Worried about getting scammed in the modeling industry? Below are tips on how to avoid being scammed!
One of the great things about the modeling industry is that you never know how or when you’re going to get an exciting or almost “too good to be true” opportunity.
However, on the downside, there’s unfortunately lots of people who like to prey on hopeful and excited new and aspiring models that are wanting to reach their goals and dreams. And with the power of the internet and social media, we’re seeing more and more scammers.
As a business owner and model with online businesses, I can give you tips that will help you avoid scams!
This post is all about how to avoid scams in the modeling industry.
Avoid Scams
Photographers
When it comes to photographers there are a few ways you might get scammed to beware of…
Someone pretending to be a photographer on Instagram. Sometimes a scammer will steal photos from models and/or photographers and pretend the photos are their own.
They might ask you to pay in full or give a deposit before the shoot. It is somewhat normal to be asked to place a small deposit before a shoot however I have NEVER heard of a photographer asking for the entire amount in full before a shoot in all of my 12+ years modeling.
Also beware of photographers that might not give you your photos after a shoot.
Another way fake photographers are finding victims is through Facebook groups. It’s super common these days to be in a facebook group with other creatives such has photographers, models, hair/make up who want to work and collab so thats why its important to vet the person out.
How to Avoid the Scam
- Click on the models tagged on the photos, if there’s no model tagged, it’s usually a scammer. 99% photographers will tag the models they posted!!!
- Look for a professional website
- If there is a model tagged, go to the models page and see if they have posted the same photo and see if they tagged the same photographer and/or if they follow that photographer. Most models follow the photographers they work with.
- Go the extra step and feel free to DM or message models they’ve worked with and ask them how they liked their experience with so and so. Sometimes models respond, sometimes they don’t depending on how busy their social media may be so this can be a hit or miss, but I still think it’s worth the effort if you’re spooked!
- Get a contract with your photographer outlining the details of the photoshoot that you’re hiring them for and what the expected deliverables are. For example, get in writing that you are doing a 4 hour shoot, 3 looks, 12 edits for $550 or whatever your agreement is.
- Pay on Paypal or Zelle or Cash App so you can make a note of what the payment was for and use their business version that way you can report fraud or scamming and *possibly* get your money back if it is a scam
“Modeling Agencies”
Something I am seeing A LOT lately and also inspired this post is people creating Instagrams pretending to be an already established modeling agency or even just an agency in general.
They repost the agency’s models and pictures without tags usually and sometimes even follow the real models from that agency in hopes it will make them look more credible.
A lot of these fake agencies are sending virtual forms for aspiring models to fill out and asking for things such as their social security number and banking or payment information to commit fraud and/or steal money.
This has personally happened to BOTH of my modeling agencies this year and multiple times. And sometimes it can take months to get a page taken down and sometimes they never get taken down so be a detective!! Below is a real life example…
How to Avoid the Scam
- Look for an official website with an phone number AND address
- Look at the roster of models on their website, find the model(s) on social media and see if they have the agency tagged in their bio. A lot of models nowadays are being required to tag their agency in their bios so there’s a good chance you’ll find the real agency via a models page
- DM or message other models and ask them if this is the same social media or email as their agency
- PLEASE know a modeling agency will NEVER ask you for your social security number or money to be considered. The only time you would ever provide that level of information is when you book a job after you’ve been signed and signed a legally binding contract, but even then, you would still never pay your agency out of pocket.
“Brand” Emails
This personally almost happened to me and if I can almost be tricked SO CAN YOU!
A lot of scammers are creating fake emails and email addresses for brands and reaching out to models and influencers. They may pretend they are going to give you free clothing, a paid partnership, and/or other brand perks but then after a couple emails they start asking for more personal information like banking info to get money from you.
Below is an email I got from scammers pretending to be Yitty. Luckily, I have the real information for Yitty so I knew better, but below are tips on how you can spot a fake email/email address like this…
How To Avoid
- Message the brand directly (last resort comment on one of their posts) and provide for them the email you were contacted by so they can confirm or deny if it was them and/or take action about the situation
- Look for spelling errors in the email or email address
- Sometimes will discuss payment in the first email which is odd and unusual
- Emails that are very exaggerated and long are usually scams. Most brands will keep it semi short when reaching out to first see if you’re even interested in working with them
- Look at their email, sometimes the email seems super legit like the email above which can be hard , but sometimes the scammers are using emails that you can tell are fake. For example, becky@eloquiisocialmediaopportunities.com or cindy@fashiontofigureprdepartment.com. Most brand emails will be just the person and @ the brand name. Usually brand managers tend to add links such as socials to the company or themselves in their signature so you can see their face and know who you’re talking to
- Message other influencers that have worked for the brand if they have the same contact information. For example, if “Torrid” reaches out to you, go to Torrids Instagram, find a model/influencer they recently tagged and DM/message them saying “Hey so and so, I have an email from Torrid, but I think it may be a scam. I saw you worked with them before and was wondering if you know if Tammy at torrid@torridlovesyou.com is a valid email for their models and influencers?”
Painters
This is a relatively newer scam, but lately “painters” are reaching out to models and influencers via DM’s to ask if they can paint the models portrait in exchange for giving the model cash for their time and likeness.
They will even take photos from other painters and create a whole profile so it looks legit and looks like they do it for a living.
How To Avoid
- This ones simple, simply do not reply or give out any of your information
- If you’re looking for a real portrait painter/artist, look for their tagged photos to see who’s hired or worked with them as well as look for a professional website or ask friends for a referral
This post was all about how to avoid scammers!!
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