Hey everyone, I have now been contacted 3 times by the same scammer (different emails), and did research and found out they are targeting SCBWI members. I know there are a lot of us in here, so please watch out for a message like this:
Title of Email:
ILLUSTRATION JOB OFFER
My name is Adam, I am an academic event organizer and an Apraxia patient. I got your contact details online. I need the service of an artist or illustrator/cartoonist to work on a project for an upcoming workshop. I will give the idea of what I need to be illustrated/drawn and you can get back to me with the price to get it done. I will pay your fees up front if you want.
Please get back to me for more details."
They even included a phone number to call.
I also got the same email twice from "Larry Childers"
In all of the emails they mentioned they were an "Apraxia" patient which was odd.
From one of my SCBWI groups they say this is how the scam plays out:
"Targets are typically strung along with spare details about the job, until at some point they sends the designer a payment and then asks to be reimbursed when the project falls apart. The original payment disappears from the target's account, leaving the designer in the red and they move on to another target.
Freelance artist and writers with an online presence may be vulnerable to this kind of attack—however, there is no cause for concern as your personal information is not at risk, so long as you do not share it with the scammers. If you receive an offer like the one described above, simply delete it.
This, unfortunately, is just one iteration of the many online scams targeting freelancers these days--and it's very possible that the scam may evolve in the next few months, changing details to avoid detection."
I've also read that they may agree to pay you "half up front" and then "accidentally" send you the full amount, and ask for you to send some money back. When you do the original money they sent you disappears.
Anyway, stay vigilant people!