How can I avoid art investment scams?

I am looking to invest in alternative types of assets to broaden my portfolio and am considering art. I have heard a lot of stories about art investment scams, however, and am worried about falling victim to this type of fraud. Are there any checks I can do or general warning signs I should look out for?

Daniel Gore, senior associate at law firm Withers, says that when approaching investments of any type, but particularly assets such as art or other physical items, it is important to approach the matter cautiously but not to be inhibited by the threat of fraud. You are right that instances of fraud are significant and continuing to rise, and fraudsters are becoming much more sophisticated in their schemes.  

However, there are always warning signs to look out for. If someone is offering a legitimate opportunity they will be prepared to verify their credentials and satisfy requests for information. If they are not prepared to do so, it is a danger sign.  

Engage with respectable art galleries or auction houses with good reputations and a strong record. Take recommendations from your friends and contacts and make inquiries online. Engage with artists directly and try to meet them to discuss their work. These kinds of steps often overlap, so do not just rely on one step.   

If you are dealing with people in the UK, there are online databases at Companies House where you can see a company’s financial position and from the Insolvency Service where you can find out if a person has been involved in any insolvent businesses.

When it comes to art, in particular, chain of title, provenance and authenticity are key questions to address before investing in any item. These are naturally the pressure points where most of the highest profile frauds take place. Often the best advice is simple: scrutinise all the materials you are provided with and remember that common sense will still get you a long way.  

Given the increasingly broad types of artworks and the range of time periods, there is no single document that can provide you with evidence of the title, provenance or authenticity. Modern works are much easier to verify through contracts, invoices or even photos. Historic works require more significant tracing exercises, often evidence of having been exhibited in the past, but there are innovative ways to track even the oldest pieces of artwork these days.  

The UK Art Loss Register contains a vast private database of stolen pieces of art, and you can undertake searches yourself. If you are still unsure about anything in the authentication process after a thorough investigation, trust your instincts.  

You can always engage the services of a professional art specialist and valuer to help you navigate the market. Verify their credentials and take advantage of their connections. Most importantly, they can let you know whether the price you are being quoted is actually “fair”.  

How can I find a cheaper private school for my daughter?

My daughter attends a large independent school which has great facilities, an impressive record and reputation. Unfortunately, the school will be passing the 20 per cent tax levy on to parents in full from January 2025, following the government’s announcement in July. I cannot afford the new fees, which are at the higher end of the spectrum. How should I go about picking a new school that charges lower fees?

Joanne Osen, principal at St John’s School, Billericay, says cost is going to be a key consideration for many parents up and down the country. Families work extremely hard to send their children to the school of their choosing, so your position is not uncommon. 

It sounds as though you wish your daughter to attend another independent school with lower fees. Your daughter’s current school may have impressive grounds and facilities, but these cost a lot to maintain and run and consequently the fees are higher.

Other schools without rolling acres of grounds could well deliver a similar level of education but at a more sensible fee level. The difference may be substantial, and you could easily find that by moving to a school with a lower cost base your annual outlay reduces from your current level, even with the addition of VAT.

As a first step, I would suggest drawing up a list of all the schools within a reasonable radius of your house, bearing in mind that the school could be further afield if there are good public transport links. Then compare them based on your particular interests. Given that cost is an issue, I would first compare fees from the schools on your list. It is likely that most schools will need to adapt their fees to address the coming VAT changes, but do make inquiries, as different schools may take different approaches.

Consider the quality of the education your daughter will receive. Class sizes are very important, as is the enthusiasm and experience of the teachers. Whether the school has expensive facilities such as a theatre or swimming pool or is sited in beautiful grounds is likely to have less relevance.

Aside from the financial considerations, make sure that you and your daughter visit several schools to get a feel for the atmosphere and overall ethos of the school. Meeting current pupils will give you an idea of how the school realises these aims and ambitions, and they should be able to explain to you what they love about their school.

If you can, speak to other parents at the school. As well as discussing the overall experience you should be able to discover how their children developed after graduating. Unless your child is already certain about what they plan to do after their childhood education, variety is a great sign when it comes to post-graduation destinations. 

It would be prudent to act quickly because many parents are looking to find more affordable independent schooling for their children.

The opinions in this column are intended for general information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional advice. The Financial Times Ltd and the authors are not responsible for any direct or indirect result arising from any reliance placed on replies, including any loss, and exclude liability to the full extent.

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