Israeli art scam

April 17, 2008, 6:51pm,  925 views

The Kalgoorlie Miner this morning exposed a scam in which foreigners are selling “original” artworks door to door.

Young people, believed to be Israeli or Iraqi (odd mix), claim to be art students earning a living.

I’ve personally had two different sellers knock on my door in the past six months. According to authorities, the young people are probably on visitors visas and operating illegally under immigration laws and the Door-to-Door Sales Act.

The Act requires the presentation of ID and a 10-day cooling-off period. I never got that far into the pitch to determine those questions, but a woman who spoke to the newspaper said no such bonafides were presented.

I’ve seen emails from police and government departments tonight which suggest the scammers are on the run to Esperance, which rather supports the theory they are acting illegally.

One suggestion is the paintings are mass produced in China for $5 each, sold to scammers for $75 each and sold to mug punters for about $200 each, unless “discounted”. Quite a racket!

Here’s an email I had forwarded to me (names changed) after the story broke:

The phone has been busy this morning:

Call 1: Suzie (Off duty Police Officer). Suzie tells me she bought two paintings from a door to door seller named “Gill”. Says he was an artist, Israeli, driving a white Mitsubishi van. He was definitely in a hurry last night (Wed 16 Apr 2008). Said he was representing a group of 70 artists. Suzie paid $140 each for two paintings. A different person came around when she agreed to have the paintings framed. He charged $180 per frame and his mobile number is 0404 124 369. Paid by cheque made out to cash.

Call 2: Sgt xxx (Kalgoorlie Police Station). He has had a call from xxxx. Will advise me if he has any more. Mr xxxx bought paintings from two people, Gill and Jimmy. Paid $180. Gill 0450 448 426. Jimmy 0406 832 533.

Call 3: Trevor (works behind the counter at xxxxx, Kalgoorlie). Bought two paintings after meeting a guy called Tony at Judd’s pub. Said his girlfriend (Melissa) is an artist. Paid $280 for two paintings, plus $70 for framing. Trevor believes there is “a whole heap of them” and that they are from Iraq. One is driving a Mitsubishi People Mover (van). They have another one that looks more like a work van with pipes on top. Tony was born around 1964 (he showed Trevor his passport). Trevor doesn’t remember anything else about the passport. He met Tony the first time with Melissa and the second time Tony was with “another bloke”. When Trevor went down to the ATM to get money out for him “there was around four of them”.

Call 4: Amelia bought three different paintings. First from a woman for $180. Second from a guy called Jimmy for $160 Jimmy is described as small, tanned, shaven head wearing jeans, tea shirt and sandals. She has a digital photo of Jimmy holding up the painting. Promised to email this photo to me. Next two from a guy and a girl for $150 each. The guy had long dark curly hair and the girl’s name is Carmen, she is from Israel and her is spelt CARMJK. her phone number is 0417 848 257. Didn’t get any framed. All bought at home, door to door. They also sold a lot in the industrial area along Broadwood Street, West Kal.

Call 5: Elizabeth: She bought two paintings last year, just before Christmas for $150 each, then paid another $200 each to have them framed. Another guy selling the same paintings came into the shop yesterday (16 Apr 2008). This guy had shoulder length, black curly hair. The girl said her name was “Carine” and her phone number 0405 520 710. Dealt with her on 17 Dec 2008. She said she was Israeli and that they were all art students.