Dear MMer,
   We acknowledge your interest and application for the commercial product shoot ad via ModelMayhem. We are extremely confident about the results of our collaborative efforts as it would be an honor to capture your beauty, poise, elegance, and sensuality. LifeTime Photography Inc; is a professional photographer, and freelance personnel from the Richardson, TX. Our specialty are red carpet, commercials, promotion, and editorial/magazine and fashion photography. We make remarkable and compelling images calmly and quickly whether in the studio or on location with our crew and our resourceful approach to photography is complimented by patient, and our detail oriented personality. Experienced at working in every camera format, whether digital or film, we're skilled, capable and inventive, without needing to rely on heavy retouching or a single stylized look. We can be easily as effective behind the camera shooting with natural light and has worked in some leading publication, promotion and entertainment shows. And here we are again, calling for an upcoming commercial products ad shoot to market Hand Bags, Purses, Wallets and Gift items nationwide for end users.

The Shoot Is For What? This is a Catalog Photo Shoot assignment to showcase or features different brands of Hand Bags, Purses, Wallets and Gift items. It intends featuring a large collection of new products from various sources and manufacturers; to be displayed in an online Classified ad, Pamphlets, Billboards, Hand bills and Calendars. Our obligation in respect to this piece of project is to generate some marketable images to feature these items, where a model will pose with the various products and sizes to exhibiting a photographic character/language able to attract and call consumer's attention. It is very simple and works the same as any typical promotional or commercial photo shoot. The end product from the photo shoot is an online classified ad, Pamphlets, Billboards and Calendars that would convince the public to make these collection a choice among others.

Event Date Notice:  you're to check your availability and choose the best date feasible for you between; December 6th and December 7th, 2014 which is the idea shoot date scheduled for your State. Please note that any day you pick cannot be changed later on except the changes is made a week before the shoot.
Location/Venue of event: the event is taking place in your state; we're making a new arrangement for a suitable Studio/arena within your City for the event and you'll receive the location detail and driving direction as soon as the venue is confirmed. My crew and I will tour your locality for the shoot so you need not to travel far from your base.
Compensation: Paid ($190.00/hr.), a duration for Six (5) hours shoot/gig plus free lunch and models will receive copies of photo shoot via Dropbox or on CD.

* * Time of Event: 10:00 A.M - 3:00 P.M
* * Nudity: No
* * No level of experience is required.

N.B - We'll be responsible for your hair do, lunch and transportation, except for your wardrobe/costume that will be shipped to you directly from a contracted Designer in charge. If you are selected you'll be paid $190/hour of which advanced deposit of $450 shall be mailed upfront to you to insure your engagement on the upcoming project with us in line with our business ethics. Your wardrobe bills will not be from your personal pocket, in view of this; you will not only receive a certified paycheck of $450 but also an extra amount that you will use to pay for your wardrobe bills which you will forward to the Designer in charge of your Wardrobe after cashing the check along with your measurements. The payment for your wardrobe and clothing measurements has to be forwarded to the designer by you, reason being that, the payment for your wardrobe has to be made or billed to your Name/info as requested and acceptable business terms by the Designer, to ensure a tallied customization and label to be printed on your costumes. Therefore, you must have an active Bank Account to deposit the check you'll be receiving, all you need to do is to go to your Bank and deposit the check yourself to your account to take care of your wardrobe/costume bills and upfront payment. I hope this is clear?

Models may attend the shoot with their choice of escort (maximum of two) and should not arrive location later than 9:30 a.m. to commence make-ups and attend a brief introductory class about the proposed project and shoot starts by 10:15 a.m. You will be given a Model Release Form to fill at the Venue just before the shoot commence. This shoot is going to be fun as different acting characters maybe involved, which is the real sense of this project. Take the courage to participate in this paid and legit opportunity as we look forward working with you soon dear.

Final Note: we recommend that you read the content above over again for proper understanding and do not hesitate to ask questions (if any). Models are selected based on their portfolio on MM and their agreement to the content of this gig and readiness to work with us. Below are the required Payment and Sign-up detail you are to forward to us for filling and, to mail you the aforementioned Paycheck for your Upfront and Wardrobe bills:
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Name on the check:-
Residence Address: -
City:-
State/Zip code:-
Mobile#:-
Age:-
Sex:-
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Do not hesitate to ask any question if any concerning the detail above. I hope to hear from you as soon as possible and we look forward to working with you on this project next weekend. Thanks for your anticipation.

Warmest Regards,

Martin Green
Lifetime Photography Inc.
+1 (832) 378-9246
http://www.lifetimephotographyny.com

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I CANNOT believe I ignored all of the red flags here. I guess I was really excited about it and was optimistic because of another legitimate offer I was working on at the same time. I was messaged by a now disabled "LexiG" on MM saying to email a "Martin Green" at Martingreen08@outlookcom (Already a suspicious email -_____-)

I received this email and was communicating with this so called Martin Green. When I came back from break I received a check for $2,775 that was shipped overnight and was apparently for my wardrobe bills. I am extremely embarrassed that I overlooked so many warning signs.

I opened up an email to Martin asking me how I was, why I haven't gotten back to him, and that the check needed to be deposited asap. I deposited the check like an idiot and he was emailing instructions about using moneygram. Also, every time I tried to ask questions or discuss about the photo shoot, the conversation was always redirected to what to do with the money. There was even an email where he said "what details are you looking forward to?"
Uhhhhh....the details I was promised about the photo shoot!?


