This blogpost is to warn artists about a scam.
I was friended by a person named Ben Morgan on Facebook who reached out to me and tried to broker a deal with a company in Dubai to buy and sell paintings for me. Turns out it was scam that luckily I didn't fall for.
The company is called https://bidsolutionexperts.com
The contact at the company is Steve Watson?
Basically when I did research and looked over the website the company and the people who work for it don't exist anywhere else but on their website.
The strongest evidence is that a reputable "dealer" wouldn't ask for my birthdate, social security number and stuff about my bank.
Here are the emails we exchanged.
_______________________________________________________________________
Re: Sales and procurement
Steve Watson
Feb 19, 2019, 2:02 AM (1 day ago)
to me
Answers to Questions on Quotations
How do you want to handle payment on commissions. (Deposits etc.)
Bank Wire transfer only. (Artist must operate online banking for ease in all transactions)
How would you like to handle payment?
For security reasons,this being the first time of business with you, a secure payment platform will be utilised for transactions exceeding $50,000.
A secure E-wallet payment system,payment is made to your e-wallet account which will be opened for you.
Kindly provide the following details:
Full Name:
Date Of Birth :
Bank Name :
Bank Phone Number:
Bank Address :
Routing Number:
Holder's Name :
Holder's Address :
Holder's Number :
SSN:
You are logged in into your e-wallet account.
You then confirm if your online banking details are filled in correctly and authorize the transaction to credit your account with 100% of fees, transfers to your Bank account.
How would you like to handle shipping?
Air Cargo from Oakland international airport to Dubai international airport (DXB)
Where are they being shipped?
12th floor, Sobha Ivory Tower 1, Sobha Ivory Towers, Business Bay, Dubai.
Who pays for shipping?
We will pay for the shipping.
I want a higher commission from this deal, Can you inflate the prices?
You did not provide quote for sizes intend for Floater frames (36x48 10pcs)
Your total fees: $160,000 minimum.
For your consideration.
www.bidsolutionexperts.com
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 11:26 PM +0100, "Kenney Mencher" wrote:
Hello Steve,
Yes I am very interested and I would like to clarify some things and answer some of your questions.
You have provided titles of six works that you are interested in.
One of those is already sold. "Square." There are five available and I have reserved them for you.
I do not frame the paintings myself. I would ship the paintings to you without frames.
Questions:
Are you planning on purchasing them for the prices I quoted you?
If so the total cost would be $1250.
How would you like to handle payment?
How would you like to handle shipping?
Where are they being shipped?
Who pays for shipping?
I understand that you are interested in commissioning large paintings with faces and facial expressions.
One way in which we could determine what the finished paintings would look like would be for you to look at older paintings.
I would make a similar painting on a larger format.
For example, I could reproduce on a large scale the five smaller paintings you are interested in.
I do not frame paintings myself. I would ship the paintings to you without frames.
Here are some quotes on the amounts and sizes you are interested in.
This is a negotiable price and depends on shipping costs and payment plans.
Gallery wrapped canvases
(Thick stretcher bars with canvas wrapped around the sides and back such as the ones sold here.)
36x48 - 10pcs $20,000
48x60 - 10pcs $20,000
48x72 - 10pcs $20,000
You can choose the kind of canvas by visiting this URL and I will paint on it.
https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-premier-cotton-canvas/
Each painting that size would cost $2,000 each. This price is negotiable in that shipping is a consideration in my costing things out. Preparation for shipping costs money as well the actual shipping and customs costs.
Questions
How do you want to handle payment on commissions. (Deposits etc.)
How would you like to handle payment?
How would you like to handle shipping?
Where are they being shipped?
Who pays for shipping?
Timetable. 4 months to complete and ship 10 paintings.
Each painting takes about a week to make and 3 additional weeks to dry enough to be safe to ship.
Best regards.
Kenney Mencher
Kenney.Mencher@gmail.com
http://www.kenney-mencher.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kmencher
http://www.youtube.com/user/kmencher
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 11:43 AM Steve Watson wrote:
Well received,
Thank you for your submissions.
You may be commissioned to undertake a couple of projects with the location of sales and procurement in mind,funding will be provided.
The following are artworks selected by myself ,my sales team and interior designer consultant, to use as a guide for the type of work that may be commissioned in 2 phases.
Tough Guy, oil on canvas panel, 11x14 inches
Sweet Ginger Morsel, oil on canvas panel 8x10
Square, oil on canvas panel 9x12 inches
Pressley Abbott, oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches
Mourning Gloria, 11x14 inches, oil paint on canvas panel
Fluidity, oil on canvas panel, 8x10 inches
Amongst other beautiful artworks in your collection.
