So, in the last 3 days I have three different 'artists' that have tried their tactics on me.
Two were from the same discord group, someone that does half and half Vr and games. When I told I don't have VR one of them said: 'But you are in a VR discord, why are you there if you don't have VR?' Euh... excuse me?

The one that came to me today was debatable worse. it started on blue sky and the first red flag for me was that he liked a lot of post but hadn't uploaded anything himself. But he said that his old account for terminated... euh okay.
After he asked me for my Discord to show me his art I told him litterly: 'So you aren't going to put up a sob story about how you struggle with your art and need commisions because some kind of bill comes up?' And he replied: No, of course not bro.
Fast forward to when he shared the art and there was this strange Preview watermark all over his art. I also had the feeling I saw the style before. He told that he did that to prevent theft... Sure.
So, then came the kicker, the sell. He asked me what character I liked and after that he said he had an idea for an art. And can I say this is something I see a lot with these scammer: THEY have an idea. If your in luck, on a character you like.
When I called him out, of course the begging started. The first thing I said was: You talking to me just to sell me something, those art tactics used by MLM huns.
Of course he got mad when I called him out saying: But I really need to pay my med bills, it's just 5/10 dollar, it isn't really that much.'
Two things here: first, they never even considered if I can pay that. Maybe 5/10 is much for me.
Second: Excuse me, but are you putting the blame on ME now?

I hope nobody that read this sees what I will say now as a personal attack, but art (and with that I also count things like singing, acting, youtuber, twitch gamer) is a very competitive business. You fight every day for the attention. There is a very low % of people that can really life of it. For them, it's great. But if you struggle with your art business and bills keep piling up, maybe you should just consider that 9-5 job again? Yes it's good you can do something that you love and make money of it. But their are also practical things that need to be taken care of, like your bills.
Some people laugh at me for being a simple waiter. 'Ha, breaking your back over manual labor' but when i tell them I'm not in debt they get silent.

Thanks for letting me rant and I hope you all have a lovely day