Tattoo Scammers and how to avoid them

Over recent years, the tattoo industry has seen a surge in fraudulent activities, particularly the rising tattoo scams involving imposter tattooers. These scams often involve con artists posing as reputable tattooers on social media platforms, collecting deposits via peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and CashApp, and then disappearing without a trace. At our studio, we've encountered numerous clients who've been victims of such scams; for instance, Jessica, who was expecting an appointment with a so-called resident artist named "Chris," realized upon arrival that no Chris works here. Such scams are not only disheartening for clients but also

challenging for artists striving to maintain a professional workspace.

Understanding the Tattoo Artist Scam

Matthew Hopkins is a risk assessment and fraud prevention consultant

To gain deeper insight into this issue, I spoke with Matthew Hopkins, a tattoo collector and fraud prevention consultant with over a decade of experience. "We’re seeing imposter tattooers use platforms like Venmo and PayPal to deceive clients," Matt explained. These scammers create a sense of urgency, offering limited availability or last-minute discounts to push clients to act without verification. The pandemic-era shift to "books closed" artists and long waitlists has only fueled this tactic. Many tattoo artists use peer-to-peer payment methods for convenience, but this also opens doors for fraudsters to exploit unsuspecting clients.

Multiple people have come in scammed by his various accounts. One even met him in person and confirmed he is using his actual picture. Wild! guess he isn't very worried about getting caught.

Protecting Yourself from Social Media Tattoo Scammers

"So, what can clients do to protect themselves?" I asked Matt. His advice emphasizes the importance of thorough research. "Verify your artist by checking their social media profiles and contact the tattoo shop directly to confirm their affiliation," he advised. Scammers often impersonate well-known tattooers with slightly altered social media handles, attempting to clone legitimate accounts. Verifying the studio location or contacting them directly can help distinguish reputable artists from tattoo artist scams.

When dealing with private studios, transparency is key. If a tattoo artist is reluctant to disclose their location but demands money, be cautious. As Matt suggested, "They should share an address or contact number, fostering trust and providing the assurance clients deserve."

Understanding deposit policies is crucial before transferring money. Clear terms and conditions can protect your rights should disputes arise.

Options for Victims of Tattoo Artist Scams

"What if someone falls victim to a scam?" I asked. Matt recommended using buyer protection features offered by payment apps, even with fees. Verifying the payment account and ensuring it matches the artist's name can be critical, although it's not foolproof due to pseudonyms and other legitimate exceptions.

Handling industry fraud is tricky due to constantly evolving scam tactics. "The biggest challenge is staying ahead of these tactics," Matt explained. Client education and awareness are vital in combating scams and ensuring customer rights and protections.

"Being informed and cautious is key," Matt emphasized. "By conducting thorough research, demanding transparency, and understanding deposit policies, you can protect yourself from scams and ensure a legitimate tattoo experience."

At our studio, we advise verifying your tattoo artist before sending

money, whether by contacting the studio directly or checking that their information matches what is listed on our website and socials. Remember, anyone aggressively demanding money or refusing to provide verification details is likely a scammer—or not providing the level of service you deserve, which is a red flag when choosing who to trust with your body art.

With expert insights from Matt as well as our commitment to being industry leaders in professionalism and customer service, we hope this helps empower clients to navigate the tattoo world confidently, ensuring that every step from booking to inking is free from fraud and aligned with your artistic vision.

OUR CONTRIBUTION TO CHICAGO'S TATTOO CULTURE

Scams and bad customer experience in tattoo studios is unfortunately nothing new. Here at Logan Square Tattoo we put the customer experience at the top of our priority list. We continuously are working on being one of Chicago's Top rated tattoo studios from Quality of artists work to quality of customer service. We believe that the best way to combat bad culture is by setting the example for the culture we want to see proliferate. We will always be transparent about what artists are working with us and what their deposit policies are. We also offer a hands on ownership and support staff to help navigate any customer issues to ensure as smooth a customer experience as possible. THANKS AS ALWAYS

-GIFFORD

Gifford is a lifelong tattooer and founder of Logan Square Tattoo. You can see more of his tattoo work here