Nudity is ruled out. The Faces with Expressions are considered.
Phase 1
Below is request of quote
Sizes and quantity
36x48 - 10pcs
48x60 - 10pcs
48x72 - 10pcs
36x48 - 10pcs
Speculations
Oil on canvas
Mixed media is acceptable
Portrait orientation only
Facial expressions preferably.
Frame types and options.
Floater frames for 36x48 pcs
Gold fillet in traditional canvas frames for 48x60 pcs
Gallery canvas wraps for 48x72 pcs
Traditional Canvas frames for 36x48 pcs
Hold to hear from you soon
Best regards.
www.bidsolutionexperts.com
www.bidsolutionexperts.com
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 8:42 PM +0100, "Steve Watson" wrote:
Well received,
Thank you for your submissions.
You may be commissioned to undertake a couple of projects with the location of sales and procurement in mind,funding will because provided.
The following are artworks selected by myself ,my sales team and interior designer consultant, to use as a guide for the type of work that may be commissioned in 2 phases.
Tough Guy, oil on canvas panel, 11x14 inches
Sweet Ginger Morsel, oil on canvas panel 8x10
Square, oil on canvas panel 9x12 inches
Pressley Abbott, oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches
Mourning Gloria, 11x14 inches, oil paint on canvas panel
Fluidity, oil on canvas panel, 8x10 inches
Amongst other beautiful artworks in your collection.
Nudity is ruled out. The Faces with Expressions are considered.
Phase 1
Below is request of quote
Sizes and quantity
36x48 - 10pcs
48x60 - 10pcs
48x72 - 10pcs
36x48 - 10pcs
Speculations
Oil on canvas
Mixed media is acceptable
Portrait orientation only
Facial expressions preferably.
Frame types and options.
Floater frames for 36x48 pcs
Gold fillet in traditional canvas frames for 48x60 pcs
Gallery canvas wraps for 48x72 pcs
Traditional Canvas frames for 36x48 pcs
Hold to hear from you soon
Best regards.
www.bidsolutionexperts.com
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 12:23 AM +0100, "Kenney Mencher" wrote:
Hello Steve,
Yes I'm interested. Thank you very much for getting in touch with me. It's a compliment to even be asked.
I'm attaching a PDF with current inventory and a PDF biography.
Here is how I price my work:
Works on paper (unframed) 9x12 to 11x14 inches are $125
Oils on canvas board (unframed) 11x14 and 12x16 are $250
Oils on canvas board (unframed)16x20 to 36x24 $450
Larger works on stretched canvas (unframed) 36x48 inches and above $2000
You may also want to look over my site:
http://www.kenney-mencher.com/
Best regards,
Kenney
Kenney Mencher
Kenney.Mencher@gmail.com
http://www.kenney-mencher.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/kmencher
On Sun, Feb 17, 2019 at 11:55 AM Steve Watson wrote:
Hi Kenny Mencher,
My name is Steve Watson,Ben Morgan gave me your contact as regards sales and procurement of artwork in Abu Dhabi.
About my company:
Bid Solutions Business Consulting and Agency Services was established in 2008 and since the organization’s inception, our range of consultancy services has developed to meet both the demands within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and Asia Pacific.We are basically business facilitators, consultants, negotiators, trade agents and representatives based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with branch offices in UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Philippines and Iraq.We have been instrumental for the award of many government contracts to reputable foreign and local companies. In contemporary business parlance, we are known as commission agents because we earn a negotiated commission from our foreign partners in any successful government contract awarded to them through our recommendation
Procedures:
Submit details and images in PDF formart of the artworks you wish to sell.
Grant permission for replica production to be mounted for sales at selected galleries.
Sell your artwork through our trusted network of partners and buyers which includes interior designs contractors,collectors,top tier galleries and auction houses
List of galleries selected for you.
Etihad Modern art
Al Huwelat Street | Villa 15, Behind Al Bateen Mall, Abu Dhabi 62226, United Arab Emirates
Warehouse 421
Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
We strive to get our partners to respond to you with initial interest within 10 business days. However, the length of time between submitting to your art collection PDF and potentially making a sale through a partner does vary. Please let us know when you submit your artwork details if you have a specific deadline by which you are hoping to sell your art.
We will not share your details until you explicitly tell us that you would like to be introduced to a partner.
The gallery or auction house receives a commission on each work sold.
Please take note:
Transactions above $50,000 shall be processed through secure channels and require artist to be enrolled on online banking platform to ensure automated commission remuneration.
Best Regards.
