📸 Skai Chan Photography

Scam Alert for Photography & Modelling in Singapore

We do not live in a perfect society. People are more than willing to con others for money or other selfish gains. On this page, I would list all the kinds of common scams regardless of the severity. Do not be surprised that some "models" have their ways to get better photos.

Audition with handjob A model was offered $3000-4500 for an erotic shoot. "They" proposed two auditions for her. The first audition was to get to know the male model and "share body parts" with each other, as well as video calling. The second audition was to meet up with the male model in a car and she was supposed to measure his dick and offer a handjob to let him jerk it off so that they can measure the amount of load. Although the photography would be erotic, "no sex would be involved". "They" also warned her that if she didn't get chosen, she would end up with nothing.

My thoughts: This is obviously a scam, if not, just a guy seeking free services. No photoshoot would require the models to share body parts before the shoot, as models are supposed to be professional. Having to measure the length of the dick and the amount of load is just nothing but an excuse for the "male model" to get free "enjoyment".

If the model were to take up the job, she's likely going to be filmed and the videos would be sold or distributed online for free, depending on the intention of the scammer. Although "they" claimed no sex would be involved, she would eventually be forced or pressured into it during the photoshoot. Eventually, she's likely going to be "rejected" and thus won't be paid for anything.
Measuring body for custom-made lingerie Targets: Models

"Looking for females who are interested in a newly launch women's Magazine Photoshoot. Details: Age Range 18 - 35 years old. Interested parties kindly PM me for more details thank you! (Selected candidates will be informed.)"

This person, by the name of Kelly Sim, has been posting similar model casting in various Facebook groups. Some people have claimed that "she" has been doing it for years.

One day, a model friend of mine "Girl" contacted me for advice after having online casting with Kelly. She did a print screen of the entire conversation and I was very sure Kelly was a scammer, a pervert who was trying to take advantage of models, at least by obtaining their compromising photographs and videos.

Girl was given three options to choose and she chose to do a lingerie shoot because the payout was highest and she would be put on the magazine cover (good for exposure, or perhaps, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity). Kelly requested questionnaires with sensitive questions like when Girl lost her virginity. As the revealing of sensitive personal information made Girl feel more used to it, Kelly requested for Skype chat.

Kelly claimed that "she" was located in Europe and had a (high) technology that could measure anyone's figure accurately via video chat like Skype. Kelly wanted to measure Girl's body to custom-make the lingerie set for her. Kelly's webcam somehow wasn't working and thus Girl wasn't able to see or hear her.

Kelly started with the request for Girl to wear her sexy outfit, then a bikini and then lingerie. Kelly hinted at Girl to change in front of the camera, which was rejected. Kelly then made Girl do very suggestive poses, such as pushing her breasts together. Luckily, they had to somehow end the session before Kelly tried to make Girl remove her bra "for more accurate measuring".

My conclusion from the chat is that Kelly is likely a guy in disguise. He seems to be more experienced than the other scammers and he's able to make the entire process look natural. I'm very sure the entire video chat is recorded by the scammer. The video can be sold online and I'm sure many guys would be interested to see the video.
Talent scout scouts you on the street Targets: Models

You are spotted by a so-called talent scout on the street, telling you how pretty you are and how much potential you have in modelling. He gives you a name card and asks you to go to his modelling agency for an interview. During the interview, you are told that you need a modelling portfolio to begin and you are asked to take up a photoshoot package that costs thousands of bucks.

