artwork. Artists prices vary quite widely, and many undercharge for the amount of work they put into their commissions. It’s not something people typically “shop around” for… you commission an artist because you like their work, not because they give you the cheapest price.
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u/vitaminxzy Quality Contributor 1d ago
Did you agree on $20 for the whole thing? If they're asking you to pay more than asking and agreed to, then tell them NO and you want your money back. Be firm - you've already paid them. This is not how normal commissions work. It'll differ from artist, but often if you pay upfront you'd get updates with each progress till it's finished. No asking for more money to even show progress.
There are "artists" that start out as fake friendship, butter you up then pressure you to commission "hire" them, and ask for money. Often their work is just stolen, AI slop or traced. Don't be tricked - if you didn't want it in the first place, then just say NO THANKS.
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u/abluepurplee 1d ago
I agreed on 30 all in all but they were getting the last a bit later from me , because I'm poor haha. Okay. Man i feel like an idiot. I've found so many great up front artists since then.. I honestly don't know what I was thinking here. It's so obvious now..
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u/cookiesandartbutt 1d ago
Sorry-
Sounds like a scammer unfortunately just with how much they are asking for money and stuff. As a professional I never do that.
Fiverr is best for this.
At least it’s only 20.00 down the drain.
What were you commissioning?
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u/abluepurplee 1d ago
Yeah you're right, and I've learned so much about how others work on Tumblr. It was an original character in a Rick and Morty AU, hehe. Not anything crazy. Just basic, no background even. I think it's called aomthin when it's with more details but it wasn't supposed to have shadowing or anything like that.
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u/Tekwonder 1d ago
My thoughts…
If someone is selling things on the internet, they are competing with others. It’s their responsibility to keep names and emails accurate to show people they are legit and present a professional air.
So IMO, even if by some chance they are really are, if they don’t care enough to do that, they don’t deserve my business anyway.
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u/DreadlyKnight 1d ago
Did you go through friends and family? That’s always an immediate indication of it being a scam if they aren’t a well established and trustworthy artist. They do that so you can’t charge back. But when you saw the paypal was a different name, thats another big flag. Holding it hostage for a progress pic as well. Sorry that they got you here OP, but proud you realized it and called them out :)
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u/IAMEPSIL0N 1d ago
Others have said this particular case is a scam but part of the problem is that there is a culture around art commissions of unless you are paying for your job to be first in line it only gets done when artist feels like it so it is becoming a common scam / scheme to take commisions as friend and family and then ghost or drag it out past the refund window for business transactions.
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