Steve Watson
Head of operations.
www.bidsolutionexperts.com
I was friended by a person named Ben Morgan on Facebook who reached out to me and tried to broker a deal with a company in Dubai to buy and sell paintings for me. Turns out it was scam that luckily I didn't fall for.
The company is called https://bidsolutionexperts.com
The contact at the company is Steve Watson
Basically when I did research and looked over the website the company and the people who work for it don't exist anywhere else but on their website.
The strongest evidence is that a reputable "dealer" wouldn't ask for my birthdate, social security number and stuff about my bank.
Here are the emails we exchanged.
_______________________________________________________________________
Re: Sales and procurement
Steve Watson
Feb 19, 2019, 2:02 AM (1 day ago)
to me
Answers to Questions on Quotations
How do you want to handle payment on commissions. (Deposits etc.)
Bank Wire transfer only. (Artist must operate online banking for ease in all transactions)
How would you like to handle payment?
For security reasons,this being the first time of business with you, a secure payment platform will be utilised for transactions exceeding $50,000.
A secure E-wallet payment system,payment is made to your e-wallet account which will be opened for you.
Kindly provide the following details:
Full Name:
Date Of Birth :
Bank Name :
Bank Phone Number:
Bank Address :
Routing Number:
Holder's Name :
Holder's Address :
Holder's Number :
SSN:
You are logged in into your e-wallet account.
You then confirm if your online banking details are filled in correctly and authorize the transaction to credit your account with 100% of fees, transfers to your Bank account.
How would you like to handle shipping?
Air Cargo from Oakland international airport to Dubai international airport (DXB)
Where are they being shipped?
12th floor, Sobha Ivory Tower 1, Sobha Ivory Towers, Business Bay, Dubai.
Who pays for shipping?
We will pay for the shipping.
I want a higher commission from this deal, Can you inflate the prices?
You did not provide quote for sizes intend for Floater frames (36x48 10pcs)
Your total fees: $160,000 minimum.
For your consideration.
www.bidsolutionexperts.com
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 11:26 PM +0100, "Kenney Mencher"
Hello Steve,
Yes I am very interested and I would like to clarify some things and answer some of your questions.
You have provided titles of six works that you are interested in.
One of those is already sold. "Square." There are five available and I have reserved them for you.
I do not frame the paintings myself. I would ship the paintings to you without frames.
Questions:
Are you planning on purchasing them for the prices I quoted you?
If so the total cost would be $1250.
How would you like to handle payment?
How would you like to handle shipping?
Where are they being shipped?
Who pays for shipping?
I understand that you are interested in commissioning large paintings with faces and facial expressions.
One way in which we could determine what the finished paintings would look like would be for you to look at older paintings.
I would make a similar painting on a larger format.
For example, I could reproduce on a large scale the five smaller paintings you are interested in.
I do not frame paintings myself. I would ship the paintings to you without frames.
Here are some quotes on the amounts and sizes you are interested in.
This is a negotiable price and depends on shipping costs and payment plans.
Gallery wrapped canvases
(Thick stretcher bars with canvas wrapped around the sides and back such as the ones sold here.)
36x48 - 10pcs $20,000
48x60 - 10pcs $20,000
48x72 - 10pcs $20,000
You can choose the kind of canvas by visiting this URL and I will paint on it.
https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-premier-cotton-canvas/
Each painting that size would cost $2,000 each. This price is negotiable in that shipping is a consideration in my costing things out. Preparation for shipping costs money as well the actual shipping and customs costs.
Questions
How do you want to handle payment on commissions. (Deposits etc.)
How would you like to handle payment?
How would you like to handle shipping?
Where are they being shipped?
Who pays for shipping?
Timetable. 4 months to complete and ship 10 paintings.
Each painting takes about a week to make and 3 additional weeks to dry enough to be safe to ship.
Best regards.
Kenney Mencher
Kenney.Mencher@gmail.com
http://www.kenney-mencher.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kmencher
http://www.youtube.com/user/kmencher
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 11:43 AM Steve Watson
Well received,
Thank you for your submissions.
You may be commissioned to undertake a couple of projects with the location of sales and procurement in mind,funding will be provided.
The following are artworks selected by myself ,my sales team and interior designer consultant, to use as a guide for the type of work that may be commissioned in 2 phases.
Tough Guy, oil on canvas panel, 11x14 inches
Sweet Ginger Morsel, oil on canvas panel 8x10
Square, oil on canvas panel 9x12 inches
Pressley Abbott, oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches
Mourning Gloria, 11x14 inches, oil paint on canvas panel
Fluidity, oil on canvas panel, 8x10 inches
Amongst other beautiful artworks in your collection.
