Jump to content

  • Staff Pick

  • Welcome to Artists Beware! 

    All posts have been reviewed prior to being allowed in.

    Comments are moderated:  Please review the Commenting Rules.  Comments that don't meet our rules will not be posted.

    If your post is resolved:  Contact one (1) member of staff or leave a comment, and we'll update your post!

    If a beware needs a tag update:  Post a comment!

    To contact a member of staff:  See the Staff page or fill out the Contact Us form.

    Posts are not deleted unless you can prove they are fabricated.  If this is the case contact one (1) admin, and we will help you asap.

  • Beware - copycatz

    JohnV

    By JohnV (edited)

      • Who: copycatz
      Where: https://www.furaffinity.net/user/copycatz/
      https://www.deviantart.com/copycatz360
      https://twitter.com/uswithoutwings?lang=en
      When: 10/05/2016
      What: Commission



    Eden
    Message added by Eden

    Please excuse any caps that are out of order. Our host hasn't been behaving, which affects our image uploader.  A moderator had to edit the post extensively for the submitter with their permission.

    I commissioned copycatz back in October of 2016, they approached me with interest in drawing art of one of my characters, they were enthusiastic to do so. 

    image.thumb.png.30497aade2ac2069bb197ba2cf005849.png

    image.thumb.png.6b5c9f2726810fa2a5fe01b7e036301c.png

    image.thumb.png.f6b6e1e777e82894850c7c18750ef34a.png

    image.thumb.png.c9b2a64a59a1330c45d2fcf85bc07b16.png

    I saved up money for a few months so I could commission them at the time and paid for a full colour, shaded commission at the time.  I know some artists can take time so I did not contact them too terribly much afterwards.  By the point I started to become suspicious/worried it was too late for a charge back from Paypal.  I figured they'd deliver eventually, probably had a queue. 

    I contacted them some months later an inquired how it was going as the last time I had talked to them they stated they had a WIP and would upload it soon.  I cannot discuss what they said but they had medical complications (supposedly) and were unable to work for a period of time.  I backed off for a few months before contacting again.  Shortly after that contact a year after commissioning them they were banned from Furaffinity.

    image.thumb.png.acce625be5a01a2f5b792586558edc81.png

    image.thumb.png.65b58bb86c0b921f672ba0d47b03c260.png

    image.thumb.png.808f82cb8783b2aadd0c3d4b11faa50c.png

    I figured at that time my commission was lost in the ether until other commissioners posted about how to get in contact with the artist and how they owed them work.  They were available on DeviantArt and Twitter so I contacted them on DeviantArt.  What followed was a run around of saying they didn't remember me ever commissioning them, then me providing the screen caps edited below of paying them then being ran around saying they had a WIP.  This continued for some months while they were posting more artwork they were creating.

    image.png.2d4907241f3837c19b8d4afe9bb1e863.png

    image.png.13358913ad60a289a19c4bc3556ef00a.png

    image.png.c5778e60b38820cf53d6af3548ad6964.png

    image.png.61f953d122adfcff07db7a49291b3d49.png

    image.png.f38bf098e90b8822f0ceafaa02a227c6.png

    Again this continued on for several months until I essentially threw my hands up in the air.  I had no real recourse to retrieve the amount owed by this point and it was apparent they were not going to produce the work. 

    Their ban on FA has ended and they are allowed to post on the account again so I decided to make a public airing of this dirty laundry to show what I went through in hopes they do not take anyone else's money.  At this point all I'd want is a refund plus interest for the money they received from me with no delivered work. 

    image.png.f8cf29bd1e9c34dbdf22c8dc46045caf.png

    image.thumb.png.e9161a95bac1fbcbbeacc602a2b0fad8.png

    Take away: Copycatz will approach people first seeming enthusiastic on commissioning them. 

    They will then try to get the person to commission them. 

    They will not communicate at all with the commissioner.  The commissioner  has to engage in all contact.

    They will bring forward excuses as to why they cannot work on it now, claiming personal or medical reasons.

    They will promise WIPs and progress but never deliver.

    There is no other way to put it but this person is a thief.  They take money and do not produce work.

     

    Edited by Celestina
    see mod message

    0
    Go to records

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    AutoModerator

     

    Welcome to Artists Beware! 

    All posts have been reviewed prior to being allowed in.

     

    Comments are moderated:  Please review the Commenting Rules.  Comments that don't meet our rules will not be posted.

    If your post is resolved:  Contact one (1) member of staff or leave a comment, and we'll update your post!

    If you are the bewaree:  Review "I've been posted to Artists Beware, now what?".

    If a beware needs a tag update:  Post a comment!

    To contact a member of staff:  See the Staff page or fill out the Contact Us form.

    Posts are not deleted unless you can prove they are fabricated.  If this is the case contact one (1) admin, and we will help you asap.

     

    I am a Bot. My inbox is not monitored. Beep boop.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    harlequinn

    I'm surprised this is the first time I've seen a beware for them, truthfully. I never commissioned them myself because their initial approach (soliciting for comms through PM without any prior contact or mutual connections) screamed scam to me; they fact they were suspended shortly after I was contacted by them reinforced that.

     

    I'm very sorry to hear you had issues with them. I really hope you're able to get something from them, ideally a refund so you don't have to deal with them any longer after that.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    • Administrator
    Eden
    • Administrator

    That last message is so ridiculous.  It even repeats itself word for word like he's copy and pasted the response.  I can't believe this person can be ok with behaving this way with multiple people.

    2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    JohnV
    11 hours ago, harlequinn said:

    I'm surprised this is the first time I've seen a beware for them, truthfully. I never commissioned them myself because their initial approach (soliciting for comms through PM without any prior contact or mutual connections) screamed scam to me; they fact they were suspended shortly after I was contacted by them reinforced that.

