Locals targeted in art scam

TARGET: Art scammers have been knocking on doors in Hilton Rd and Lynmore Ave this week, trying to sell mass-produced prints as original artwork. Photo/Stephen Parker

Rotorua residents have been targeted in an alleged scam involving people posing as art students trying to sell mass-produced prints and claiming them as their own works.

A small group was going door-to-door in Lynmore on Monday night and told residents they were Israeli art students trying to raise money to exhibit their work in Australia.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said a man in his early 20s knocked on their door about 8pm and wanted to show them a portfolio of work "done by his fellow art students".

"He said there were lovely people around this area but hadn't sold any paintings yet, and that they only had a limited visa in the country before they went to Australia," she said.

The couple were shown about 10 paintings, mostly landscapes and overseas city street scenes. They bought an African-themed painting and paid a cheque of $150 to the man.

After he left, they went online and discovered his email address was fake.

With further investigation on the internet they realised they were victims of an art scam, seeing the same prints online as were in the man's possession when he called.

"We cancelled the cheque straightaway that night," she said.

"The man was really believable, he was light and jovial - he could have been an actor."

Police were alerted to an attempt to cash the cheque on Tuesday morning in Tokoroa.

Senior Sergeant Graeme Hill of Tokoroa police said it was through the couple's quick thinking that they were able to track down the group and took possession of 15 paintings.

"From what we understand, individuals were trying to sell paintings, basically saying they were their own but were in fact mass-produced prints," Mr Hill said. "They have been targeting Rotorua and Taupo, but were based here in Tokoroa."

Mr Hill said no one had yet been charged as police were still needing to speak to the complainants.

Lynmore resident Joe Jennings said he experienced a similar sales pitch at his front door two years ago.

"He was quite an engaging sort of guy, and you kind of got a bit sucked in. It was a good con job," he said.

"He showed us the paintings and said they were genuine oil paintings done by his art colleagues who were studying in Auckland."

Mr Jennings said they started growing suspicious when the man kept changing his answers about where the paintings came from. They did not purchase anything from him.

Another resident said a man named "Alon" came to their house this week and implied that buying a painting would help him achieve his artistic goals.

"The pictures looked like genuine canvases but are cheap prints that can be bought online for a few bucks - not the $185 he was selling them for."

Rotorua police Inspector Ed Van Den Broek said obtaining money through deception was an offence. He said the picture sellers were operating a scam and anyone approached should tell police.