Under Investigation: The inside story of the Florida Attorney General’s investigation of Wilhelmina Scouting Network, the largest model and talent scam in America.

ISBN-0968713335 Paperback 512 pages $29.95

Modeling Agency News

"Lauren Ashly" Modeling Agency Ordered to Curtail Operations

"A court order was entered this morning in Polk County prohibiting the Lauren Ashly Agency, Inc. of Urbandale from soliciting any more customers for its purported business of discovering, marketing, promoting or managing models. Attorney General Tom Miller filed a consumer fraud lawsuit alleging the business held itself out as a modeling agency that discovers models and manages their careers in return for a 5% to 20% share of what the models are paid by others who hire them. In reality, the suit said, Lauren Ashly Agency has received over $100,000 from selling thousand-dollar photo packages to customers, but has done little or no effective marketing for the would-be models. The suit said approximately 120 customers were charged about $1050 each for photo-shoots and "composite" photo cards (which cost the agency about $240), while the agency's revenue from its share of actual modeling assignments was under $50."¹

"Each of these operations exploited the career dreams of would-be models in order to sell high-priced photo packages," Miller said. "The Lauren Ashly Agency's efforts to market the models were almost non-existent, and the vast majority of the 'models' on their roster never got a single paying assignment." The Lauren Ashly Agency and its predecessors advertised "open calls" inviting people with modeling aspirations to attend. Persons "selected" then were pitched the thousand-dollar photo package as an important tool for lining up modeling assignments."²

"Hronik admitted under oath that there was no truth to the claims. Gross revenues in nine months for La Belle Revé were between $200,000 and $300,000, but the amount attributable to earnings of its models was less than $1,000. Hronik also admitted the "Lauren Ashly" name was chosen because it sounded good - Laura Ashley was a famous designer whose name still is associated with a line of clothing and other merchandise."³

1. " 'Lauren Ashly' Modeling Agency Ordered to Curtail Operations," Iowa Attorney General, Oct. 22, 2003.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.

http://www.state.ia.us/latest_news/releases/oct_2003/Lauren_Ashly.html

(Lauren Ashly Agency, La Belle Revé, Richard D. Hronik, Model Select International)

Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Modeling Agency

"Iowa's top prosecutor is taking an Urbandale modeling agency to court."¹

"The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Polk County, claims the agency violated state consumer fraud laws. A judge ordered the agency to stop soliciting customers and to either return photos to customers or provide a refund. The suit said about 120 customers were charged about $1,050 each for photo shoots, but then the agency did little or no marketing for the would-be models."²

1. "Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Modeling Agency," KCCI-8 Iowa, Oct. 22, 2003.
2. Ibid.

http://www.theiowachannel.com/money/2573859/detail.html

(Lauren Ashly Agency)

Modeling scam reports draw attention in Charlotte

"Charlotte managed to generate more modeling complaints than New York and Chicago combined, mainly because local agencies Face National and Model Select International recruited models nationwide."¹

"Consumer complaints center on an industry staple called composite cards--postcard-size resumes that usually include four photos used by models to get work."²

"Model Select, which closed last year, was ordered by a state court in January to issue refunds and pay a $25,000 fine.^"3

1. "Modeling scam reports draw attention in Charlotte," Associated Press, Apr. 17, 2003.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.

http://www.charleston.net/stories/041703/sta_17model.shtml

(Face National Models and Talent, Model Select International)

Casting Call Concern

"In the car one day, Shelley and her mom heard an ad on the radio about an agency in town looking for models... she says the offer was free and anybody could attend the sessions. Her mom thought it might be a good idea, because 14-year-old Shelley has always wanted to be in modeling. She and her mom joined dozens of potential models at one of the sessions, sponsored by Face National Models and Talent of Charlotte. Lo and behold, Shelley was invited back... her mom was impressed with the company and its presentation... until "they dropped the bomb about the pictures." Seems every potential model has to have 72 high fashion composite pictures taken... if you already have them, your contract is free... If NOT, the company can take those 72 photos for a price of 600 dollars... Ms. Brand says the company representatives "didn't even want me to come sign the contract without making a commitment with the photographer." When Ms. Brand and Shelley got home, they started checking and found out she could get the same photos for LESS than a hundred dollars."¹

"Faces National Model & Talent Agent Anthony Giambrune told me those concerns were addressed in a recent corporate meeting and he said he was told those problems had been corrected... Company spokesperson Lori Rooks says most of the complaints involve models who could not live up to their end of the contract, and that "we answer every complaint that comes into the agency."²

"... call somebody in the photography modeling business, like we did, a local photographer who does that kind of work, and ask them what's required."³

1. Calvin Sneed, "Casting Call Concern," Call Calvin, News Channel 9, WTVC, May 10, 2002.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.

http://www.newschannel9.com/vnews/print/consumer-callcalvin/1021072280

(Face National Models and Talent)

How to Avoid Modeling Agency Scams

"Chattanooga seems to be a popular place for modeling agencies to just show up out of a clear blue sky, come up to just anybody, and promise the lure of modeling jobs for lots of money... Be careful... many companies promise much, but deliver nothing."¹

"To prevent modeling scams, the Better Business Bureau says, do not be pressured into signing a contract right away... "Be able to take the contract home with you," says bureau president Jim Winsett, "and that way, you could review it very carefully."²

"The BBB says it's now the 11th most-popular inquiry into the bureau."³

1. Calvin Sneed, "How to Avoid Modeling Agency Scams," Call Calvin, News Channel 9, WTVC, Feb. 6, 2004.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.

http://www.newschannel9.com/vnews/print/consumer-callcalvin/1076104465

(Modeling scams)