CI.org: Avoiding Scams

As AI technology advances, scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tactics, making fraudulent inquiries harder to detect.

To protect your business and livelihood, we strongly recommend implementing these essential safety measures for all new client inquiries:

SECURE PAYMENT PRACTICES

Always Request Advance Payment

• Require 25-50% of your total fee upfront before beginning any work

• State this policy clearly in your initial response to inquiries

• Wait for payment to fully clear your account before starting the project

• Include payment terms in all written contracts

Accept Only These Payment Methods:

• PayPal (offers buyer/seller protection)

• Direct bank transfer (ensure money clears account)

• Established online payment platforms (Stripe, etc.) that you already operate. Do not click links or set-up any accounts at the request of the client.

NEVER Accept These Payment Methods:

• Certified checks or banker's checks (easily forged)

• Money orders

• Cryptocurrency

• Wire transfers to unfamiliar accounts

REFUND REQUESTS

Has the money cleared your account? Check with your bank.

Do not rush to make a refund if requested - this is a common scam.

LEVERAGE AI FOR PROTECTION

Use AI tools to your advantage by copying suspicious inquiries into ChatGPT, Claude, or similar platforms with this prompt:"Please review this client inquiry for potential scam red flags, particularly focusing on language patterns, urgency tactics, and payment requests that might indicate fraud."

Additional Red Flags to Watch For:

• Unusually urgent timelines or pressure tactics

• Overly generous budgets for simple projects

• Poor grammar/spelling inconsistent with claimed location

• Requests to use specific payment processors you're unfamiliar with

• Vague project descriptions despite claiming large budgets

We're actively developing enhanced platform security features to better protect our community. In the meantime, following these guidelines will significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to increasingly sophisticated scams.

Stay safe and keep creating!

The Childrensillustrators.com Team