Hello Everyone,
Evelyn here,
Below is the latest Consumer's alert from Attorney General Bill Mc Collum, which is directed toward modeling scams that lured young adults and teens with false claims of training and modeling positions after completions. Many people who are scammed have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars by investing into these scams with little of no results and in some cases having the businesses in charge disappearing with their money.
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McCollum Cautions Parents of Modeling Scams
Attorney General Bill McCollum today cautioned parents about
model and talent search agencies which promise children fame and
fortune but may disguise significant fees often associated with the
offers. The Attorney General’s consumer advisory was issued in
anticipation of an upcoming event advertised in the Tallahassee Area.
"Offers like these are a classic example of something that
is too good to be true," Attorney General McCollum said. "I urge
parents to thoroughly research the prospective talent agencies before
signing any contracts. A bit of effort ahead of time can often safeguard
against disappointment and loss of resources in the long run."
Talent agencies often tempt individuals with the promise of meeting
film directors, producers, model agents, and ad agencies at various "free"
events. Unfortunately, many parents find that nothing happens at the"free
evaluation" because the actual evaluation, which is attended by casting
agents and other talent scouts, takes place in a different location,
frequently out of state. Those events come with a heavy access fees in
addition to lodging, transportation, and other additional costs.
Attorney General McCollum offered the following tips to consider
before signing up with a talent agent or agency:
- Research a company's background and compare it with other talent
scouting agencies before signing contracts or paying required fees.
- Never pay large fees required up-front. Fraudulent companies will
often charge a significant fee to place photographs on a website.
- Be aware that most legitimate agencies do not advertise in
newspapers, solicit through the mail, or "scout" for talent in malls
and other public places.
- Make sure to get any agreement in writing.
Consumers who believe they may be victims of fraud may contact the
Attorney General’s fraud hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226) or
file a complaint online at http://myfloridalegal.com.
Thank you.
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Evelyn Out.
