I'm very new to modeling and this seems too good to be true but because I was excited, I sent them my mailing address and phone number but I did not give any bank account information or a social security card number. I only answered the questions below. They said they were sending me a check but now they won't respond to any more of my emails. If I do get a check, should I just rip it up?
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 a honor to capture your beauty, poise, elegance, and sensuality. NewFaces Magazine/photography Inc; is an Online Portfolios mainly for Models and Actors. Our specialty are red carpet, commercials, catalog, promotion, 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 easy 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; April 18th and April 19th, 2015 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 five (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: BELOW is the sign up info:
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Name on the check:-
Residence Address: -
City:-
State/Zip code:-
Mobile#:-
Age:-
Sex:-
Stage name:
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Do not hesitate to ask any question if any concerning the detail above. I hope to hear back from you as soon as possible, and we are looking forward to work with you on this project. Thanks for your anticipation.

Warmest Regards,
Eric
NewFaces photography/magazine Inc.
214-307-5594

Yes, a probable scam.

Sounded somewhat reasonable up until the -
"Compensation: Paid ($190.00/hr.), a duration for five (5) hours shoot/gig plus free lunch and models will receive copies of photo shoot via Dropbox or on CD."
- line.

Rate is high but not totally out of line for a commercial shoot  BUT  this would be an agency rate for an experienced model
Also --   commercial models generally DO NOT  "receive copies of photo shoot via Dropbox or on CD."  --  Images become  property of the client - the photographer is not really in a position to give out copies.


It gets "scamier" past that


Google   ---->    Advance Payment Fraud


There are many variations but they are similar in how they work.
see
http://www.military.com/money/personal- … scams.html

see
http://checkwhocalled.com/phone-number/1-214-307-5594

http://54.200.245.127/1-214-307-5594               (see recent comments)

Decades-old Nigerian Scam

Nobody legit will give advance payment! Check is fake! Any payment you pass on will be lost!!
Don't answer them in the 1st place! Don't pass on other contact info!
You may now be on other scam lists so expect more, & don't reply! Don't trust unsolicited outside emails! Don't reply!

SCAMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!  Cash their check and then send the money to a third part.  It never stops....sigh.

Hello Kiristy,

Welcome to MM.

Glad to see you were wise enough to spot this pathetic SCAM and not get drawn into it. Well done!

I wish I'd seen this post earlier. They just scammed me.

According to your profile you have "no experience".  No one is going to pay $190/hr to a model with no experience.  If someone is willing to pay that much money they will get models from an agency or hire a seasoned professional.  They will not pick someone with no experience from Model Mayhem.  As the old saying goes "if it seems to good to be true it isn't".  As others have mentioned, no one is going to offer to pay you advance unless it's a scam.

I too received a message out of the blue from a Marc Doll claiming to be with "New Faces Magazine' who wanted to hire me as a photographer.  I was very skeptical when he mentioned the same story about sending a cashiers check to reserve a studio for them, and then paying them back the difference.  I have heard of this cashiers check scam before.  All models and photographers should be aware of this message that seems to be going around about New Faces Magazine.

Bryan

Yep : facepalm :