What should I do if I suspect a commission inquiry might be a scam?

Look for red flags: generic language (calling a beloved pet ‘my pet’ instead of by name or ‘fur baby’), suspicious email addresses with random numbers and characters, or ‘unverified’ sender notices. Don’t click on any attachments or links yet. Instead, move the conversation forward strategically—tell them you only accept payment through your website’s commission page (set one up if you don’t have one). If they respond insisting on alternative payment methods like PayPal, checks, Zelle, or Venmo, that’s a strong scam indicator. You can also verify the email address using people-search websites. Legitimate buyers will be comfortable paying through your secure website checkout. If anything feels off, trust your instincts and don’t proceed.

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Asked by an artist who received a suspicious commission request · Answered by Indra · art-marketing-101 · 2026-08-10