There are many people within the modelling industry, out to take advantage of new beginners with little experience and information of the scams, cons and industry itself.

The most common scam is photography and photographers; the best hint is that if it sounds too good to be true it more than likely is. Use this guide to prepare and arm yourself when needed.

After many complaints, detailed research has lead to the conclusion that there are many photography companies that are specifically targeting hopefuls and those new to the business; they are charging ludicrously excessive photography fees around £1000 to £1500 for beginner photographers. This should not be paid.

As a new hopeful model; the best idea to build up your portfolio is to use a new photographers. They will also be looking to build there photography portfolio and therefore a TFCD/TFP agreement can be made. Working with different photographers will also increase your experience and be more impressive to potential clients.

TFCD/TFP is an agreement in which the photographs are not paid for; instead the model receives a copy of the images on print or CD and the photographer gain more images to add to his/her portfolio.

It also seems that photography companies are offering credit; many of them are not actually licensed to offer finance, therefore making it illegal. To check, call Consumer Credit on 08454 04 05 06.

Written by Lisa Overton

Detectives in Los Angeles are searching for Keith Nicholas, a 22-year-old man suspected in at least four sexual battery assaults against young women while posing as a Vibe Magazine photographer.

"Keith Nichols is not a photographer," says Captain Blake Chow, commanding officer of Central Police Station.

"All young women, especially those riding local trains, need to know Nichols is a fraud and potentially dangerous."

Since early October, four women have reported meeting Nichols and submitting to a personal examination by him to "measure" their most intimate body parts for "custom-fitted underwear."

Police say Nichols told each woman that if their measurements were good enough, they could get a modeling job for Vibe Magazine. The measuring sessions often occurred spontaneously in secluded, public places, where Nichols used a measuring tape as a prop.

While none of the woman recalled him taking photographs, Nichols did touch the women's bare breasts and groins with his hands.

"These crimes amount only to a misdemeanor at this point," Chow added, "but the potential for a more serious crime is there. We don't know how many women Nichols has approached, how many have submitted, or if he has committed more serious crimes. Our goal today is to educate, warn, and stop this activity before it becomes more aggravated."

In two separate cases, police say Nichols met his victims on the light-rail line between Long Beach and Los Angeles. Each of these women referred a roommate to Nichols.

All the women hoped to score a modeling job, according to detectives.

Each realized she had been duped when Nichols never returned phone calls.

"The lure of Hollywood and a big career in modeling blinded these girls from reality," Chow said. "That's what con-artists rely on."

Police say Keith Nichols may be working as a security guard. He has lived in Compton, Hawthorne and South Los Angeles. He is 5'11 and weighs 140 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD Central Division detectives at (213) 972-1235. Callers can also phone the 24-hour number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247). During off-hours, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247). Callers may also text "Crimes" with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web tips. When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with "LAPD." Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Hello, My name is james webster I emailed you as regards your post i saw on (petitemode).I work with a newly open modeling and talents company in NY Named 'Models And Talents Shoots Inc'.I was really thrilled when i saw those wonderful shoots of
yours,I quite appreciate your looks and would like to work with you on a small contract.We havea $6,500 pay modeling job (Assignment) for you to take picture with some of our client Fashion Outfit, Our client wants to update there Catalog with our new year release Fashion outfits and We are interested in you for the shooting, We are model and photographer agent by profession And we are new in the society, we are located in Wooden Haven NY 11421 and i should have given you our web site but its still under construction for now and i promise as soon as it is done i will let you know. Find all details for the job below...

JOB LOCATION The shooting will hold at a rented photographer's studio in model location, so you don't have to worry about traveling, the name and address of the studio will be forwarded to you before the date of the shooting, all make up will be taken cared of in the studio. You can come along with any body of your choice on the day of the shooting just for you to feel more comfortable.But not more than four people invite by the model that we will take care of. 

JOB DETAILS: You have a lot of different Fashion outfits to cover, which would be provided by our client on the day of the shooting.

TIME DURATION Thiswill take up to Two days The total money pay for the jobs is $7,500 and you get $500 as your advance payment and balance of $7.000 will be paid after the complication of the project.

EXPECTATIONS Please get in touch with us if you will take the job and we can go from there, just let me know if you will take the job and I will give you extra details. Make sure you get back to me ASAP.And if interested you will have to give us your details to contact you with your
payment via check and for further info.

      INFO NEEDED
      1.Your full name:......
      2..Contact address,.......
      3.City,....
      4State
      5.Zip Code .......
      5..Home contact telephone number or Cellphone number...
      6.Your age.
     
      Contact me via private email only if interested with your details....

This is not a real job offer, no semi-professional models are paid $7k per shoot with no knowledge of how good they are. This email was sent to six of our members on various model social sites.

Go Models, setup February 2009;

They look for victims on the Internet through sites such as Facebook...

They invite you to see them at 50 Featherstone Street London EC1Y 8RT, phone number 020 725 3824

Then comes the hard sell!!!

Before you know it they have got you to sign up a standing order for £172.50 per month for ten months, making a total of £1,725.00. This is to prove the applicant was really genuine and wanted this opportunity. They claimed the cost covers photos, PR, fees and putting you on their webpage.

