A perfect client lands in your inbox. They love your work, do not blink at your price, and pay right away, generously. Then comes the twist: they sent too much by mistake, and could you just refund the difference? The moment you do, you have handed a stranger real money that was never really theirs.
The overpayment con is one of the oldest tricks there is, and it has adapted neatly to the world of digital art commissions, where payments fly between strangers and a flattering message is easy to fake. If a commission buyer overpays and asks you to send the extra back, that is not a clumsy client, it is the scam itself. Here is exactly how it works, the signs that give it away, and how to take commission payments without getting burned.
Quick answer
Yes, a commission buyer who overpays and asks for the difference back is almost always running a scam. Their original payment is fraudulent, a fake check that will bounce or a stolen or reversed card or account, but it looks real for a few days. You send back genuine money from your own funds, and then the original payment vanishes when it reverses, leaving you out the refund. The rule that defeats it is simple: never refund an overpayment, and never treat a payment as real until it has fully and irreversibly cleared in your account.
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Yes, the overpayment is the scam
Strip away the art-commission dressing and this is the classic overpayment fraud. The Federal Trade Commission puts it bluntly in its guidance on fake check scams: if someone you do not know sends you a payment and asks for money back, it is a scam. The commission is just the story that gets you to engage. The scammer never wanted your art; they wanted you to send your own money in response to a payment that will later disappear. Everything friendly about the interaction is set dressing for that single move.
Why the overpayment works
The trick relies on a gap in how payments settle. When a check is deposited or a payment posts, your bank often makes the funds “available” within a day or two, which feels like the money is yours. But available is not the same as cleared. A fraudulent check can bounce weeks later, and a stolen card or hacked account payment can be reversed through a chargeback long after it appeared. The scammer races you into refunding the difference during that window, before the truth catches up. When the original payment reverses, the bank pulls it back, but the real money you sent as a “refund” is already gone.
The red flags that give it away
Once you know the shape, it is easy to spot:
- They overpay, then ask you to return the difference. This alone is enough to walk away.
- They agreed to your price instantly with no questions, and are oddly eager and flattering.
- They pressure you to refund or ship fast, before the payment “clears.”
- They want the refund sent to a third party, a “shipper,” “framer,” or “assistant.”
- The messages have odd grammar, generic wording, or a story about an assistant or company handling payment.
Any one of these is a warning. The overpayment plus a refund request together is not a warning, it is a confirmation.
The one rule that defeats it
Here is the single habit that makes you scam-proof on this: never refund an overpayment, full stop. If a client genuinely sends the wrong amount, the correct fix is never for you to send money back. Instead, cancel or refund the entire transaction through the original platform and have them pay again for the right amount, or simply void it and start over. You should never move your own funds in response to someone else’s overpayment. The scammer needs you to send real money out; refuse to do that and the whole scheme collapses.
Safer ways to take commission payments
Beyond the refund rule, how you accept payment matters:
- Use a method with protection, like PayPal Goods and Services or a proper invoice, not Friends and Family.
- Be very cautious with instant apps like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App from strangers, since those transfers are effectively irreversible for you and scam “payment received” emails are easily faked.
- Do not accept mailed checks for digital work, which is a classic fake-check setup.
- Wait until payment has actually cleared in your account, not just shows as pending or available, before starting or delivering work.
- Take a deposit through a protected method and keep records of the agreement and delivery.
A little friction at the payment stage is a fair price for not losing a month’s income to a stranger.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. If you are unsure about a transaction, contact your bank or payment provider, and report suspected fraud to the appropriate authorities.
If you already sent the money
If the con already worked, act fast and do not send anything more, since scammers often return for a second bite. Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to report the fraud and ask what can be done, then report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Save every message, receipt, and payment detail. Recovery is not guaranteed, especially with instant apps, but reporting quickly gives you the best chance and helps flag the scammer for the next artist they target. Losing money to this does not mean you were careless; these scripts are designed to exploit exactly the eagerness that makes someone a working artist.
Frequently asked questions
Is an art commission buyer who overpays always a scam?
Almost always, if they then ask you to refund the difference. Legitimate clients do not overpay and request money back. The original payment is typically fraudulent and will reverse later, so treat any overpayment-plus-refund request as a scam and do not send money back.
Why do scammers overpay on purpose?
Because the overpayment is the whole point. Their payment is fake or stolen and will vanish when it reverses, but it looks real for a few days. In that window they get you to send your own genuine money as a “refund,” which is the money they actually walk away with.
What should I do if a client sends the wrong amount?
Never send money back yourself. Cancel or refund the entire transaction through the original payment platform and have them pay the correct amount again, or void it and start over. Moving your own funds in response to an overpayment is exactly what the scam needs.
Which payment methods are safest for commissions?
Protected options like PayPal Goods and Services or a proper invoice. Be cautious with Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App from strangers, since those are effectively irreversible for you, and avoid mailed checks for digital work, which are a common fake-check setup.
How long should I wait before treating a payment as real?
Until it has fully cleared in your account, not just shows as available or pending. Funds can appear available within days but reverse weeks later. Wait for the payment provider to confirm it is settled before starting, delivering, or ever considering a refund.
The bottom line
The overpayment art-commission scam runs entirely on one move: getting you to refund money you never truly received. The friendly client, the instant yes, the generous overpayment, all of it exists to set up that request. Refuse to refund an overpayment, wait for real clearance, and use protected payment methods, and the scheme has nowhere to go. For another common trap worth recognizing, see our guide on friendly wrong-number texts that turn into scams, and browse The Other Stream’s Arts section for more.