I might be fucked? Likely being ghosted.

[tiredofallthis]

Hello.

For the necessary background context, I commissioned this artist back in 2022 and there were absolutely zero issues with them: Communication was fast and quick, frequent updates with a swift delivery, all the good stuff. In August of last year I decided to commission them again for a bigger, more expensive project, with half of the payment done upfront. I still haven't seen anything from it or know what the artist is even doing.

I tried sending messages on our platform of initial content around the new year and none have been read even to this day. I then tried adding them on Discord but whilst my friend request has sat unaccepted for months, I have seen them change their profile picture so I know they are at least active there. I also sent two emails and a PayPal message and still no dice. I've been unable to find any other account of theirs online, if any do exist, so messaging elsewhere is likely impossible.

This could be an easy PayPal dispute situation if the window hadn't passed and if I didn't, very stupidly, pay with friends-and-family as an option. I was way too trusting based on our previous project and thought it would be a nice gesture. I'm clearly paying for it though, since I'm down $90 and have nothing to show for it.

I've got a feeling there is actually zero-hope for this situation but if there's any kind of possible 'out', I would love to hear it. Thank you so much.

[Eden]

Hi!

How did you initially commission this artist? Right away my first and immediate concern is if you've actually fallen for a commission scammer. Did they ask you to pay F&F?

[tiredofallthis]

On 5/15/2026 at 5:27 PM, Eden said:

Hi!

How did you initially commission this artist? Right away my first and immediate concern is if you've actually fallen for a commission scammer. Did they ask you to pay F&F?

We always communicated through the same platform as we did on first contact and used the same paypal address for arranging commissions, too. I wasn't asked to use friends-and-family, that's a mistake 1000% on me: We'd already built-up good rapport from the initial commission and casual communication thereafter, so I became way too trusting. It has since been well-noted to never let my nicer half do that again.

[baja]

There really is nothing to do since you sent the money in an unsecured manner, effectively giving away that money to the artist. You would not be able to dispute it even if you *were* within the Paypal window, since you did not initiate a secure, protected transfer by Paypal's TOS.

While this is a more extreme outcome: If you reported something like this, by going around it through your bank/card, it also puts *you* at risk of losing your account, as you admit to misuse of the platform to avoid the service fees. It is something you may want to be mindful of for the future.

The only things on our end we can suggest are submitting a full beware for us to review and potentially get the word out there for any other potential clients. But that is fully your prerogative if you wish to be public with it, or take it as a lesson learned.

[tiredofallthis]

On 5/18/2026 at 4:09 PM, baja said:

There really is nothing to do since you sent the money in an unsecured manner, effectively giving away that money to the artist. You would not be able to dispute it even if you *were* within the Paypal window, since you did not initiate a secure, protected transfer by Paypal's TOS.

While this is a more extreme outcome: If you reported something like this, by going around it through your bank/card, it also puts *you* at risk of losing your account, as you admit to misuse of the platform to avoid the service fees. It is something you may want to be mindful of for the future.

The only things on our end we can suggest are submitting a full beware for us to review and potentially get the word out there for any other potential clients. But that is fully your prerogative if you wish to be public with it, or take it as a lesson learned.

After taking some extra time away, I've seen that the artist has- once again -changed their Discord picture still without addressing my friend request or emails or anything else (fully expected by now). I'll consider writing-up a full on artist's beware at some point, even if the payment method and time spent not chasing it up is 100% my fault.

Thanks both for the responses, even if just confirming my initial suspicions of me being fucked by my own hand. I really do appreciate it.