A growing scam targeting tattoo shops across the U.S. has been affecting both customers and shop owners, with one Kansas-based studio, Squid Ink Tattoo, recently warning clients about fraudulent activity.
The scam, which has impacted many tattoo parlors nationwide, involves scammers posing as tattoo artists at legitimate shops. The perpetrators schedule fake appointments, collect deposits from customers, and leave them with no tattoo and no recourse.
Ellie Taylor, the owner and sole tattoo artist at Squid Ink Tattoo Studio in Goddard, was recently caught off guard when a customer arrived at her shop, claiming to have scheduled an appointment with an artist she didn’t recognize. The customer explained that they had paid a $150 deposit to an unknown source, who instructed them to show up at Squid Ink for the tattoo. However, the appointment was non-existent, and neither Taylor nor her booking manager, Garrett Lyon, had received any communication from the supposed artist.
“I mean, $150, especially right now, that can make or break someone for a few weeks,” Taylor said, highlighting the financial impact of the scam.
The customer had been contacted by someone posing as a tattoo artist working at the shop. When Lyon attempted to contact the number provided by the customer, it turned out to be invalid. The scammer had simply used the shop’s name and address, leaving Squid Ink to deal with the fallout.
Taylor and Lyon were shocked to learn that this was not an isolated incident. FactFinder uncovered similar reports from other tattoo shops in various states, where scammers had set up fake appointments and deceived customers into paying deposits for tattoos that would never happen.
Lyon expressed confusion about why their shop specifically had been targeted. “You’ve scammed the person out of so much money, why continue the charade and send them the shop name or shop address?” he questioned.
Although paying a deposit is standard practice at many tattoo studios, Taylor and Lyon suggest that customers do their due diligence before handing over money. They recommend calling the shop directly to confirm the appointment and artist, asking about the artist’s training and style, and scheduling an in-person consultation to ensure legitimacy.
“I think it’s important to remind customers to be cautious,” Taylor said. “You never know who is out there controlling your reputation. Anyone can really do it, and that’s a shame.”
Despite not knowing how to prevent this type of scam from targeting their business in the future, Taylor and Lyon hope sharing their story will serve as a warning to others in the industry and to customers, urging them to verify appointments and protect themselves from fraud.
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