Another model, the same scam. How can you protect yourself and your child?
A scam targeting young aspiring models on the West Rand recently came to the News’ attention and one name keeps coming up – Elizabeth du Preez.
Another aspiring model has come forward, telling about her experience with Du Preez. The circumstances all are the same.
Du Preez allegedly contacts models via Facebook, scouting them as potential models for her company, which name changes every time. Then they start talking over WhatsApp and are required to pay a registration fee of about R500 – these amounts change with every case as well. After the models have paid the fee, or even if they were not able to at that moment, Du Preez starts requesting nude photographs of the models.
“If you don’t want to send it to her, she gets defensive and eventually breaks all contact with you,” said Aletta (who does not want to disclose her full name to protect her daughters’ identities), a mother of two models who had fallen for the scam.
It has not been determined whether this is the scamster’s real name or simply a pseudonym, however, she has managed to scam young models and their parents out of thousands of rands.
A case of child pornography has been opened at the Krugersdorp Police by a very concerned mother of a four-year-old girl who also has fallen for the scam.
The News has reported Elizabeth du Preez’s profile to the Facebook administrators, since she uses the platform to contact young aspiring models.
Unfortunately, the administrators could find no technical reason to remove her profile from the social network.
Sergeant Tshepiso Mashale, police spokesperson, told the News that two cases involving Du Preez are under investigation, but no arrests have been made yet.
While the investigations are under way, modelmanagementsa.co.za provides some tips to spot a modelling scam:
• An agency that charges aspiring model registration fees to join the agency, usually are scams. Many of these companies generally don’t have clients, so they won’t be getting any work for those who pay to join them.
• Reputable modelling agents never contact you through online platforms such Facebook.
• No professional modelling agency will promise you big success. There are no guarantees you will be successful in the fashion industry. One day something is in style and the next it is something else.
• If you are offered big sums of money for photo shoots, be cautions.
“These scams are run by individuals who have little or no connection with the legitimate modelling industry. As a general rule, the more they promise, the less you’ll receive.”
If you are unsure if an agency is reputable, call Modelling South Africa on 011 391 8165. They will be able to advise you accordingly.
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• Girl (4) asked to flirt with camera in model scam
