eModel.com Fraud Investigation Report

Jill Farmer of Fox 2 News, KTVI, in St. Louis, Missouri, investigated emodel and tried to set up an on-camera interview. But emodel “cancelled at the last minute.” Nevertheless, the featured report was broadcast on November 26, 2001.

Once again, emodel claimed they worked with a talent agency, in this case, Talent Plus. Sharon Tucci, the owner of the prestigious modeling agency, was asked whether or not they worked with emodel:

We do not. I don't even know who they are. They've never even picked up a phone to call me. They've never sent an e-mail to say we have somebody online that we'd like you to see.

A television station arranged an undercover investigation to check out emodel.com in April 2001. The Houston office of the Better Business Bureau says it participated:

In April of 2001, the Better Business Bureau attended eModel's open call for an undercover investigation. This investigation was done with a TV station that filmed the interview with a hidden camera. It was found that models are scouted in various places to attend the open call in order to learn more about the company eModel. eModel claims that 5,800 agencies use their Web site to scout talent. This information has not been substantiated. It was also discovered that some of the modeling agencies that eModel named as clients are, in fact, not using the Web site to scout talent.

There are many more public comments and complaints about emodel.com, including the following notes from one Better Business Bureau website:

The firm claims to make use of model scouts nationwide to identify models for their listings. The model scout program requires a payment of $395, that is reportedly refundable upon the enrollment of 10 models. In June, 2001, the firm advised the Bureau that it ceased charging scouts any payment or fee early this year. The Bureau has contacted the firm for further information about its operating practices and services, but no response to that contact has been received at the BBB.

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