Hi, I just was scammed by a so-called artist from this forum.
He is prominent on this forum and aggressively posts as if he knows what he’s talking about. He has a portfolio on the web. He promises a good deal on a package, which you agree to and put down payment (to lock in the price and start work), then produces 2 WIP screenshots that are significantly different from reference art (I think it was stuff on his hard drive that he hoped I would like) while continually asking to have the rest of the money deposited into his paypal. Basically this person wanted me to put $600 into his paypal account. I agreed to $200 down payment because 1. I never worked with him, 2. I needed to see WIP to know if he is capable of doing the work and $200 was all I was willing to risk until I could see WIP.
I stopped the project and have now asked for a refund directly from the scammer and through paypal. He has not responded to my request for refund.
I’ve requested that Unity forum put trust/feedback system in place so people can comment on their transactions with these forum members. Even something as rudimentary as: Delivered work expected, price reasonable, quality of work, ease of working with, this would attach to their member ID. Please let Unity know if this would be helpful.
I’m thinking members who want to do business should have to register as a service provider or a client. This way honest providers/clients will register and allow themselves to be rated by their transactions while dishonest ones like this guy will be deterred. :?:What do you think?
Since then I have discussed business with other member/providers who seem to be seriously professional. They ask for reference art and requirements and provide a list of deliverables and timeframe for delivery. All terms seem to up front and discussions had about the project agreed on before taking down payment. This seems to be the same routine the scammer used.
This experience has made me leary. I am a paying client working on a real project that is near test. I pay on time and even before and other members can vouch for me.
So here’s the question in all this: As a client, what should I expect is the negotiation workflow, verification of work and deliverables expected for an animated model?
I think the commercial work forum is an informal method of connecting potential clients with artists/programmers/asset providers, but not meant to be a web application that actually facilitates transactions or maintains anything you’re describing, I think that’d be better served as an entirely different website.
I think you’re best bet is to just say who it was to warn other community members.
Cant you issue a refund through paypal as a buyer of service.
Moreover give all the links to his website and his name email warn him if he does not refund your money you will open all his website link his real name email etc in the forum
jOel177 you brought up a good point… that’s exactly the problem. How do we be more careful?
What are warning signs that the provider will be a problem? How are terms laid out? What are expected deliverables? What is typical for an artist to request? What is typical for the industry when asking for and providing services? What does a typical engagement look like?
As an artist, this is my way to work, safe for both sides :
1 : make the deal, what to do, how many poly, texture sizes, price, time, etc…
2 : I start to work, client paid 0$ actually
3 : I send regulary WIP’s screen , wich client have to make me returns, what is ok, what is not.
4 : When model is done, client send me payment by paypal, then I send him all files
If you are looking for a trustable artist, I’m actualy avaible for some freelance task.
Is he in this forum? I can’t find any thread or post relate to either “XXX” or “http://XXX.carbonmade.com”, there is no result for either search term.
As for your idea, I think its great idea. Like a reputation system which I have seen implemented in many other forums.
I also think you also paid too much for down payment. Its a tricky question since THIS IS THE INTERNET, informal “deals” like these (across national borders and jurisdiction) means its effectively impossible not to get burn (both as service provider or as buyer).
Thttp://www.odesk.com/ I’ve used it before for people out of the country.
A client’s credit is verified as a “Payee”. Payment available is confirmed and waiting pending approval of work. Once the work is approved the Payee releases it to the service provider. The service provider also has records of WIP, can send screenshots, ratings etc. Odesk can also intervene in disputes. The people perform the work…competence is the only issue I’ve had here. Hard to measure competence.
Judging by his portfolio on his website, looks pretty amateurish. I think you are actually better off to get service from QUALITY and proven artist like Arteria3D. Not sure if Arteria does custom work but you can always ask (and I am pretty sure he is hungry for business).
Just search the forum “Arteria” and you will see what I mean.
Rates can give you a good idea of position of the artist too.
Someone using really incredible low rate is risky, I don’t mean it’s automaticaly a scammer, just a too low rate may let think they are not “professional”, it can be someone doing that for pleasure, or a simply beginner. As professional, and you know that we have to pay Taxes and Licences etc … so I personaly think someone rating under 15$/h is risky.
Again I don’t want my words to be missunderstood, that don’t mean low rate artist are all scammer, low rates artists can also provide good stuff and professional work.
There was a thread sometime last year of his where other people were accusing him of the same stuff… I remember posting in it actually, I’m surprised I can’t find it now… but yeah, he’s a known scammer.
Actually, I think Charlie (charliesamways) in the forum also does good custom paid work too. He might be young, but I have seen his work and he sounds like a decent guy.
I think the actual configuration of the commercial forum is a bit tricky, in the sense that there are some genuine contractors (fully traceable, with portfolio, own website and organized as a business) and too many unknown quantities. The latter make a lot of noise trying to get a fast buck from equally unknown customers, leading to the situation described by OP. This is something Unity Tech should improve soon imho, making the access there more difficult.
As a general rule I would get a phone number and a physical address from someone before giving them work. It doesn’t guarantee they’re legit but if they don’t want to give you them then something maybe fishy.
I am a paying client working on a real project that is near test. I pay on time and even before and other members can vouch for me.
So here’s the question in all this: As a client, what should I expect is the negotiation workflow, verification of work and deliverables expected for an animated model? 