A local tattoo artist is sounding the alarm after a client was duped by a fake online account impersonating his work and shop. Jeff Zuptich, owner of The Tat Shack Tattoo in St. Joseph, is urging the public to remain vigilant as scammers continue to exploit social media to defraud unsuspecting customers.
The issue came to light when a Platte County officer contacted Zuptich to confirm whether an artist operating under the name “Ink By Davis” was affiliated with his shop. The officer had already sent a deposit through a digital payment app — only to realize later that the account was fraudulent.
“I don’t have much of a social media presence,” Zuptich said. “I just post pictures of my tattoos. I don’t have a ton of followers, so I’m not sure why they picked me — maybe that’s exactly why.”
According to Zuptich, the scammer had been using images of his tattoo work and falsely claiming to work out of The Tat Shack. The account “Ink By Davis” — and several variations of it — has reportedly targeted dozens of clients, stretching from Missouri to Kansas, Pennsylvania, and beyond.
“This specific page that targeted my client has also gone after people from Pennsylvania to Joplin,” Zuptich explained. “The scam appears to be operating out of Potosi, Missouri. They even show a Colorado tattoo license to make it look legit and convince people to send deposits.”
Victims have left multiple online reviews recounting how they were misled by the fake accounts. In most cases, the scammer claimed to either work at The Tat Shack or offered to do house visits for tattoos. To Zuptich’s knowledge, no clients have actually received any tattoos from the individual.
Feeling frustrated by the limited options available through law enforcement, Zuptich decided to speak out publicly.
“There doesn’t seem to be much law enforcement can do with these types of crimes,” he said. “At least by speaking to the media, it might help raise awareness. If we can keep people from falling for their tricks, maybe they’ll just stop.”
The Digital Trap: Why Payment Apps Make Scams Harder to Fight
Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett echoed Zuptich’s concerns, noting the difficulty in investigating scams that involve peer-to-peer payment platforms such as Venmo and Cash App.
“That’s the problem with things like Venmo, Cash App, and other applications,” Puett said. “It’s really easy for someone to pose as a legitimate business, take payments through those apps, and then disappear. Once the money’s sent, it can be extremely difficult to recover or trace — especially if the person is in another state or country.”
Puett urged people to take extra precautions when engaging with businesses online. “Going forward, we all have to do our due diligence,” he added. “Just because something appears on social media doesn’t mean it’s trustworthy. Do your research before you type in any account numbers or send money.”
Tips to Avoid Tattoo Scams
Zuptich recommends that anyone seeking tattoo services verify the artist’s identity before making any payments — and ideally, schedule a consultation in person.
“Get referrals from family, friends, or people who’ve actually been tattooed by that artist,” he advised. “Before giving any money, try to meet the artist face-to-face. I personally like to see exactly what arm or leg I’m tattooing. That’s a good sign that you’re dealing with a real, reputable professional.”
As online scams grow more sophisticated, both law enforcement and small business owners are encouraging consumers to be proactive — and cautious — before clicking “send.”
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