Sellers beware

Art Business News, July, 2006 by Joyce R. Wetzel

I recently had an inquiry made regarding an original painting by artist Linda Lucy Lunde that they saw on her Web site, www.artmarketing.com/gallery/lindalucylunde

They wanted to purchase one and stated that they were in Ireland and would send a postal money order for the amount, plus shipping charges. When the money order arrived, fortunately for me, my bank manager saw it and stated that it was counterfeit. However, most bank tellers will not notice this and assume the money orders are legit. Thereafter, the artist ships the artwork, unaware, until it's too late. I got a lucky break, but evidently this is a fraud ring collecting fine art and cheating the artists. So, sellers beware!

Needless to say, anyone attempting to make a purchase for fine art from a web-site needs to make it clear that they do not accept money orders, cashiers checks, checks of any kind. Only cash wire transfers to a designated account.

Thanks for printing this letter. Hopefully we can put a stop to these types of people.

Joyce R. Wetzel, President

Jozel, LLC, Gilbert, AZ