“Fraud is not unusual in the $64 billion global art market.”

The buyer “didn’t send the payment to an escrow account—which was not unusual, given the old-­fashioned agreements the art world still relies on.” The buyer explains that this choice was due to “the strong referral from a trusted friend, the need to act quickly…”

The art dealer “lied, fabricated email correspondence, and faked bank transfers, but she also made real payment of deposit and restoration, and shipping costs,” the buyer says.

If I had a dollar for every time this kind of mess happens, I would own the Dallas Cowboys by now.