23 Year Old Graphic Designer (Croatia, Eastern Europe) SCAMMED

I am a graphic designer who used to work for Arthur Hawk (ReplicaPress / TravelerPress) from December 2007 until October 2008. I live in Croatia, Eastern Europe and am studying German and Russian languages and literature. I am 23 years old.

It has been almost a year now and Mr. Hawk still has not paid me $4,500 in commissions and salaries. When I worked for him, I worked around 14 hours a day, seven days a week, had to be available on web messengers (voice chat) all the time and communicate with clients via email and sometimes video chat. I worked that much because I did receive a few salaries in the beginning (even though I found out clients have been paying too much for design services, with designers receiving only 10 or 15 percent of the whole amount). The workload compromised my health, so I needed several months to recover.

I have been contacting Mr. Hawk every few weeks over the last five months. He always says he will send the money "over the next two weeks, via Western Union", and that he barely has enough money to survive. Nine days ago he replied on Yahoo messenger, I am pasting his message here: arthur hawk (4/2/2009 7:19:07 PM): Still alive here..trying to close a license deal for CR mag and Bali mag..both for $50,000 to us. Clients wanted to wait to see the numbers for Panama mag for March. Delicate negotiaions, but very close. If successful will drop by your place very soon. Operating on zero cash basis at this moment. arthur hawk (4/2/2009 7:19:34 PM).

I need to continue my studies this September, and the amount I am owed and worked for very hard would save me; it would also cover all my living expenses during the autumn/winter semester! My intention was not to tell anyone about Mr. Hawk owing me that much money, hoping he will pay me over the period of 12 months. I worked very hard for that money. I also wanted the truth to be heard.