emodel.com, Options Talent Group

Dear Modeling Scams,

I am embarrassed to say I am an ex-Options Talent scout. I am also angry.

The letters posted by other ex-scouts and those depicted in the various media reports are right on.

With the economy being in the state it is, job hunting isn't the most pleasant way to spend a day (as if it is when the economy is good).

As you might suspect, and have read many times before, I was ecstatic to come across an ad for a "dream job" on monster.com.

I attended the interview and shared much of the same skepticism illustrated by other contributors, but their marketing tactics are effective. I was sold.

I really thought that I was going to be doing good, offering people an opportunity they would otherwise not be exposed to. Quite the contrary, as I soon found out.

A friend of mine had recently got comp cards done. The photographer who shot and put them together is also a friend of mine. I stumbled across the comp cards at his studio and was very impressed, honestly.

So I gave him a call, and invited him to one of Options' open calls. I trully had the best of intentions.

Well, he signed up, and a week later he called me. His tone was not that of an upset person. He knows I just started there, and I believe he was just as scared for me as he was for himself.

He pointed me to this website. I think I've spent a collective two hours reading the dialogue and articles, etc.

It has been two weeks since I last scouted. Now, after having left my previous employer to pursue my "dream job," I am left feeling embarrassed, exploited, and unemployed.

I am a very charming person, and I did well as a scout. Well, in the sense of numbers, not in the sense of good. I could have stayed and made a buck. God knows I need it: Chicago isn't cheap and I have a wife with our first baby on the way.

But how do you sleep at night knowing these things? How do they sleep at night? I cannot change what was done. But I can affect was hasn't been... I hope this message will be of some use.

One piece of information I would also like to share is that Options Talent boasts about its supposed public trading status, that it is a publicly traded company. This seems to be their latest petty bourgeois marketing ploy.

Do you think that the Chicago Tribune would be interested in a story on this? I plan on contacting them tomorrow. It would be fun to do a little undercover operation. They need to go down.

N.K.

The Chicago Tribune could be interested. Other newspapers have already published articles about emodel.

But you should first contact monster.com and file an official complaint. If you believe Options Talent is bogus, and you saw the ad on their website, monster.com has a responsibility to maintain the integrity of their service.

1-800-MONSTER

At least two people have already called this number, and the more former scouts who call them, the sooner they will be banned.

Explain the company used to be called emodel, but they are still using the same m.o. Apparently emodel was already banned from using monster.com, although they continued to use the service, using different names.

Also tell them the Better Business Bureau has asked Options Talent Group to substantiate their claims of salary for the so-called "Dream Job," but they had/have not received a response.

You could also ask monster.com if they have received any proof of the Dream Job claims.

Please identify to them if Options Talent Group scouts are paid commissions, not salaries. That could be the definitive point which determines whether or not Options Talent Group qualifies to post job ads on Monster.com. (It may be why emodel was banned.)

It is ironic the monster.com info provided for Options Talent Group says what they want from employees ("independent contractors"?):

"To fulfill our mission and achieve our goals every Options employee must adhere to the highest standards in ethics and commitment to our customers. Towards that end we pledge to: Maintain Honesty in all aspect [sic]. Exceed our customers' expectations. Charge a fair price."

http://company.monster.com/models/

Editor, Modeling Scams.com

Related: emodel.com, Options Talent Scouts