MODELING JOB SCAMS
11/08/07 MODELING JOB SCAM ALERT- We have received many complaints about so-called model jobs advertised on the radio, in print, and on television advertising model and acting jobs for commercials, music videos, department store fashion shows, television castings, and other nonsense. These ads claim that no experience is necessary, and we can tell you that we don't know of a single legitimate business that will book an amateur with no proven track record, regardless of who is pushing them. If someone claims that a major department store is going to book, or has booked, inexperienced models into a fashion show, then they need to provide proof! Call up major department stores and ask them if they have any upcoming fashion shows in the works and if they will book amateur models into them - these shows cost money to produce and no reputable professional is going to risk their production by working with models who cannot demonstrate a professional work history. We also have reason to believe that many of these businesses are operating as model and talent agencies without a license, which is against Florida law and is a felony! We have never seen a single one of these "offers" turn out to be legitimate, and what happens here is that the aspiring model is "selected" and then pitched overpriced model portfolio photography, modeling classes, low-quality comp cards, actor headshot photography, and low-quality and overpriced actor headshots. Many model and acting schools have also jumped on this scam bandwagon. AVOID THESE ADVERTISED MODEL JOB SCAMS AND DON'T BECOME A VICTIM OF A GROWING MODEL SCAM!
Consideration for ANY model job must be done at no charge for it to be legitimate. Once booked, there should be no charge for photography sessions and training required for the job, as those should be a part of the booked job. Jobs that have models marketing photography sessions and training seminars that models have to pay for as a consideration requirement are unprofessional, unethical, and quite simply a deceptive trade practice that should be avoided and reported.
This is by far the most popular scam that con artists use on models. The "job" go see sounds promising at first, until the model is accepted to the go see and attends. That's when the model's composite cards, portfolio photographs, and promotion tools are criticized, and the go see turns into a sales pitch for services that they would have to pay for. The "job" never materializes. In some cases, the model scam tries to pressure the model into buying their services with the promise that they will book the job afterwards or will be "strongly considered" for the job. Model job scams are low risk for the people who do it because they are hard to prove, and these scams are known as "deceptive trade practices" by the FTC. Also known as a bait and switch operation. While it is true that models need photographs and tools to get work, using deception to get a sale is wrong. Additionally, models who do not have portfolio photographs and tools have no business trying to attend go sees and book work. If you do have a portfolio put together and composite cards, by all means attempt to book work, but if anyone tried to tell you that your tools are no good, SEEK A SECOND OPINION FROM SOMEONE WITH NO MOTIVE TO MAKE MONEY BY SELLING YOU SERVICES. If your model portfolio and composite cards were really no good, you would have never been considered for the job to begin with, and the invitation to the go see would have been deceptive. While these used to be low risk, Independent Modeling has developed some interesting tools that change this.
Scams listed here
are not limited to models, and different types can be easily combined
for new types of scams. If you cannot CLARIFY their intentions and VERIFY
their references, go somewhere else to do business. It's professionally
responsible to do so and lowers your risk. There are lots of great companies
out there, like our advertisers and the companies in our resource sections,
who are not scams. You owe it to your career to shop around and be selective.
MORE ABOUT MODELING SCAM - COMBINATION MODELING SCAM!
Many modeling job scams advertising modeling jobs make their money by selling overpriced services to people who are aspiring models and who fall for their advertising. These companies are so-called model management companies, or modeling consultants who don't actually refer models to real modeling jobs and promise to refer and place them with modeling agencies. See also Tampa Modeling Consultation Scams, Tampa Modeling Agency Placement Scams, and Tampa Model Management Scams for more information.
MODEL SCAMS - SCAM TIPS - REPORT SCAM
UPDATED 06/24/08
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NOTICE 06/10/08: We obtained FloridaModelingCareer.Com on 06/07/08. Florida Modeling Career, once launched, will be the Florida regional version of our site, and will replace the empty links above. Independent Modeling is still on course to its re-launch, and will become the top national modeling resource site focusing on independent models and obtaining jobs without, or with, modeling agencies. Thanks you for your attention, and please be patient with us. A LOT is going on here.
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