How to spot a modelling scam
For models · 3 November 2026 · 2 min read
Most people who approach new models are genuine. Some are not. Scams in modelling tend to follow the same few patterns, and once you know them they are easy to spot.
Warning signs
- Money up front. A request to pay a registration fee, buy a course or book a costly photoshoot before you are represented.
- Their photographer only. Being told you must shoot your portfolio with one particular photographer, at your expense.
- Pressure. Offers that expire today, contracts you must sign on the spot, or discouragement from showing anything to your family.
- Vague details. No clear company name, no address, no list of clients and no models you can look up.
- Messages from strangers. Social media accounts offering work that sounds too good, especially if they move the chat to a private app quickly.
- Requests for revealing photos. No legitimate agency asks for nude or intimate images to assess you.
How to check an agency
Look for a registered company with a real address and contact details. Check that the models on its boards are real people with real work you can find. Ask how they find work and how they are paid, and expect a clear answer. A good agency is happy to explain its agreement before you sign, and to give you time to read it.
About paying for photos
You do not need professional photos to apply to an agency. Clear photos taken on a phone are what we ask for, and our digitals guide shows how to take them. Once you are represented, test shoots are usually arranged through the agency with photographers building their own portfolios, which keeps costs low or at nothing. If anyone asks you for money, ask exactly what it is for, get it in writing and take time to think.
Meeting people safely
Meet at an agency office or a professional studio, not a private home. Bring someone with you if you want to. Tell someone where you are going. If anything feels wrong on a shoot, you can leave and call your agency.
If something has gone wrong
Keep messages, receipts and any contracts. Complaints about an employment agency in England, Scotland or Wales go to the Fair Work Agency, which took over from the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in April 2026. To report fraud in Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, use Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud. If you are unsure about an approach, ask an established agency. We are always happy to tell you whether something sounds right.
Tartan Models charges no fees at any stage. You can apply in a few minutes on the application page.