Look Out for Modeling Scams
Could you really be a model or actor ? Or maybe it ’ s your kids that have the right look ? If a talent scout says you ’ ve got a future in the business , you might be flattered . Then , be skeptical . You could be the target of a modeling scam .
How Modeling Scams Work
Someone stops you at the mall and says you could be a model . People have always said you ’ re good looking , and the idea of a glamorous career is hard to resist .
But when you show up for a follow-up appointment , you find yourself in an office with other hopefuls . Once you finally get your turn , you find out that what you thought was a job interview with a modeling or talent agency is really a high-pressure sales pitch for modeling or acting classes , screen tests , or photo shoots that can range in price from several hundred to several thousand dollars .
Here are some signs you might be dealing with a scam :
You have to use a specific photographer . To break into the business , you need professional photos . But you should be able to choose your own photographer . An agency that requires you to use their photographers likely is a scam .
You have to pay a fee to them to serve as your agent before they ’ ll do any work on your behalf . Modeling and talent agencies get work for experienced models and actors . Some agents require that you sign up exclusively with them , while others allow you to also register with other agencies in town . Either way , legitimate agencies don ’ t charge you an up-front fee to serve as your agent . They get paid when you get paid .
Modeling agencies aren ’ t the same as modeling and acting schools . These schools claim to provide instruction — for a fee — in poise , posture , diction , skin care , make-up application , the proper walk , and more . But after you take their classes , you may be on your own , despite their promises that attending modeling school will ensure you make it as a model .
You ’ re told the opportunity could disappear if you don ’ t act now . You need time to check out a company before you give them any money or personal information . If an offer is good today , it should be good tomorrow .
They guarantee a refund . They may say your deposit is totally refundable . It ’ s more likely that your deposit would be refundable only if you meet very strict refund conditions . Or , you might be told that talent experts will evaluate your chances at success in the field , accept only a few people into the program , and give refunds to anyone not selected . What they don ’ t tell you is that the program takes virtually everyone .
They only accept payment in cash or by money order . It ’ s a sure sign that they ’ re more interested in your money than your career .
They talk about big salaries . Even for successful models , work can be irregular .
They guarantee you ’ ll get work . No modeling or acting job is ever guaranteed . And depending on where you live , the market for those types of jobs may be very small .
Could Your Child Be a Star ? Think your baby or child is model material ? Fake talent scouts want you to , and will gladly set up a photo shoot or classes to help you get modeling or acting jobs for your tyke . What they don ’ t tell you is that the market for child models and actors is very small . And because a child ’ s looks change quickly , legitimate agents , advertising agencies , casting directors , and producers generally ask for casual snapshots , not professional photos .
What about the casting calls you hear about on the radio , looking for the next child star ? While they may be real in that one or two kids in the country are “ discovered ,” the agencies holding the calls often use them as a way to get parents to enroll their kids in expensive acting classes .
What to Do Still not sure if an offer is honest ? Take the time to check the company out before you give them any money or personal information .
Check its reputation online . Try searching for the company ’ s name with words like “ scam ,” “ rip-off ,” or “ complaint .”
Ask if the company or school is licensed or bonded , if that ’ s required by your state . Verify this information with your local consumer protection agency or your state Attorney General . Make sure the license is current .
Get references . Specifically :
• Ask for the names , addresses , and phone numbers of models and actors who have gotten work — recently — based on the company ’ s training . In some cases , companies have put up pictures on the walls of successful models they didn ’ t actually represent .
• If an agency says it has placed models and actors in specific jobs , contact the companies to verify that they ’ ve hired models and actors from the agency . Get everything in writing . That includes spoken promises or assurances . Keep copies of all important papers . Documents like your contract and company literature should be kept in a safe place .
46 NM CliQ Magazine | June 2016