What they don't tell, but is in the contract you sign, is a clause stating - you have to find your own work!

If you want to cancel the contract, even just a couple of hours later, they tell you that you cannot. They tell you that they will take legal action against you to recover 50% or100%...

You have a legal right to cancel the contract within 7 days, but the agency claims you have no such rights...

Read More;

• http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2009/07/go-models-becomes-go-managemen.html
• http://www.gm.tv/videos/gmtv-highlights/36298-model-scams.html
• http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2009/07/headline-false-promises-by-wan.html
• http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/06/24/beware-facebook-model-vultures-86908-21467012/

After a recent look into many modelling websites offering advice; it has come to our attention that there is a ‘new wave’ of scams. It seems as though the scam artists are now trying to pass themselves off as independent and unprejudiced advice websites.

A large amount of research has allowed us to conclude that many websites offering advice for ‘free’ are also running their own photography, printing, portfolio or training school businesses; they are therefore suggesting these companies clearly being biased and charging ridiculous rates.

One of these free advice websites we have looked into offer assessment days; for a £50 deposit these day includes a ‘free shoot’. However, after the shoot a packages ranging from £700- £1500 were offered; to conclude without purchasing a package, the free shots were not received. These companies also use quite strong sales tactics to ensure you buy some of their photos.

Also, it seems as though these companies are also offering credit; after researching many of these companies are not licensed under the consumer credit licensing act; therefore it is illegal for them to do so. To check, please call 08454 04 05 06 and reach Consumer Direct.

These companies are clearly taking advantage of those of you which are new to the industry, a few hints to help you along your way:

A website offering advice to models should be impartial; make sure that you trust the company, better still see that they are offering a wide variety of different photographers and agencies as proof that they are not biased. (Our website is full of help, advice and warnings as well as many others.).  A Tell tale sign of a model advice scam, is a website advertising ‘related services’ as part of their advice!

Advice should be free, if it isn’t certainly do not pay; keep researching advice for models until you come across free this should be plentiful.

Many of these model advice websites are offering a photography service, this is clearly not legit and would be something we would advise you not to accept. As a beginner model the best idea is to work with a new photographer on TFCD/TFP and gain experience working with photographers (the good, bad and ugly).

Written by Lisa Overton

http://www.dieselmodels.co.uk/  David McDonald and Tracie Rowleys Laurence Smith

Diesel Models; yet another photo studio offering portfolios using excessively strong sales tactics – firstly offering you a free shoot (and saying they can get you work!), then they will try and sell you the 10-prints for £600-£800….if you try and back out at this point they will try and offer you just the photos on CD for £150!

What Pure Space Studios Ltd, trading as Diesel Models don't tell you, is that 'The Blue Rooms' the photographers they pass you on to, is owned by the same people!

The organisation often preys on younger people and parents desperate to get their children into the industry.

Their claim to be “one of the most well-known and respected agencies of it's kind in England” is not only unfounded but completely untrue. The evidence above suggests that Diesel is merely a cover for a photography studio – using the well know brand of Diesel as a cover.

The Institute of Modeling has received literally hundreds of complaints about the Chris Garner who goes by the name of Jon Henson, this individual is operating the following agencies;

Zebra Connections        London    
Zebra Management       London
The Light Rooms          London    
Fusion                         Manchester

We have been unable to contact Chris Garner and the firms do not reply to our letters, emails or telephone messages.  We can however, provide the comments we have received (for you to draw your own judgement);


I was approached and photographed on Market Street in the city centre a few weeks ago, and have been contacted and pressured into having professional photos taken. When I mentioned I could not afford these costs, the woman went to talk to her 'director' who was apparently so keen on 'my look' that she said they were willing to pay the studio/photographer/hair/makeup/stylist fees, but i had to pay for the photographs, being taken by Fusion Studios in the Northern Quarter in Manchester, after taking a £150 deposit, and taking a 'paid invoice' to the studio with me to my appointment the very next day, the photographs were to cost me between £300 and £900, which i could apparently pay off within 1 to 3 months.
#1


Justyna promise me that there was loads of work out there - she even sent me the job opportunities email - working for T-mobile for the day would get me £600 and Kudos catalogue work. She also said she had just spoken to 'her manager' and I was told they would pay for everything - all I had to pay was £100 copyright fee. I am unemployed and said that this is all I could afford. Anyway, I get to the 'light studios' only to be told the cheapest deal is £600 - I had visions of getting loads of work through them so I put it on the credit card thinking I would get the money back through work they would get me.  I received no work and I can’t repay the money for the shot.
#2


Credit Agreement by 99% of these agencies are illegal and non-enforceable.  If the person offering you credit does not have a consumer credit license then there is a good chance you won’t have to repay them, checkout http://www2.crw.gov.uk/pr/Default.aspx


Legal:   This article is a warning about the actions of the mentioned persons and businesses and is in no way proof of wrong doing.  The  comments above are the true experiences of people and should be used as a guideline.  If you would like to add any further experience in reference to the mention, please email complaints@theiom.org