There are many modelling agencies in the market. Most modelling agencies are depending on selling such photoshoot packages to survive. How many clients and jobs do you think the agencies have for every model who has signed up with them?
Hidden fee for casting Targets: Models

It is normal for models to go for casting before being confirmed for any job. Of course, the models should consider the extra time spent on the casting to see if the work is worthwhile since they may be paid only for the actual working hours. Unethical agents may not only employ the delay payment tactic after the jobs are done but also charge hidden fees for the "casting". One excuse is to tell the models that the photos taken during the casting are being used for making their comp cards so that they can be given the job. For any fee, the agents should tell the models even before the casting and that both parties should agree to it before proceeding.
Fake portfolio to schedule a shoot Targets: Models

It is common sense for models to ask to see the portfolio of the photographer to roughly gauge the photographer before agreeing to do the private shoot. Some "photographers" know their work is rubbish (they "shoot" just to see sexy models) and thus they will resort to using other photographers' work.
Fake/misleading portfolio to draw admiration Targets: Models & others

Some "photographers" have limited skills and have to resort to misleading others to gain fame. They would download other photographers' work that does not have watermark (copyright) embedded and upload it to their social media profiles, such as Facebook's cover album. Without giving credit, it directly makes visitors think that the photos are taken by scammers. Even when people start commenting to ask if the photos are taken by them, they do not reply.
Cheat models' private photos Targets: Models

Some cheap scammers do not want to pay models for sexy shoots. Therefore, they resort to cheating. They would bluff the models to send them private photos to decide whether they would "engage" the models or not. Some of them would also ask new models to take photos of themselves in lingerie (for lingerie shoots) or even nude (for nude shoots). Eventually, after getting the photos, the scammers would not do the shoot.
Private sexy shoot for private use Targets: Models

There are many "photographers" seeking models to do private sexy shoots, which they claim are solely for their collections. These people can even use an iPhone camera to do the "shoot". Many young models are tempted due to the easy money, which is at least a few hundred bucks. They think the "photographers" will keep their promises by signing a model release form with additional clauses to not send the photos to anyone.

However, naive models never expect their sexy photos can be sold online for thousand of bucks per customer. Many "kind" souls will share the photos for free and thus the supposed-to-be private photos are practically released to the entire world wide web. Eventually, when the models start confronting the "photographers", they are told that the harddisks are being hacked. Nothing can be done to the scammers.
Private parts to be covered by PhotoShop Targets: Models

Some models are being told by photographers to do art shoot that involves nude, however, the private parts will be covered with a line across the photo using software like Photoshop.
Normal shoot to sexy shoot Targets: Models

A "photographer" may suggest a normal theme to get a model to agree to do a photoshoot with him. However, on the day itself, he tries to get the model to do a sleazy shoot like taking off her bra. A new and young model may not be able to handle it and thus accept the unreasonable demands as she thinks it is bad to not "cooperate" with the photographer for a paid shoot.

There are also incidents where the "photographer" brings the model to a remote place alone and insists it is a sexy shoot and starts touching the model all over by force to create the "feel". The model is also told that there are more people around for the shoot.
Getting into the mood Targets: Models

(click photo to view in full size)

One way to produce a good photo is when the model is doing things naturally. Therefore, some "photographers" will request the models to caress themselves when they are doing sexy shoots. Some "photographers" will even offer to help the models. Eventually, the models cannot control their sexual desire and allow the "photographers" to have their way.
Pose the model Targets: Models

Often, it is very difficult to direct the models using words and even live demonstrations. Some photographers want to save the hassle by physically adjusting the poses of the models. Some "photographers" use this as an excuse to touch their models. While fulfilling their desire, it is also a tactic to arouse the models.
Drag payment Targets: Photographers, models, makeup artists & others

Some companies and even institutes are practising the drag payment method to exhaust the victims from claiming their fees for a commercial shoot. The easiest move is to get the victims to wait. Some, however, have various "standard operating procedures" to make the victims submit document after document with intervals of weeks in between. Despite the initial discussion and promises of "smooth delivery" of payment, the victims have no choice but to suck their thumbs. Hence, if the amount of payment is small, it may not even be worth the trouble to follow up to chase after the payment.
Sexy shoot to normal fashion shoot Targets: Photographers

Most established photographers are doing TFCD photoshoots selectively due to their tight schedules and that they already have enough good portfolios to showcase to their clients. Therefore, they would only work with models who are outstanding in looks or can benefit their portfolios somehow.

