Comments on: Israeli art scam

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:46:20 +0000

I live in Benoni, South Africa and she was here today. Red hair with frickles and an accent that sounded more like french. Very convincing and calm. Ja a fool and his money, if it had’nt been for the net it would have been mine.

By: Nadia

Nadia — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:44:16 +0000

They are operating in Pretoria East (Menlyn) at the moment…She calls herself Ira (very charming), said she is travelling with a group of Israeli Art Students and then she showed us her portfolio… Each painting was R1000 she said but she would give me a discount because I am pregnant! Imagine. They are very beautiful paintings but when she showed me a painting of the “tour de france” I felt uneasy because I saw the exact same painting on the internet (I came across the picture by accident, while searching for something else)…anyway, I nudged my husband and told him that we should think about it as R2500 is a lot of money…overhearing what I said she then replied that we could keep the paintings and think about it and that she would return the next day. We agreed. Later the same evening I googled “Israeli art students” – no surprises – I found many articles on the same subject. I called Ira this morning and told her that I she should collect her paintings and that I was not interested in purchasing as I knew all about the scam also that I would contact the police immediately! I could hear that she was taken aback by my conversation…She cut the call…and I’m still waiting for her to collect! Please check out the following website: http://www.paintingweekly.com – all the paintings in her portfolio are on this website. BE AWARE

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:05:45 +0000

There here in Kelowna, BC now too. Like others have said they are very polite. As I wrote the cheque I googled them and the second website was the scam. I asked him what he thought he seemed surprised. I told him to clear it up and then come back. Like others have said I would appreciate just the honest truth and a fair price. I have no problem with someone supporting themselves by selling door-to0door. We don’t have to buy if we don’t want to. So this is only a scam in a sense because they are lying as to the origin and reason behind it. Which honestly is sad. I would have just preferred the truth.

By: Janet

Janet — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:18:07 +0000

They are now in Southern Norway. Very personable young girl who seemed comfortable telling about the various techniques used in the paintings. Wanted to sell at high prices (1300 kroner per piece). Wanted only cash and seemed a bit surprised to learn that I worked with the tax office and wanted to know more about how they were registered in Norway etc. She made a few calls but couldn’t get through to her “boss” as she herself had no such details. Gave her my email address for them to send further information to me. I doubt I’ll be hearing anything!

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:32:46 +0000

I live in what might say has a lot of Jewish people, tonight a handsome short dark and nice chap knocked on my door claiming to be an israeli art student trying to set up his own gallery. Having looked on the net he more less uttered the same lines as the other “art students”
I have reported him to the police

By: Nicolas

Nicolas — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:38:37 +0000

Hi folk,

I feel like sharing with everyone, hopefully you’ll feel all a bit better.

First let’s say the most important: those guys are not only Israelis, they are backpackers from all around the world who don’t really know what they do. I’m French; I did it myself and am not proud of it. Although it’s the only job I found to pay my travels.

I feel bad about the whole thing but in the same time, some of the buyers will never know and they were so happy to buy a real painting with a story behind it for 100 bucks, really happy. I truly hope they will never read those blogs so they can still enjoy those beautiful colors in their homes.

In the same time I think I really earned this money, walking 8-10 hours in 30-35 degrees and forcing doors was really hard. I was so happy when I finally could stop this terrible job and have enough money to discover your beautiful country.

The money you gave me guys, I gave it back to your economy. I had only 200 bucks on my bank account when I got back home but thanks to you I had thousand of beautiful landscapes in my head.

Those young students do this door-to-door job as any other shitty job they could find to pay their travels. Before judging those poor young guys, check what motivates them to accept those sad jobs. Working for 3 or 5 bucks an hour in a restaurant does not pay. Have you ever checked that the pizza you have in your plate at the restaurant has not been prepared by a poor backpacker (yes for me 3$/hour is a poor salary). Hope you’ll do it next time.

Yes those canvases are probably made in China. And what? You like one of the canvas? Good for you, buy it. Do you think you have paid more that what it was worth? Where would you have bought art? How much would you have paid?

Next time you have one of those backpackers at your home, don’t yell at him. Tell him/her that lying about the origin of a product is not fair. Advise him to tell the truth about the product. If there is a canvas that you like, tell him you would love buying one for what is fair for you and help this young guy/girl to understand a bit of life.

Hope I have not hurt anyone.

Regards.

Nicolas

By: Siri

Siri — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 16:47:34 +0000

Now they are in Norway:
http://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/Advarer-mot-kunstsvindel-899512.html

By: Andrew paterson

Andrew paterson — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:00:51 +0000

Pleasant young guy looks French but English accent selling art Door to door in glen iris and east malvern tonight. Was polite but didn’t buy anything. No idea what prices were as told him from start I was not going to buy.he appeared to be on foot.

By: Johan B

Johan B — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:06:29 +0000

We just bought a painting from a guy that turned up at our door.

It was cheaper than paintings in Sweden. We saw different sized paintings and the other sizes were not to our taste, plus each painting had its own peculiarities.

We bought one that we liked. I thought it was a better deal than flying to China to get one.

He made some money and we got a great painting for the money.

What’s the problem?

(I buy underwear and jeans that get holes in them for about the same money. This will hang on the wall for years)

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:52:27 +0000

I am from sydney australia, and I really like this piece of art my Parents house, they told me they bought it from a french student travelling selling art so he could travel around australia… anyway I was searching to find the original artist of this piece its the “Woman being swallowed by a fish…abstract.” that Graham above mentions…and found out about this scam! I hope my Parents knew it was a copy and not an original, but anyway I love the painting and would like to see more, does anyone know the name of the original artist? There is an illegible signature not sure if it would be off the original or the copiers but it starts with a B. if that helps.. any help solving this would be much appreciated,