emodel.com, Options Talent Group

Dear Modeling Scams,

I was recently scouted, and I was given an appointment by a Talent Search by the name of Options Talent.

I went through the evaluations, and I had a phone interview, and I was asked to pay a fee of $595.00 to have a profile and headshot on their website.

They claim that they do not make any profit off what I make. I was told that the fee was non-refundable, that they did not guarantee work, and I have 30 days to drop out.

Their procedure is to create a profile for their models so that well-known agencies that they work with will be able to check my profile, and see if I'm qualified to work with them.

I did end up paying, thinking it would be legitimate, and I was told that I would have to pay an extra fee of $20/month to keep and upgrade my profile on the web site.

I was told to send my pictures to them so they can add it to my profile. After I paid the fee, I checked to see if my profile was up in the website, which it was, except for my pictures, which I have not sent yet; I was told to send my pictures within a week.

So far it seems to be legitimate, but I was wondering, why do they charge so much money to put my pictures up on their web site?

In their website they state that the agencies they work with were very well known such as Ford, Karins, and Wilhelmina. I called these agencies and found out that they never heard of this company.

I am very curious about this company, because I don't want to see $600 go down the drain. I am a 20-year-old college student, and I really have no money to lose.

I felt that I had the opportunity to pursue my modeling career. I am very serious about becoming a model. If it so happens that it turns out to be a scam, how can I take action and get my money back?

If you know anything about them, or if you have been alerted by another consumer of anything negative about this company, please let me know as soon as possible.

It would really be a big help for me if you can give me any information about this company, and how I can take action.

Thank you,

Potential Model

Modeling Scams.com received a complaint about Options Talent/emodel.com yesterday from a woman who wanted to be part of a class-action lawsuit against Options Talent/emodel.com. She said she was going to speak to an attorney.

Modeling Scams.com has indeed received more complaints about Options Talent/emodel.com than any other modeling/scouting business.

You can read the letters here:

Options Talent used to be called emodel.com. emodel.com has been investigated. The report is long and detailed:

There were newspapers and TV stations which investigated emodel.com. The links to the reports are here.

A summary of the complaints which people make about Options Talent/emodel.com are here.

The recent change in their name from emodel.com to Options Talent and more information about their background is here.

Your experience is similar to what others have reported. You did the right thing to call and ask the big agencies if they are affiliated with Options Talent.

You asked about getting your money back. It might not be possible. You said something about 30 days: "I have 30 days to drop out." Does that mean you get your money back if you drop out within 30 days?

If you are serious about a modeling career, you need to be aggressive. Putting a picture in an album is not aggressive, it's passive.

Try a local modeling agency. It is much more affordable for students. Often there is no cost. You just go to an open call or send a polaroid. Call and ask for information.

You could even call back the big agencies to which you already spoke, and ask them how they would like you to send pictures to them.

Don't use an expensive middleman that offers no money-back guarantee!

Why do they ask for so much money? Maybe because they want to make as much money as possible. The cost of putting a few pictures on a website and hosting them for a year is nowhere near $595. Why do they charge $20 a month even if you get no work and don't change or update your picture album?

Ask them for a full list of every model they have got a modeling career. Not a modeling job, but a modeling career. Ask them for proof of every model they scouted who has already earned more through modeling than they paid for putting a picture in the Options Talent "Family Photo Album."

"What they're doing isn't right. They're telling people who have no chance of being models to put their pictures up. I guarantee you, the money those people are paying is more than most of them will ever make in their lifetime modeling." -- Bill Ford, Ford Models, est. 1946

Editor, Modeling Scams.com