TikTok Art Project Scam: Fake E-Checks Target Unsuspecting Users, FTC Warns

The message seemed harmless at first—a creative soul admiring your profile picture. But for TikTok user Jen (@jen961), a simple request to “use your photo for an art project” revealed a sophisticated scam operation now flooding the platform. “She said it was for an art project,” Jen recounted in a viral TikTok video, describing how scammers are weaponizing creativity to steal personal information through fake e-checks.

How the TikTok Art Scam Operates

The scam begins when users receive messages from seemingly legitimate art accounts filled with paintings and drawings. The sender asks permission to use a profile photo for an “art project,” promising a commission fee and a copy of the finished work. Once the target agrees, the scammer requests their full name and email address to send an “e-check” from a “client.”

Jen recognized the red flag when asked for personal details. “They said they didn’t need my bank information—just my name and email,” she explained. After confronting the sender, their profile vanished—but two identical messages arrived from different accounts the same day. This pattern matches Federal Trade Commission warnings about fake check fraud, where scammers use fabricated payments to harvest information or trick victims into “returning” overpaid funds (FTC Consumer Advice, 2025).

Why E-Check Scams Are Surging

The FTC confirms this isn’t new but emphasizes its dangerous evolution on visual platforms like TikTok:

• Information harvesting: Names and emails enable identity theft and phishing
• Fake payment traps: Victims deposit fraudulent e-checks, then “refund” real money
• Relentless tactics: As Jen discovered, blocked accounts reappear instantly

Legitimate artists or clients never ask strangers to process payments through personal emails,” says cybersecurity expert Dr. Elena Rodriguez (MIT Digital Safety Lab, 2024). She notes these scams exploit trust in creative communities, with reports rising 67% year-over-year according to Identity Theft Resource Center data.

Protecting Yourself from Social Media Scams

The FTC outlines critical defenses:

1. Never share personal identifiers like full names or emails with unverified accounts
2. Reject “commission” payments requiring your banking involvement
3. Verify profiles through reverse image searches of portfolio artwork
4. Report immediately at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Comments on Jen’s video reveal widespread encounters: “This been going on for YEARS!” one user wrote. Another added: “I’ve received two this week—they’re targeting anyone with public profiles.”

Stay alert: these “art project” offers are digital traps. Verify unexpected opportunities offline, guard your personal data like cash, and report suspicious messages to protect yourself and others. Share this warning to disrupt scammers’ reach.

Must Know

Q: What is the TikTok art project scam?
A: Scammers pose as artists asking to use your photos for projects. After gaining trust, they request personal details to send fake e-checks, leading to identity theft or financial loss.

Q: How does the fake e-check part work?
A: They’ll claim a “client” will email an electronic check for your “commission.” These checks bounce after deposit, but scammers may pressure you to wire “excess” funds back from your real account.

Q: What should I do if contacted?
A: Do not reply. Block the account, screenshot the message, and report it to TikTok and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Alert followers publicly if the account seems widespread.

Q: Are verified accounts safe?
A: Not always. Check for inconsistent posts, stolen artwork via reverse image search, and grammar errors. Legitimate artists typically use professional platforms like Behance for collaborations.

Q: What if I already shared information?
A: Contact your bank immediately to flag potential fraud. Place credit freezes with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Change compromised email passwords and enable two-factor authentication.