I got scammed…almost all the way

So I’ve been working on a new collection of paintings. I’ve recently gotten the framed and varnished and ready to last a lifetime and I wanted to try a new selling method-eBay. A friend of mine who buys lots of art mentioned this platform as a way to find people who would be. Interested in art to me and I decided to give it a shot just to try it.

So yesterday I had the day off from my day job and nothing else to do so I started listing some of the paintings from this collection and immediately offers for my paintings start rolling in as I’m still listing items. And I’m so excited! What a rush of selling while I’m still posting more listings. And I start accepting offers left and right because why not! I want to hear that ca-ching of money rolling in. My sold total gets to be over $2,000 and I’m dying. I called my husband and freaked out to him. I was starting to look for thank you gifts for the friend who recommended eBay in the first place. I was over the moon excited.

…and then I got my first message from a buyer. It read, “Dear seller i have one good question concerning this item kindly text me up via this number 619-xxx-xxxx THANKS”

And the floor dropped out from under me. I realized immediately that I got played. These ‘people’ were not interested in my art they were interested in getting my personal information. And who know what they would have asked me for if I had texted them.

I kindly wrote back that I’d be happy to communicate through legitimate channels but that I wouldn’t be texting them anything. I’ve now reported them but eBay gives them 4 days to pay before they will release the listing. So now I have to wait for days to get my own work reposted.

Such a frustrating situation and I’m so sad that I couldn’t provide for my family in the way I could envision for a moment. At least for 4 days.