The first "red flag" for me is the obvious violations of US and International Import/Export regulations, which requires import/export licenses and duty fees (taxes to be paid by seller and/or buyer) for artwork being sold. This is why I use a professional art management/service firm to handle these complicated matters.
Another "red flag" is the strange "overpayment"...wealthy people are weathly because they know how to not waste money! I have never seen any real art collector send more money than absolutely necessary...and they rarely deal directly with the artist, but rather prefer to deal through art brokers, dealers, reps and agents. The money is paid to the broker, who arranges insurance, shipment and delivery (and payment of those services) - with the artist getting paid last.
When I get these kind of offers out of the blue via email, I forward them to my art broker/rep who engages a security firm to verify their identities. If the email was a scam the security firm scares the living hell out of them (and sometimes gets them locked up) and I never hear from them again. If the inquiry was genuine, then the prospective buyer is impressed with the professionalism and a trusting relationship builds from there - oh yes...and I get another collector to hound me to give up more of my artwork.
Regards,
Charles
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