Sunday, August 24, 2025 – 5:58 AM
This morning I got a message that broke my heart in a way I wasn’t expecting.
Someone had seen my work, expressed genuine interest, and asked for my Etsy link. Normal stuff, right? But then they followed up with, “Do you have legit tracking that you send?”
And it hit me. They weren’t questioning my professionalism – they were protecting themselves. Someone had hurt them before. Some scammer had taken their money, maybe sent them nothing, or worse. Now here they were, wanting to support a real artist but having to ask if I was… real.
The Scammer Playbook (And Why We’re All Tired of It)
If you’re an artist selling online, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The messages start the same way every time:
“I love your work! Can you send me your Etsy link?”
Your heart jumps a little. A potential sale! Someone who appreciates what you create! Then comes the pivot:
- “I can’t purchase through Etsy, can you send it directly?”
- “I need you to send me a piece first for account verification”
- “I want to promote your work on my page – just need your banking info”
- “My assistant will send you a check for more than the amount, just send the difference back”
Every single time, that initial excitement gets crushed. Because you know. You’ve learned to recognize the pattern. Another scammer trying to prey on artists who are just trying to share their gifts with the world.
The Ripple Effect That’s Breaking My Heart
But here’s what really gets me – it’s not just about the scammers. It’s about what they’re doing to everyone else.
That person who asked about “legit tracking” this morning? They’ve been burned. Maybe multiple times. Now they have to approach every artist with suspicion. They can’t just fall in love with a piece and buy it. They have to investigate first. Protect themselves first.
And honestly? I don’t blame them.
As artists, we’ve had to become detectives too. Every inquiry gets the side-eye now. Is this person real? Are they actually interested in my work, or are they about to ask me to send them something “for verification”?
It’s exhausting. And it’s heartbreaking.
What Real Actually Looks Like
Here’s the thing – legitimate artists aren’t trying to work around established platforms. We WANT you to use Etsy, or our website, or whatever secure payment system we’ve set up. We want you to have buyer protection. We want you to feel safe.
Real artists:
- Use established platforms with buyer protection
- Provide tracking information through those platforms
- Never ask for your banking information
- Don’t need you to “verify” anything by sending money or products first
- Are happy to answer questions about our process, materials, and shipping
When I price my work now, I’m completely transparent – art supplies + shipping material + minimal profit for sustainability (generally $1-$3 for my smaller hand drawn pieces depending on time spent on the piece). That’s it. No hidden fees, no complicated payment schemes. Because authentic art sales shouldn’t be complicated.
The Bigger Picture That’s Got Me Feeling Heavy
This whole situation makes me sad for reasons that go way beyond business. Art is supposed to be about connection. It’s about someone seeing something you created and feeling something. It’s about supporting creativity and bringing beauty into the world.
But now? Now it’s become a game of “are you real or not?”
Every time someone has to ask if my tracking is “legit,” a little piece of the joy gets chipped away. Not because they’re wrong to ask – they’re absolutely right to protect themselves. But because they have to ask at all.
The scammers aren’t just stealing money. They’re stealing trust. They’re stealing the simple joy of “I love this, I want to buy it.” They’re making every interaction start with suspicion instead of appreciation.
Moving Forward (With Hope, Somehow)
I don’t have a magic solution for this mess. The scammers aren’t going anywhere, and the wariness they’ve created is probably permanent.
But maybe we can start somewhere. Maybe we can be extra patient with each other. Maybe buyers can know that real artists understand your caution and won’t be offended by your questions. Maybe artists can be more transparent about our processes and more understanding about the skepticism we encounter.
And maybe, just maybe, we can slowly rebuild some of that trust that’s been broken.
Because at the end of the day, I still believe in the magic that happens when someone connects with a piece of art. I still believe in the joy of creating something that brings light into someone else’s world.
I just wish we didn’t have to verify each other’s humanity first.
What’s your experience been with online art purchases? Have you been burned by scammers, or are you an artist dealing with this same frustration? I’d love to hear your thoughts – the real ones, from real people, in this complicated digital world we’re all trying to navigate.
Sprinkle some joy in the comments! 🎨