# Cranky and Cautious: How Creatives Can Spot Scams Before They Spiral

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/two-cranky-creatives-real-talk-practical-advice-for-surface-designers-and-creative-entrepreneurs-7122689/cranky-and-cautious-how-creatives-can-spot-scams-before-they-spiral
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/two-cranky-creatives-real-talk-practical-advice-for-surface-designers-and-creative-entrepreneurs-7122689/cranky-and-cautious-how-creatives-can-spot-scams-before-they-spiral.md
Podcast: [Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice for Surface Designers and Creative Entrepreneurs](https://stenobird.com/podcast/two-cranky-creatives-real-talk-practical-advice-for-surface-designers-and-creative-entrepreneurs-7122689)
Published: 2026-05-06T06:01:00+00:00
Episode link: https://32a57d52-77d8-47e1-911f-2ece74895176.libsyn.com/cranky-and-cautious-how-creatives-can-spot-scams-before-they-spiral
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/32a57d52-77d8-47e1-911f-2ece74895176/ADFREE_29_Cranky__Cautious.mp3?dest-id=4689977
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Duration seconds: 3519

## Resource

Cranky and Cautious: How Creatives Can Spot Scams Before They Spiral In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives , the Cranks sound the alarm on a growing (and increasingly sophisticated) wave of scams targeting creatives at every stage of their careers. From the all-too-familiar Instagram "Do you take commissions?" DM, to eerie wrong-number texts that spiral into "pig butchering" schemes, to fake scouts and collectors sliding into your inbox with suspiciously vague offers, Carrie and Toni break down how these traps work, and why they're designed to exploit your creative hustle, optimism, and exhaustion. But this isn't a panic episode—it's a grounding one. Carrie and Toni talk about how scammers prey on the pressure, isolation, and hope baked into the creative hustle, and how slowing down is often the most powerful response. They offer creative career advice rooted in healthy skepticism, reminding listeners that real opportunities can withstand questions, pauses, and verification. This is your reminder that protecting your time, work, and energy isn't paranoid, it's professional. Want More Cranky? Join the Cranky Club on Apple Podcasts to get early access to every episode, completely ad-free. You'll also unlock the full archive — all past episodes, right at your fingertips. Strut Your Cranky Stuff! Let the world know you're not just creative, you're cranky too! We recently launched a line of merch on ​ Bonfire ​ . Grab yours today! Two Cranky Creatives … Two Cranky Creatives is hosted by Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico, two experienced art entrepreneurs who reveal the realities of making a living as a creative. Expect honest, unfiltered conversations about the challenges, victories, and everything in between when navigating the art world as a business. Whether you're a f…

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