"Do you have any money gram location close to you? The wardrobes payment is required to be sent via money gram. Money gram transfer service is available at both walmart/Cvs.
Therefore, you need to proceed to any nearest walmart/Cvs with the cash of $2,300 to complete the transfer process. Below is the designer info for the payment:


NOTE: You need to filled two different transfer forms with the same Robert Williams info on them because you can't send money above $2,000 at a go.

Amount to be sent: $1,150
Sending fee: $23

Receiver's Name: Robert Williams
City: Colony
State: Texas
Zip code: 75056

Amount to be sent: $1100
Sending fee: $23

Receiver's Name: Robert Williams
City: Colony
State: Texas
Zip code: 75056

And get back to me with the transfer reference number for the two transactions. We are looking forward to work with you!

Martin"

It's insane that I even got this far in the scam. I'm so disappointed in myself because I specifically remember reading a lot about modeling scams and turning down multiple of them. I have NO clue why I fell to this one.

I received text messages from Martin. (I did not have his number it wasn't the one at the end of the email) It was a different 832 area number. He didn't even introduce himself...he said "Hello how are you" I said who is this?

He kept saying that it is advised that I do the moneygram transcation in person and that I needed to cash the check. What on earth!? I refused to cash out $1,000+ so I said I was doing it online he said fine.

The first moneygram transaction process and said to call moneygram to verify the payment. I explained the situation where they asked me questions such as have you met with them before? Worked with them before? They denied the transaction and no money was spent.

Stuck on what to do I checked the packaging from the check and it was sent from "GDB Inc." Which seemed to be an inactive paint company when I called.

Martin began sending very rude and pushy texts such as "I can't believe this is taking an eternity" "Hello???" "What is going on there"

I blocked his number and called my bank to inform them the check will probably be fake and what to do. I thought it was all over and I just would ignore it.

The next morning Martin emailed me yet again saying "You think you can play us? You can't run away with our money!" I read this realizing that they have my address. I called 911 and I am waiting for them as I type this....GDB answered and confirmed that the check if fake and that they have no contact with so called Martin Green. I received a text message and multiple calls from a different number saying "You are in trouble!" I am assuming they are trying to harass and scare me into sending the money. Moneygram saved my life all the people around me looked out for me and were cautious of my safety and I wasn't. New models...Please please please do not ever respond to emails that do not come from a legitimate company email address. Seems like common sense but I learned from this experience and hope this helps someone out there!

Be safe out there!

I am glad you finally spotted it as a fake before it went to far.

IF they call you back with more harassing or yelling about "where is their money'?
Calmly tell them that they can come and get their check at the local FBI Headquarters where you dropped it off. Tell them that the FBI said they are waiting for them to  come and pick the check up there in person.
Do some homework and look up a local FBI headquarter so you can give the scammers their address, so it sound more real!

My suggestion (if you haven't already done so--I must admit I just scanned the post) would be for you to immediately contact your local police department and local postmaster as well as your local FBI office.  Since the mails were used that makes it a federal crime, I believe.

And if any part of this comes from an apparent member of MM, please also alert the moderators (https://www.modelmayhem.com/contactamod)

Dana:  Check with your bank about this.  Make sure you aren't going to incur any fees for the check bouncing.

On the plus side, If this hadn't happened, I wouldn't have seen your port!  We should shoot this winter.

Good luck.

As far as scammers go, this guy really must be an amateur because he left too many traces that  (if real) could be used to track him down. 

Normally the fake check scam works because money can be wired through Western Union or Moneygram and not be traceable.  The phone calls and text messages are probably being done through one of those prepaid cell phones, but those can be tracked down fairly easily,

The photography company that the guy claims to work with (Lifetime) is probably innocent of any wrong doing.  The scammer most likely is just using their name to make people think he's affiliated with them.

One extra precaution. ALWAYS check the area code from these kind of solicitations, as many scammers will use an area code in the Caribbean that's hooked up to a private phone service that can charge whatever they want for a phone call... so if they can't sucker a person into wiring a few thousand bucks, they can make a few hundred by having the person call them.

http://www.ic3.gov/media/2014/140213.aspx

Thank you for all the replies, the police have been contacted and detectives will be getting back to me soon. The GDB company is also on the case and requesting all the information I can give them because they told me they had been receiving multiple calls about fake checks under their name.

I will most likely have to pay a processing fee for the bad check maybe around $5. I don't care at this point, better than losing over $1,000+

I just got one too!! But after I got excited, I googled the phone number and found this!! Thanks for posting!!

Even before you get to the part about them sending you advances, the intro pitch is sooo overly wordy. This is a red flag from the get-go. I see this all the time in a Classifieds ad board that I run in the internet. Scammers try to misdirect your thinking with flowery, profuse language. And then they want to make YOU feel guilty if you question their integrity. These people can go to hell as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway Dana, you came around. You have a nice portfolio. Best of luck to you.

I got the same scam and email yesterday! I would not be surprised if it was the same person because I went back to their profile to report them, and the profile was already taken down.

Same (very) old Nigerian Scam
Yawn!

Times like this, I hope Karma is on her period and in a REALLY bad mood to go mess those guys lives up!

The lack of English fluency in the e-mail is also typical of thes foreign-origin scams. Big tip-off.

Executive summary:

Dana Luo wrote:
but also an extra amount that you will use to pay for your wardrobe bills which you will forward to the Designer in charge of your Wardrobe after cashing the check along with your measurements.

MM has already kicked the scammer off of the site.

Dana Luo wrote:
I was messaged by a now disabled "LexiG" on MM

Dear OP...now how did this scammer send you a physical Check? Please let us all know, how did the scammer know your real address? Inquiring Minds want to know this process? Tells how your own greed kicked in!

Big freaking Yawn...