Therefore, some less outstanding "models" who like their work would try to approach them and offer them to collaborate on sexy shoots, such as bikini shoots. Eventually, they would give excuses like their menses have arrived or that they need to exercise more to get their abs out first and try to change the sexy shoot into a normal fashion shoot, which will only benefit themselves and not the photographers. Eventually, after wasting so much time on the discussion, the photographers may proceed as to not waste the effort or they do not want to appear as the "bad person" who cancels shoots.
Under-declaration of vital statuses Targets: Photographers & wardrobe sponsors

While the three measurements are a good way to determine the size of the model, it is even more crucial for wardrobe. Some models with bigger body sizes are worried that they would be rejected and thus they under-declare their sizes. Eventually, during the sizing or even actual shooting day, they cannot fit into the prepared clothes that are somehow already altered to their given measurements.
Over-declaration of "status" Targets: Photographers & wardrobe sponsors

Many modelling agencies have a few different groups of talents, such as "models" and "talents". Models are, of course, those who are ready to do modelling and will be recommended for commercial projects. Talents are people of any age or look and may fit into different roles in any project, including filming.

Some people manage to get into the "talent" group of some established modelling agencies and self-declare that they are "models" under the agencies. It will raise their statuses since they are being "qualified" by the agencies.
Ideas theft Targets: Photographers

Photographers can be known for their skill in lighting, creativeness or/and retouching/post-processing. Ideas are so important that they can draw admiration from even people who do not know how to appreciate the quality of photos. Hence, some people may resort to stealing ideas from those creative photographers. An easy way for models to get around it is to seek to collaborate with the photographer and ask him to suggest special themes.
Pro bono (free) work for public Targets: Photographers, makeup artists & others

For certain events, whether they are charity events or competitions, the organisers may engage event companies or even individuals to handle them. The person in charge is likely to be given a sum of money from the organisers. To earn more from the balance of funds, the person may resort to asking for volunteers and claiming that it is purely a non-profit event for the good of whoever. Hello? If you are earning money, what makes you think your team members should earn nothing although the event is for the good of others? Resorting to lie to all the kind souls about you not making any cent out of this event to seek their free services is disgusting.
Your top photographer's replacement Targets: Clients

Some clients specifically go to a photographer because they like the photographer's work. Eventually, the photographer happens to take up another job on the same shooting day. To accomplish it, he does not split himself into two but outsources it to another photographer, who may or not be his staff. Instead of telling the clients frankly immediately, he leaves it to the actual day or the day before to broadcast it to the client whom he chooses to "abandon". Even though he or his retoucher would be doing both post-processing work for both clients to create the same usual "feel", it is very unethical since the shooting style is unique for every photographer. The "abandoned" client could have approached another photographer if he/she were to know that the chosen top photographer will not be doing the actual shoot.
Refilling branded cosmetic products' containers Targets: Clients & models

Cosmetic product attributes a lot to the cost of doing makeup. The prices of good cosmetic products can be a few times higher than normal ones. This is why some makeup artists can quote a lower price to clients - they do not use the top products. What unethical makeup artists may do is use the containers of branded products and "refill" them with low-quality products. Regardless of the source and quality of the products, "refilling" may cause contamination. Eventually, using the final product may cause allergic problems to the model and also wreck her skin.
Fake job: transfer the payment to another team member Targets: Photographers, models, makeup artists & others

This is an old scam, which started around the year 2009 or earlier. The scammer will either post an online casting for the talents or farm their email addresses directly from photography networking websites, such as ModelMayhem, and offers the "job". He will claim that he is from an established company although he has no link to it.

Some of the victims have tried to bank in the cheques after receiving them and thus got into trouble with the bank because the cheques are fake. No prankster is so playful as to do a big-scale scam like this, which requires time and money (creating and printing fake cheques and paying the postage fee), just to fool so many people.

