Discord seller’s $5 AI sketches exposed after suspicious anatomy and refusal to prove skills

A Discord user recently advertised custom sketches for just $5 each, raising immediate red flags with an unusually low price point. To test their ability, a request was made for a horse sketch from multiple perspectives, expecting a demonstration of manual drawing skills. The result was a file that betrayed its AI origins at first glance: distorted proportions, overly smoothed edges characteristic of diffusion-based models, and a composition that mirrored generic AI-generated outputs. Despite clear evidence, the seller defended the work as hand-drawn, providing no credible explanation for the telltale flaws.

Pressure to prove authenticity led to a demand for a live drawing demonstration. The seller initially agreed—an odd response in itself—before abruptly reversing course. They claimed they wouldn’t redraw the sketch but offered to take on "real work" if new commissions were provided. When confronted with AI detection results, the admission came with a dismissive justification: "This time, I won’t use AI."

The entire exchange revealed a deliberate attempt to exploit clients who might overlook AI-generated art’s inconsistencies. Genuine artists would never hesitate to share a time-lapse or layered file, yet this seller resisted at every turn. Their reluctance to provide basic verification—like a screen recording or PSD—served as a clear warning sign. For those seeking authentic talent or AI-assisted workflows, such red flags should prompt immediate skepticism.

The image above contrasts a Midjourney or Stable Diffusion output with traditional hand-drawn work, illustrating how easily AI artifacts can be mistaken for skilled human labor. Scammers often rely on low-effort renders, counting on clients who lack the expertise to spot the differences. If high-quality assets are required, investing time in verified professionals—or developing a robust prompt library—is far more reliable than risking fraudulent shortcuts.