As an aspiring digital artist, I was thrilled when a prominent figure in the NFT space reached out to collaborate. They claimed to be a well-known collector and curator who wanted to feature my work in a new NFT collection showcasing emerging artists. They promised exposure to thousands of potential buyers and a generous share of the profits.

The process seemed straightforward. They asked me to create three original pieces, mint them on a specific NFT marketplace, and transfer the tokens to their wallet so they could handle the marketing and sale. They also asked for $500 to cover “marketing fees,” which I hesitated to pay but ultimately did because of their reputation.

Excited about the opportunity, I followed their instructions and transferred the NFTs. Weeks passed, and I didn’t hear anything. When I reached out, the collector assured me the launch was being delayed due to “logistical issues” but promised it would happen soon. However, after a few more weeks, they stopped responding entirely, and their account was deleted.

I later discovered that the NFT marketplace they recommended was a part of the scam. The platform was designed to look legitimate but was created by the scammers themselves. They had used my work, along with pieces from other artists, to sell NFTs under their own accounts.

This betrayal was heartbreaking. I lost both my art and the money I had paid for marketing. The experience taught me to always research collaborators thoroughly and stick to established NFT platforms. Be wary of anyone who asks for upfront payments or transfers of ownership without proper contracts. In the NFT world, protecting your intellectual property is just as important as verifying the legitimacy of potential partners.