Nudity is ruled out. The Faces with Expressions are considered.
Phase 1
Below is request of quote
Sizes and quantity
36x48 - 10pcs
48x60 - 10pcs
48x72 - 10pcs
36x48 - 10pcs
Speculations
Oil on canvas
Mixed media is acceptable
Portrait orientation only
Facial expressions preferably.
Frame types and options.
Floater frames for 36x48 pcs
Gold fillet in traditional canvas frames for 48x60 pcs
Gallery canvas wraps for 48x72 pcs
Traditional Canvas frames for 36x48 pcs
Hold to hear from you soon
Best regards.
www.bidsolutionexperts.com
www.bidsolutionexperts.com
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 8:42 PM +0100, "Steve Watson"
Well received,
Thank you for your submissions.
You may be commissioned to undertake a couple of projects with the location of sales and procurement in mind,funding will because provided.
The following are artworks selected by myself ,my sales team and interior designer consultant, to use as a guide for the type of work that may be commissioned in 2 phases.
Tough Guy, oil on canvas panel, 11x14 inches
Sweet Ginger Morsel, oil on canvas panel 8x10
Square, oil on canvas panel 9x12 inches
Pressley Abbott, oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches
Mourning Gloria, 11x14 inches, oil paint on canvas panel
Fluidity, oil on canvas panel, 8x10 inches
Amongst other beautiful artworks in your collection.
Nudity is ruled out. The Faces with Expressions are considered.
Phase 1
Below is request of quote
Sizes and quantity
36x48 - 10pcs
48x60 - 10pcs
48x72 - 10pcs
36x48 - 10pcs
Speculations
Oil on canvas
Mixed media is acceptable
Portrait orientation only
Facial expressions preferably.
Frame types and options.
Floater frames for 36x48 pcs
Gold fillet in traditional canvas frames for 48x60 pcs
Gallery canvas wraps for 48x72 pcs
Traditional Canvas frames for 36x48 pcs
Hold to hear from you soon
Best regards.
www.bidsolutionexperts.com
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 12:23 AM +0100, "Kenney Mencher"
Hello Steve,
Yes I'm interested. Thank you very much for getting in touch with me. It's a compliment to even be asked.
I'm attaching a PDF with current inventory and a PDF biography.
Here is how I price my work:
Works on paper (unframed) 9x12 to 11x14 inches are $125
Oils on canvas board (unframed) 11x14 and 12x16 are $250
Oils on canvas board (unframed)16x20 to 36x24 $450
Larger works on stretched canvas (unframed) 36x48 inches and above $2000
You may also want to look over my site:
http://www.kenney-mencher.com/
Best regards,
Kenney
Kenney Mencher
Kenney.Mencher@gmail.com
http://www.kenney-mencher.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/kmencher
On Sun, Feb 17, 2019 at 11:55 AM Steve Watson
Hi Kenny Mencher,
My name is Steve Watson,Ben Morgan gave me your contact as regards sales and procurement of artwork in Abu Dhabi.
About my company:
Bid Solutions Business Consulting and Agency Services was established in 2008 and since the organization’s inception, our range of consultancy services has developed to meet both the demands within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and Asia Pacific.We are basically business facilitators, consultants, negotiators, trade agents and representatives based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with branch offices in UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Philippines and Iraq.We have been instrumental for the award of many government contracts to reputable foreign and local companies. In contemporary business parlance, we are known as commission agents because we earn a negotiated commission from our foreign partners in any successful government contract awarded to them through our recommendation
Procedures:
Submit details and images in PDF formart of the artworks you wish to sell.
Grant permission for replica production to be mounted for sales at selected galleries.
Sell your artwork through our trusted network of partners and buyers which includes interior designs contractors,collectors,top tier galleries and auction houses
List of galleries selected for you.
Etihad Modern art
Al Huwelat Street | Villa 15, Behind Al Bateen Mall, Abu Dhabi 62226, United Arab Emirates
Warehouse 421
Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
We strive to get our partners to respond to you with initial interest within 10 business days. However, the length of time between submitting to your art collection PDF and potentially making a sale through a partner does vary. Please let us know when you submit your artwork details if you have a specific deadline by which you are hoping to sell your art.
We will not share your details until you explicitly tell us that you would like to be introduced to a partner.
The gallery or auction house receives a commission on each work sold.
Please take note:
Transactions above $50,000 shall be processed through secure channels and require artist to be enrolled on online banking platform to ensure automated commission remuneration.
Best Regards.
Steve Watson
Head of operations.
www.bidsolutionexperts.com
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