     

    I'm very sorry to hear you had issues with them. I really hope you're able to get something from them, ideally a refund so you don't have to deal with them any longer after that.

    After their initial ban from FA and the large rant they appear to have made about it on Twitter I didn't think they'd return.  When they did I figured now would be a good time to post about their behavior and taking of people's money.

    There's not going to be any resolution to this unfortunately though, I sent them a message of the beware, told them I don't want any of their art, and even mentioned that I don't really expect a refund as I've talked to others and they do not give them out despite having no TOS about it.  They gave me this response below and blocked me.  I can try to communicate to them through other channels but I feel that borders on harassment territory and ultimately they'd just block me. 

    1866098315_Lastcommunication.png.03fd6a9352dee0cf5657f991a0d12795.png

     

    I'm chalking this up to a learning experience as a commissioner that you should have a reasonable expectation of what artists meet and if they fail that immediately do not be afraid to call them out.  If they just drag you along and get defensive on demanding a refund you need to deliver an ultimatum and if paid via a third party site file a dispute in the time frame you have to do so. 

    1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Lync

    Yeah I've had the misfortune of dealing with this guy. Initially acted really nice and acted like my friend...but was all to get money out of me.

    Really sorry to hear you had to go through that. And that's just insane having something back from 2016 and hearing nothing about it. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    RTKobold

    Considering their other account i've mentioned from the previous beware is suspended. wouldn't this user be evading their ban by making that other account and continuing this behavior.

    Edited by RTKobold
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    JohnV
    13 minutes ago, RTKobold said:

    Considering their other account i've mentioned from the previous beware is suspended. wouldn't this user be evading their ban by making that other account and continuing this behavior.

    This account was suspended as well but that suspension has ended.  This was I main account I believe as it's the one they would contact people on.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    DemalyxDragon

    It's insane how somebody can go on like this...

    I can add that the very first message they sent being like ''OMG yoru page is amazing etc etc'', I've had it sent to me two (three actually, but third message they had changed the approach) times by them. I rejected them first time in polite manners, second time I asked them if they may not remember who they sent this to as I've received the very same message before (which they then didn't reply to), and the third time I couldn't reply because they had blocked me, probably because I've had pointed out their spam in last message...

    I searched my received messages (trash) to find the different times he sent the first message.

    I had a client come to me who sadly did fall for this, and they had experienced the same treatment that you had. I find it ghastly, and hope the word will spread so nobody else will have to fall into their (if one could even call it) work list.

     

    catz.thumb.png.a832e3585fe991ef3122961a15ec18e9.png

    2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    JohnV
    On 5/24/2020 at 5:44 AM, DemalyxDragon said:

    It's insane how somebody can go on like this...

    I can add that the very first message they sent being like ''OMG yoru page is amazing etc etc'', I've had it sent to me two (three actually, but third message they had changed the approach) times by them. I rejected them first time in polite manners, second time I asked them if they may not remember who they sent this to as I've received the very same message before (which they then didn't reply to), and the third time I couldn't reply because they had blocked me, probably because I've had pointed out their spam in last message...

    I searched my received messages (trash) to find the different times he sent the first message.

    I had a client come to me who sadly did fall for this, and they had experienced the same treatment that you had. I find it ghastly, and hope the word will spread so nobody else will have to fall into their (if one could even call it) work list.

     

    catz.thumb.png.a832e3585fe991ef3122961a15ec18e9.png

    That's...  Okay, that's almost verbatim what they sent to me as well.  This person has quite the setup it seems for sending out lots of notes to con many people out of their money.  I really wish we could get FA to do something against them but I have a feeling this falls into a moral grey area where it depends on who you talk to.

    1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    RTKobold
    On 5/27/2020 at 1:41 AM, JohnV said:

    That's...  Okay, that's almost verbatim what they sent to me as well.  This person has quite the setup it seems for sending out lots of notes to con many people out of their money.  I really wish we could get FA to do something against them but I have a feeling this falls into a moral grey area where it depends on who you talk to.

    That's actually is considered spamming according to FA Code of Conduct.  

    3.4 Do not spam.

    This includes registering accounts or posting content automatically, messaging users en masse with unsolicited ads or information (e.g. beware content), posting content that is nonsensical and/or unnecessarily long or page breaking, or making incessant comments at others.

    1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    JohnV
    On 5/29/2020 at 6:42 PM, RTKobold said:

    That's actually is considered spamming according to FA Code of Conduct.  

    3.4 Do not spam.

    This includes registering accounts or posting content automatically, messaging users en masse with unsolicited ads or information (e.g. beware content), posting content that is nonsensical and/or unnecessarily long or page breaking, or making incessant comments at others.

    This and the others I have talked to this occurred years ago and probably part of what got them the one year ban initially.  Unless they're doing it now which I cannot ascertain, it's not a line to follow at this point.  Just talk to your friends and acquaintances warning them about this artist.  Urging them to tell others about them until is spreads that this person cannot find safe harbor to continue ripping people off.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Mod Note:  Looking for the edit button?  Editing is turned off by default, and staff will issue you an edit pass when we review your post.

Quick Links

About Us

Submission Guidelines

Help Tickets

Site Help

Disclaimer

Artists Beware is a privately owned website. We reserve the right to reject posts that do not meet our standards as outlined in the Submission Guidelines. We also reserve the right to reject posts from users who are abusive towards staff.

We serve as a third party host for reviews, and our moderators are not contributors to the content displayed on the site unless they are directly involved in the transaction as an artist or client.

Support Us

In order to offset operating costs, Artists Beware has opened the following online shop.

×
×
  • Create New...