How to Protect Yourself from ‘Muse’ Scams on Social Media

How it Works

1. Initial Contact: With muse scams, fraudsters typically initiate contact via social media, often with a comment or message about how much they like your photo.
2. Offer to “Purchase:” From there, the scammer may claim to be an artist or work with one and state their desire to “pay” you for your image so it can be used in their upcoming project. After negotiating the price, the fraudster will work with you to send you a check for your “payment,” oftentimes stating the need to send a check for a larger amount and then have you send back a portion of the funds for the artists’ supplies.
3. Pressure Tactics and Isolation: Fraudsters then often work to create a sense of urgency to get you to act without thinking. In many scams they will also encourage you not to consult with others for one reason or another, to avoid you being offered a clearer perspective from someone who may warn you it sounds like a scam.
4. Depositing the Check: Once the scammer has the information they need, they will mail their victims a check, oftentimes one that appears legitimate and tell their victim to deposit it. Banks are legally required to make deposited funds available quickly, so the check may even appear to clear in your bank account.
5. The Payoff: Once the check is deposited, the scammer will have you send the money for the “artists’ supplies” to them. What really happened? The check you were given was fake, and often by the time your financial institution discovers this, you’ve already sent the scammer money and are now on the hook for the remainder of the funds you owe the bank from the fake check.