#heyhelloitsmilo

okay so recently i was going thru my emails and i saw an email from someone pictured below

(alt text available in image)

i went through a series of back and forths, even asking my buddies for advice on if it was a scam. (the following email text is in alt text too)

please note in the third image: i provided 3 (three) ways for "Amanda" to pay, Venmo, Paypal, and Zelle (as a last resort.) she agrees to pay with PayPal in the following image.

this is the email i sent, since she'd agreed to pay, showing my full hand here. (some information redacted for my own sake)

now, you might be thinking: this sounds kinda legit! no major spelling errors, she's not asking to wire transfer or anything, no nothing!

but thats where they get you.

i have a hunch that whoever/whatever was attempting to scam me was using a generative AI to use my emails to make a response that sounds "real". what you might not have noticed is that "Amanda"'s email address contains "04". Okay, fine. people get married young but 21 seems a little much. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING, this is supposedly her 10th year anniversary. ruh roh. 11 year old marriage. yikeys.

anyways, she sends me two emails the next morning (second email a completely different email thread???) with completely contradictory information.

these last ones have the hallmarks of "scam email."

1. payment "not going through", or "something suspicious". vague errors made to make you choose something easier to scam you with like through checks or wire transfer

2. offering to overpay, and looking for another way to contact you that isn't email. (and also her asking AGAIN for an RSVP card that i would've already been designing. another point for forgetful ai)

please please please do not fall for this. i know that times are tough, and many of us just need a little extra money but i need you to know that these are fake.

especially if you're mainly a fantasy artist! if you get a commission inquiry out of nowhere, asking for just an image of their dog, family, or even a wedding invite (no matter how willing you are to do it), do not take it.