Fake Model Scout: 9 Signs and What to Do

What does a fake model scout want from you?

This guide is for models and creators, new or established, who have been stopped in the street, invited to an event or messaged by someone who says they are a scout. Real scouts exist, and our guide on how real model scouts work shows what they do. A fake one wants something from you, and it is almost always one of four things.

• Your money. They sell photo shoots, “test shoots”, classes or a “portfolio”, or ask for a fee to “secure your spot”. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the government body that handles consumer fraud, says real agencies don’t charge for these things and that they get paid when you get paid.
• Your sign-up to a paid event, contest or open call. The pitch is a chance to be seen. The event is where the selling happens.
• Your personal details. Your ID, home address or bank details, collected before anything is offered in writing.
• Your accounts. A password, a verification code, or a link that asks you to sign in. With these, someone else can take over your account.

The story changes, but the order doesn’t: you give something first and the opportunity comes later. It is the wrong way round.

What are the signs of a fake model scout?

One odd detail can be a clumsy real person. These nine are the ones to watch for. Any one of numbers 1, 8 and 9 is enough to stop the conversation.

1. They ask you to pay. A shoot, a class, a “portfolio” or a fee to hold your place, all with a price. Reply: “I don’t pay to be considered, thanks.”
2. They say you must use their photographer or studio. The FTC says an agency shouldn’t make this a condition. Reply: “I’ll choose my own photographer if I need one.”
3. They invite you to an event, contest or open call you never signed up for. It has a sign-up fee, or turns into a sales talk for shoots or classes. Do this: ask for the details in writing and check them first.
4. They promise work, fame or a sure result. Nobody honest can promise that, so treat it as a reason to walk away. Reply: “I’ll wait for a written offer.”
5. They rush you. “Today only”, or “we’ll give your spot to someone else”. An honest offer will still be there tomorrow. Reply: “I’ll answer after I’ve read everything.”
6. They contact you first, with flattery and big names. The message says you have “the look” and drops famous names, which anyone can do. Do this: click nothing and search the name first.
7. They can’t be checked. No full name, no company name, no website, or only a personal number. Reply: “Please send your full name and the company’s name. I’ll contact the company myself.”
8. They want your personal details early. ID, address or bank details before any written offer. Reply: “I’ll share those once I have a contract to read.”
9. They ask for a password, a code or a sign-in link. Meta, which owns Instagram, says to never share login details with someone who asks. Do this: stop replying, block them and report the account.

What do fake scouts say, and what does it really mean?

Fake scouts reuse a handful of lines, because the lines work on people who are in a hurry or flattered. Here are the ones you are most likely to hear, and what usually sits behind them.

What should I say to a fake model scout?

Keep it short, polite and final. You don’t owe a stranger an explanation, and you don’t have to prove they’re fake. The rule is the same everywhere: never sign, pay or hand over details on the spot.

In person, at an event, a mall or in the street:

• Say: “Thanks, I’m not interested right now. Could I have your card?” A real scout has a name and a company to give you. Check both later.
• Don’t fill in a form, give your number or sign anything there and then.
• If you do agree to meet, choose a public place, bring a friend and tell someone where you are. Don’t go to a private address.
• If they push, walk away. Someone offering a real chance takes no for an answer.

Online, by message or text:

• You can say nothing at all, or send one line: “No thanks. I don’t pay for photos, classes or events.” If they keep messaging after that, block them.
• Don’t click links or open files, even if they look official.
• Take screenshots, then block the account and report it with the app’s report button.
• Our guide to Instagram scout messages goes through how to check one.

How can I check a scout before I reply?

Do these on your own, before you answer. None of them needs the scout’s help.

1. Search the name. Type the person’s name and the company’s name into a search box with the words “scam”, “review” and “complaint”.
2. Find the company’s own website and contact it there. Don’t use the number or link in the message. Ask whether this person works for it. The FTC says scammers pose as organizations you know, so a real name proves nothing alone.
3. Ask for references. Ask to speak to models who work with the agency now, and find them yourself through their own public accounts.
4. Ask for everything in writing, including anything promised out loud.

If the company is real but the person is not on its list, you have your answer. Our guide on how to spot a fake modeling agency covers the company side.

What if I can’t tell whether a scout is fake?

Slow it down. Say you’ll reply once you have read the details, and ask for them in writing. A real scout is fine with that. A fake one often gets pushier, or goes quiet.

Show the message to a friend or family member before you act. A second pair of eyes often spots what you missed. If a decision is needed today, the answer today is no.

What if I already paid or shared my details?

Stop sending anything, and don’t blame yourself. These approaches are built to look real. The last part of our guide on how to know if a models agency is legit has the full steps. Here is the short version.

1. Keep the evidence. Messages, the account name, receipts and any website address. Take screenshots before you block anyone, because a blocked chat can be hard to find again.
2. If you paid, contact your bank, card company or payment app right away and ask for the payment to be reversed. The FTC says to act fast, because scammers often use payment methods that are hard to recover.
3. If you shared a login or a code, change that password now, and anywhere you reused it, then turn on two-factor sign-in. If you are locked out, use the app’s account recovery.
4. If you shared your ID or bank details, tell your bank and ask what to watch for.
5. Report it. In the US, report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. In other countries, use your country’s consumer protection or fraud reporting service. Also report the account in the app.

Be careful with anyone who later offers to get your money back for a fee. That is another payment you can avoid.

Keep reading

• Are Model Scouts Legit? How Real Scouting Works
• Instagram Model Scout DMs: Real or Scam?
• How to Spot a Fake Modeling Agency: Real vs Fake
• Modeling Agency Scams: 7 Common Schemes to Avoid
• How to Know If a Models Agency Is Legit