The Fake Rich 2nd Generation Continues: A Gallery Owner's Cautionary Tale

Last month, I penned an exposé on a supposed wealthy art dealer peddling precious art pieces. In a startling twist to the saga, a seasoned gallery owner from Beijing's famed 798 Art District fell victim to this scam. Digging deeper, I discovered a breach in the communication chain: the auction house I had alerted about the fraudster had failed to notify the legitimate art collector.

The timeline is telling: On February 21, the scammer approached me with art pieces for sale. By the 22nd, as I lined up a buyer and reached out to finalize the transaction, the seller's refusal to sign the principle under his own name raised red flags. On the 23rd and 24th, I embarked on a hunt for the real art collector and contacted the auction house. It wasn’t until February 26 that the auction house responded, assuring me they would reach out to the collector — a step they never took.

By March, the tragedy unfolded: a gallery owner in 798 was swindled. The authorities have been alerted, but a question looms large: despite the auction house's obligation to safeguard the art collector's privacy, does customer service not extend internally?

The artwork in question was purchased back in 2019 from the auction house, and while years have passed, the indifference displayed is disheartening. Had the auction house taken even the slightest action following my alert, perhaps we could have averted this unfortunate incident.

Their laissez-faire attitude is a bitter pill to swallow. A single act of due diligence could have saved not just the gallery owner’s investment, but also the auction house’s integrity. Now, we're left to pick up the pieces, a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in the art world.