Just as people wonder why would any scammer go to such an extent to play pranks on less suspicious people, there is actually a catch. There are very kind-hearted and honest people in this world. They will immediately wire the balance of the money from the cheque to the "third party", whether is a stylist, photographer or model. It may take some days for the bank to check and determine whether the cheque is a fake one. By this time, the victims have already wired the balance of the money to the scammer.

This is a warning from the real Hello Magazine.

Hello,

We are happy to inform you that you are one of the few make-up artist chosen out of the screening exercise performed for us by modelmayhem, you have got the physical Requirement we need for our Magazine update (www.hellomagazine.com) Febuary - March issue, We here by decided as a committee to offer you this pay Fashion job, I will be very happy if you could send me more pictures. My client wants to update her Catalog with her New Release Fashion outfits . So if you are interested you can get back to me. The shoot will hold at a rented photographers studio very close to your location, the shoot will be 2hrs daily, we would be responsible for your transport and feeding throughout the photoshoot, the invitation letter would be mailed to you, all make up will be taken care of in the studio. You have the opportunity to bring along an Escort which we would handle the expenses along with your own just for you to feel comfortable throughout the shoot.

JOB DETAILS:

You have 5 different Fashion outfits to cover, which would be provided by our wardrobe stylist on the day of the shooting and the shoot is just for 2 days and you will be paid $1,280 for the whole project, the Job is Urgent so you are to get back to us as soon as possible so that we can arrange on how to get you the part payment. You would be paid the initial payment of $500 to guarantee your participation in the shoot, as part of our working policy and ethics of our company, we give part payment to any client before we proceed with any job and balance immediately after the work. As I told you earlier this project is very urgent we will be taking care of your payment, accommodation and other expenses. The part payment would be mailed directly to you along side with your makeup stuffs allowance for the shoot, Location,time and date will be made known to you soon,this is to ensure that we pick a convenient time and place for the shoot NOTE: As soon as you get the payment, you will deduct $500 and wire the remaining balance to the wardrobe stylist. The wardrobe stylist will contact you as soon as she receives all your information from us, if you are interested kindly get back to us with your details as follows:

MAKE-UP ARTIST INFORMATION
1. Name on check:
_____________________________
2. Complete Mailing Address:
_____________________________
3. Cities:
_____________________________
4. State:
_____________________________
5. Zip Code:
_____________________________
6. Phone#:
_____________________________

OTHER NAMES:
List any stage or professional names, maiden name, aliases, or any Other name you have ever used.
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

I hereby represent and warrant that the above information is true and correct. The names listed above include my present name and every name that I have ever used including my maiden name, alias, nickname, professional or stage name. Kindly know that PO Box not applicable .
Thanks

Tips / Conclusion:

There are, of course, some ways to tell if a job offer is real or fake.

Poor grammar Official job casting/email usually does not have poor grammar all over the content.
No personalised message These scammers usually play number games and thus are not able to even address the victim by name. For example, they would greet "Hi" instead of "Hi Skai". They are just using their templates to mass-send to all potential victims. Imagine 1% of the potential victims fall for the trick and you can guess how much money the scammer can make.
Different location from you Why would someone from another country contact you for a shoot? Did he mention paying for your air ticket as well?
Trying to pay you before the job is done Which client would pay you before the job is done when both of you have not even met? I have only experienced clients delaying payment.
Using free email addresses such as Yahoo and Gmail instead of email with the company's domain name If someone is representing a company to send you an email, the email address should be from that company's domain name and not any free email like Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook... etc. For example, if the person claims to be john from Hello Magazine, he should be using an email address like john@hellomagazine.com.

You may be interested in:
- Scammers impersonating Skai Chan
- Experience of photoshooting with nude models
- Top modelling mistakes that models make

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