I’d say be thankful this was just the first time it’s happened in many years, things inevitably happen & the more you interact with others, the more you open yourself to such unexpected outcomes.
As it stands, I think I’ve lost over $400usd to artists that just NOPE’D out.
Best advice I can give is stick with the artists you know you can trust & only work with artists that seem actively doing art.
Kindness is always the right avenue to pursue when working with others, just remember to look out for yourself. ^_~