Soho Art Dealer George Berges, whose eponymous gallery represents Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, believes he and his aides foiled a financial hack yesterday morning. Nonetheless, as the dealer explained in a phone conversation with Artnet News today, there are reasons to remain vigilant.
The hacking attempt was first reported by the New York Post, who said gallery employees feared financial transactions linked to Hunter Biden had been hacked after a customer alerted them to a fake invoice. The document requested payment to an account not controlled by the gallery.
A few days earlier, staff members had discovered that the gallery’s phone number had been “compromised” by a traced number in Turkey. Speaking to Artnet News, Bergès described this second detail as “an issue with a Turkish phone number attached to our phone number.” He said the gallery is still investigating the matter.
View of the “Hunter Biden: The Journey Home” installation at the Georges Bergès gallery.
“Everything is secure and nothing has been compromised,” Berges said. “We caught everything in time, but felt compelled to report it to the police.”
Photographs provided by Bergès show various NYPD officers at the gallery talking with the dealer. Bergès said he hoped the incident would merit investigation, even though it was “technically not a crime because we caught it.”
The gallery attracted A lot of attention-And meticulous examination— for his portrayal of Hunter Biden. He has curated two solo shows of Biden’s art and included his work in another group show.
Unsurprisingly, Bergès explained, the gallery has been “a target for a lot of people who aren’t looking to do good things, both nationally and internationally.” He stressed that he was “taking a lot of security measures, especially as we approach the election and the emotions are starting to rise”.
Hunter Biden (left) and Conner Wright during an art preview at SFA Advisory on December 7, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Udo Salters/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Bergès also confirmed to Artnet News that his gallery received a third letter from Kentucky Representative James Comer (R-Ky.), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, this week. Comer is investigate the Biden family related to charges of influence peddling.
The dealer explained that the letter asks him to “turn over documents and communications the gallery has had with the White House and with Hunter and identify who the buyers are.” [of Biden’s artworks are].”
He told Artnet News that he leaves the question of how to handle the issue to his lawyers.
“I want to comply as much as possible, as long as I take everyone’s interest into account,” Berges said. “I can’t just arbitrarily ignore everyone’s privacy and do whatever I want.”
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