How to spot warning signs and avoid being tricked

When Judy Corker, 79, from Manchester, saw a social media ad calling out former models, it seemed harmless enough and the idea of ​​dazzling and perhaps making some money was appealing.

“She said there was a lack of mature models, so I thought I’d fill out the form for fun” He tells BBC’s Morning Live.

But what Judy didn’t realize was that she had stepped into the latest version of a long-running scam.

For years, fake modeling agencies have been extorting cash from young people desperate for a leg up in the industry, charging hundreds for fake portfolios and jobs that never materialize.

With the fashion industry encouraging more diverse looks and embracing older models, scammers have found a new target: older people like Judy.

After completing the online form, Judy was invited to a photoshoot in Manchester and asked to pay £200 for five professional images to be shared with modeling agencies.

Shortly after, an agent called her to discuss a possible job with a cruise line, and Judy thought the investment was paying off.

“I told my husband that I had done a lot of traveling before he died, and they said I would be perfect,” says Judy.

He was told to secure the job he needed to visit a studio in London for another photo shoot.

“I felt so good walking down the street,” he admits. “I really enjoyed it.”

At the photo shoot Judy paid £300 for ten pictures and was later told that her pictures had made her the cruiser job and she would be paid £1,100.

“They sent me a contract and it all looked legit, so I signed it and was thrilled to bits.”

Excited to have a modeling job, 73-year-old Roland Parker works with the same client and studio as Judy, offering the same job, just three weeks apart.

“I’m not well and I thought this job might help me earn some money and make life more comfortable,” he says.

He paid £200 as a refundable joining fee, then paid more for other so-called gigs.

When he arrived at a Manchester studio for one of the shoots, staff said: “They didn’t know anything about it.”

By the time he realized he’d been scammed, he’d lost nearly £1,000 in wages and travel costs – money he’d sent using Paypal’s ‘Friends and Family’ option, which meant there was no buyer protection.

Scammers will often ask people to purchase through the “Friends and Family” option, which has no fee.

However, it is important to pay for all goods and services through PayPal’s “Goods and Services” option because if you have been scammed and PayPal will refund eligible transactions.

Judy eventually tracked down the real owner of the Manchester studio and told him that he had “got people coming here expecting a shoot with a cruise line but it was a large scale scam”.

He also paid the joining fee via PayPal but used the Goods and Services option which meant it was refunded. He also reported the company action fraud.

This new twist on a well-known scam is designed to “strap victims out of as much money as possible,” says Mike Andrews of National Trading Standards.

“Scammers are no longer happy to charge a few hundred pounds for fake photo shoots.” “They come back again and again with the promise of a lucrative contract.

To protect yourself from fraud:

• Never prepay. Andrew says no reputable business or agency will ask consumers to pay money upfront with the promise of lucrative employment

• Check who you are dealing with. Look up the company at corporate house, look for independent reviews and match contact details with people on official sites

• Use secure payment methods. Always use buyer-protected platforms and avoid bank transfers or non-refundable “friends and family” payments

• Pay attention to the print. Scammers often create a sense of urgency to move you quickly, while a genuine agency will never be in a rush to pay

• Ask someone you trust. Talk to friends or family before committing to anything as a fresh pair of eyes can detect warning signs

• Report. If you’re targeted, get in touch action fraud or processing standards as your report may help protect others