Deaf woman devastated after paying thousands to ‘scam’ modelling agency who promised ASOS work – The US Sun
A DEAF woman was scammed out of £2,000 after a dodgy modelling agency preyed on her dreams of becoming a role model for the deaf community.
Tayla, 26, was over the moon when her modelling application to the London-based agency was accepted and she was asked in for a test shoot.
But the young Londoner was left broken-hearted after forking out thousands for a portfolio of her modelling shots - only to never receive the work she had been promised.
Speaking to the Sun Online, Tayla said the management company had gushed over her photos, telling her she could get work with ASOS.
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And she said the compliments bolstered her hopes she could become an inspiration for other deaf people after being born deaf herself.
She said: "I'm heartbroken and I've lost my confidence.
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"They used my disability, saying I would be a great deaf model. They were trying to make me feel good about myself."
Tayla had first approached the modelling agency on Facebook in September last year and says she was contacted ten minutes later by a representative asking her in for a test shoot.
Heading into their London offices in September last year, the young woman posed in a string of outfits before she was told she was the perfect candidate for modelling work and earning thousands in a matter of weeks.
All she had to do was pay £1,975 for her portfolio and a manager who would promote her to fashion brands.
She was assured she would make back the payment in just a few weeks with work flooding in.
The second year fashion buying and management student said: "They told me 'this package will be great for you - you'll look great for ASOS'."
Warning signs of a possible scam
Model Management, a community of models working with the campaign #modelSAFETY to fight against scams within the industry, have issued key tips to aspiring models to help them avoid getting burned.
- You are told you need to pay a fee before they can secure you work - legitimate agencies will never ask you to pay upfront fees
- You are being promised huge fees, even though you are a newcomer - modelling work is often not lucrative early in a models' career
- You're told to pay then and there: "If you don’t act now, there won’t be another opportunity" - scam artists will often try and pressurise victims into paying fees
- They guarantee you will get work - unless it is a verified casting, no work is guaranteed
But as weeks went by, Tayla realised she was not getting any modelling work.
And despite trying to contact the company, she said they then challenged her claim she would immediately get work.
In an email back to Tayla, they wrote: "Can you please show us where you have been promised work so we can investigate further."
But the young woman claimed she had been misled with promises that she would earn the money back spent on a portfolio.
Now, the 26-year-old is desperately trying to get her money back, but the studio has gone silent.
She said: "I have always wanted to be a model and now my confidence is shot.
"They need to be held accountable."
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ASOS confirmed they had not worked with the London-based modelling agency.
The modelling agency denied they had made any promises to find Tayla work.
