Do's and Don'ts of accepting commissions:
-DON'T disclose if you have recently made an account for a finance app in order to accept commissions (scammers will exploit this. They now know that you don't know how the app works and they do. Haha now you got scammed)
-DO look into their profile. How old is it? How many posts do they have? Followers? How many people are they following? What KIND of people are they following? Some scammers will create new accounts that LOOK old by following multiple people. But if you look into the actual accounts, they'll usually just be the basic ones you are offered when you first make an account. (Think. Celebrities. "Basic" Instagram models. Wannabe musicians. Etc etc) Also look to see if they've got any comments on their page. Some people might not post a lot, but usually they're not following 2000+ people at the same time.
-DON'T give out your personal information, like your email, where you live, your phone number, or birth name(unless legally obligated. Like if it's part of the payment app you're using) scammers will ask for your email SEPARATELY from the link you share to your payment app in order to send you spam and fake emails. ALWAYS send payment plans only. Especially if you already have a way to contact them.
-DON'T trust anyone who's willing to "walk you through" something. This is a business transaction. Not everyone is as good as you hope they are. Even if you don't know what's happening, pretend you do. Get somebody you trust IN REAL LIFE to take a look at what's going on. Ask them to help you instead. NEVER trust strangers to help you with money. Especially online.
-DO set boundaries. You're allowed to say "I'd rather keep things strictly professional" if they try to change the subject. Or repeat that you only accept one form of payment when they say they only have another. Even if they really are a good person and you know it in your heart. This is a BUSINESS transaction. You're not here to make friends or sugar coat things. You can be nice, but also be firm. People take advantage of those who have wobbly boundaries.
-DON'T accept grossly inflated prices. This one is tricky. I know it. You love money, I love money, and hey. Who WOULDN'T want a thick wad of cash from just one drawing, right? Except. That's. How they get ya. They promise you money. You lower your guard. You're extra super nice and sweet bc you want that sweet sweet cash. You think to yourself "oh they just want me to be paid what I'm worth" but NOPE. There's no debating. There's no "well can I tip you at least?" There's no "oh sweet your prices are lower than I expected" it's just "yep I got $300 and I'll send you the full payment right now" RED FLAG. especially if after you say you'll only accept HALF upfront. Also if they tell you their "budget" and keep INSISTING upon that specific number? Red flag. Move along. Scammers will sometimes have a set price. They don't want to go through the effort of changing it for every scam. So they'll insist on the same price regardless of what you change. Beware.
-DON'T fall for any email that claims that you cannot cancel, back out, or dispute something. Also if they claim to be ready to contact the "authorities" most apps will have a "help center" where you can ask questions. And also. They usually aren't the ones that contact the authorities. It's the person who wants their fuckin money. Unfinished transactions usually are void after a while.
-DON'T believe in the "honor system" if you get an email claiming to need somebody to send you x amount of money to "expand" your account and they WILLFULLY agree to pay it, you're dealing with a scammer. Especially if it's a big amount of money. Nobody is willing to throw $200 extra fuckin bucks away on an honor system. Not even Jeffery Bezos.
-DO be wary of people that over explain themselves and what to do when it is not in regards to the actual content they will be receiving. If they're "helping" you read an email, especially one that you haven't shown them, that's a red flag.
-DO be wary of people who do not ask the "right" questions. How long will it take, what are your prices, what styles do you do, can you do this vs that, do you do traditional or digital, etc etc. If they seem aloof and uninterested in ACTUALLY getting a specific piece done, they're not actually in it for the commission. I'm sorry.
-DO be wary of people that send references that do not match your content. I had someone send me a photo reference of two people. I've never posted any realism art EVER. And this was right after uploading a master blast of all my cartoony sketches over the span of 3 hours. And they told me I can "draw it in whatever style" when I told them I don't do hyper realism. Sus. Very sus. Don't trust anyone who doesn't care on what kind of style their piece is gonna be in. Everyone cares. Everyone SHOULD care.
-DON'T be afraid to cancel a commission. Even after you said you'd be able to do it, or that it might be possible, or anything else. Issue the refund(if needed) and tell them that while you're flattered that they came to you, you don't think you'd be the right fit for creating their certain piece. Yes this even goes for people you don't want to work with just because they're downright creepy. Protect your peace. And listen to your gut. It's usually right. I know mine was.
Stay safe out there y'all.
