Sculptor's website used to con buyers (From The Argus)

Sculptor's website used to con buyers

3:30pm Wednesday 24th September 2008

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An internet fraudster has stolen the identity of a popular sculptor to use her work to dupe wealthy women.

Eve Shepherd, an award-winning sculptor from Woodingdean, Brighton, has discovered a near-identical version of her website in the name of Frank Wlliams.

Only her name and a few minor details have been changed.

Visitors to the website can browse works priced up to £13,000 and are encouraged to call a different number, or write to an email address or a non-existent postal address.

The scam came to light earlier this month when a woman in Hawaii contacted Ms Shepherd.

She said she had met a man on a dating agency for millionaires, who claimed to be a sculptor.

When she investigated his website she realised it was a copy of Ms Shepherd’s.

He inserted a photograph, which she later discovered came from a model agency’s website.

As well as contacting the artist, the woman informed the FBI in America, while Ms Shepherd herself has made a complaint to Sussex Police.

She believes the culprit is tricking rich women into paying deposits for artwork they will never see.

Ms Shepherd said: “We believe the man is operating from the US.

“He is attempting to obtain money by deception from wealthy US women.”

Customers often pay most of the price of a work they have commissioned before they see it.

Ms Shepherd believes this may allow the fraudster to take thousands of pounds before his victims realise they have been conned.

Her art is mostly in high-value materials, such as bronze and marble, and she has recently completed a commissioned sculpture of Professor Stephen Hawking.

Ms Shepherd, who is afraid her credibility as an artist could be damaged by the con, said: “It is a feeling of violation. I have worked from the age of 17 to build my career and credentials to get where I am.

“This guy has taken all that and is potentially taking a lot of money by using my identity.”

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police confirmed the complaint was being investigated.

Have you had your identity stolen? Leave your comments below.

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