Next time your friend tells you someone is a scammer, maybe you should try believing it.
On your samples from now on you should put a watermark over them, a big watermark. huge. It still gives the client a good look at your work, but it renders the sample useless for them to steal. Once they pay, you remove the watermark and upload it for them or send it to them etc.
A little precaution in business is smart, not paranoid, especially with sharks like this stodgehill guy around.
And your work is tight.
