Modeling Scam Watch

The money order/certified check scam still continues to be one of the most common scams targeting actors, models, singers and dancers on the Internet. A www.EliteCastingNetwork.com member recently posted an email to our entertainment forums and asked if we thought the email was a scam. Here is an excerpt:

"I have goods news, as I was reharsing with my other models for our performance at the "African Fashion Show" this one of our work (http://www.africa-ata.org/affas.htm) in Africa, I was informed by our client that part payment will be sent out payment in a U.S certified check to you tomorrow, unfortunately I won't be able to cash out the certified bank cheque as my bank is not familiar with US certified bank check and its not a accepted payment here at the avenue of this Show in Africa, since it's a US payment instrument, therefore the certified bank cheque of ( $4,000 ) will be send to you,when you receive the certified bank check , cash them at your bank deduct your part payment of $1,000 then i will advice you on what to do with the remaining money. Your balance of $500 will be payed in cash immediately after the shooting, I'm looking up online for a photographers studio for the shooting , I will let you know the name and address of the studio as soon as i get a perfect one."

No reputable modeling agency, organization or industry professional would send a model a check and then have them forward funds from that check to a third party. This is another example of a certified check/money order scam. Please be aware that if you take the risk of cashing the check (some are of such good quality, that they often fool bank personnel) you will be penalized by your bank once they discover that the check is fraudulent. In this case, you would owe your bank $4,000 and quite possibly additional transaction fees.

If you are the victim of a certified check scam, be sure to report it to the Federal Trade Commission as well as the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information on entertainment scams targeting models, actors, singers and dancers, be sure to log in each day to www.EliteCastingNetwork.com and review our Scam Watch and community forums.