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Warwickshire Trading Standards has recently begun to receive more complaints from young people about bogus photographic/modelling agencies. These businesses, who often advertise on social media, claim to be able to get their clients modelling jobs.
The agencies offer to create a portfolio of photographs for their clients in return for payments which can total several thousand pounds.
Young people are often drawn in by being offered a few photos for a low price, before being pressured in to signing a contract for a vastly more expensive portfolio.
However, having paid their money, clients have claimed that the modelling jobs never materialise and that they are simply fobbed off.
TOP TIPS
- Always do research into an agency before you reply to any communications. Look for a phone number, website, UK postal address and what other people have said about the agency online
- Alert your bank if there is any risk of money being taken out of your account
- Make sure you report any scam or bogus agency to Warwickshire Trading Standards (details below).
Warwickshire Trading Standards
- Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
- Avoid rogue traders. Use Warwickshire Trading Standards No Rogue Traders Here approved trader scheme.
