Scam agencies

[Jo]

I am still concerned at the number of "Agencies" that advertise mainly in the back of free-ads and newspapers, and the the amount of new people who are conned daily by these thieves.
They advertise as being able to earn large sums of money per week, usually saying "staff always needed, male & female escorts needed, friendly & outgoing people needed etc.
You will find that you are asked to hand over a sum of money before you are listed with them or on their site usually about ?250, with promises of earning vast sums of money often without sexual services (which in itself is rubbish) They will usually ask you to submit a photograph of yourself and then wait for the jobs to start rolling in, which they never do.
NEVER, EVER hand over money to an agency, never ever pay money to one of these outfits over the phone. Remember a good agency would require to meet you and would not want money from you.
If you are in the process of joining something similar to this or even an agency you believe to be ok, please ask for advice about it  here, so we can point you in the right direction.
An example of one of these scam agencies is this: (They have been going for a number of years and still continue to advertise all over the UK)
http://www.onlybyinvitation.com/only-by-invitation.html

[aging hooker]

Most newspapers carry warnings on handing over cash to get work, however this is usually aimed at he work at home scams as opposed to these. Perhaps a call the the classified manager about these scams is in order............not sure if trading standards would be interested.

Beth
xxx

[xw5]

An example of one of these scam agencies is this: (They have been going for a number of years and still continue to advertise all over the UK) http://www.onlybyinvitation.com/only-by-invitation.html

They're based in Spain and also call themselves Starnest and, more recently, Brookes Morris International. Doubtless another name will be along soon.

There's more about the scam sites at http://sw5.info/cons.htm and our message board has assorted stories from victims.

I'm amazed that so many people don't do the most basic research before handing over the money - never mind that our warnings are typically the #1 or #2 Google hit for their name, sites like OBI/Starnest/BMI are so utterly appalling crap that no-one with half a brain could think they could possibly get work from them - but clearly they do... so they're even more unlikely to see the warnings here, alas.

There was something about this in The Times last Saturday: someone asking one of their columns about the ads they saw. I sent the column an email about the situation and suggested someone get in touch, but nothing so far.

My other thought was that if I didn't have a conscience, I'd be rich

[xw5]

nothing so far.

Nothing in Saturday's paper, alas.

My other thought was that if I didn't have a conscience, I'd be rich

Someone's got in touch, almost incredibly having managed to be scammed by six of them before the penny dropped dropping a couple of thousand quid in the process.

Why bother to even attempt to find women willing to pay when finding victims is apparently so easy?

[Marika]

hmmmm..very interesting..

it's the same thing with other adverts on those freebie papers..for example unregistered cowboy electrician who can blow your house up/set fire on it, plasterers who never had any training, builders who could ruin your bank account. you see those on TV but seemingly it's only Media that is making some noise feeling sorry for victims or just some news value? the industries are so so unregulated and that makes Britain con men haven purely after your hard earned money and victims who are left ignored by lack of any kind of regulatory body, which appears non--existent. 

Why consumers get ripped off like this? 

[AmyLou42]

hi, i recently joined adultsrecruitment.com and had to pay ?100 for insurance and taxis! or somethig along those lines, they havent meet me but said they have already got a job for me as just an companion. do you think ive been scamed?
amy
xxxx

[Anika Mae]

You've been scammed, without a doubt. Sorry.

This is a really common scam, so at least you'll know not to fall for it again. Some people can be quite clever about disguising their upfront fees (see the pages on SW5), but if you're ever asked for money before you've made money (and that means someone has given you some hard cash in a currency you're familiar with - no cheques, credit cards or transfers), say no. You should also apply that rule to performing any services, as people will try to trick you into giving it away too.

I've been told that this scam is also used to target wannabe models, and I'm sure it crops up in other situations. Always do some research before giving someone money!

[xw5]

Yes, what Anika said, I'm afraid.

You're not the first, and sadly you won't be the last. Argh, argh, argh.

It does indeed happen with models. In fact, one of the Spanish bunch of scammers' other sidelines is a site pretending to be an agency to get your pet into films and other modelling work!?

Because (human) modelling is less taboo than even the 'non-sexual escorting' some of the scams pretend to be involved with, there's actually some movement in clamping down on them.

Oh, I see the latest version of the scam is to say 'We're legit, look we only charge a commission on actual work found. Oh, except for the first one, when we'd like half up front, just to prove we can trust you...' Of course that first booking is faked, but the fifty quids add up.

[xw5]

Always do some research before giving someone money!

So in this case, Google has eight hits for adultrecruitment.

The first is their crappy site, the second and third are warnings on the SW5 site, the sixth is a escort agency listing ad site - why not leave appropriate ratings and reviews for the various scams? - and the seventh is the whistle-blower who worked for them for a while.

[delish]

I have now after 3mths been approached by Candyescorts.com and sexyescorts- (no site). They are bothe run by the same people, and it goes as follows.
*details taken - in order for them to do an area search(any jobs unsupplied etc)
*call back to advise that there is definitely work available in that are- Blackpool in my case- and surprise surprise they had already found me a booking
*in order for them to give me the details of their client I would have to sign up for one of 2 packages ?319 or ?399- which would get me lifetime advertising on their site- a specially designed website.

Now I thought this was extremely odd as when I had worked for previous agencies, they simply sign you up and take a few snaps and bobs ur uncle.
I'm just very greatful that my brain kicked in and I said no.

PS. I had filled out an application on candy escorts and said no to them.....but last week sexy escorts called me telling me that i had filled out a form on their site and when I said no the lady started stuttering
and seemed quite off put by this.....in the background i could here several phones ringing in the background- obviously a very busy operation.

[Sasha]

Sorry if this has been mentioned before but does anyone know of beautiful adults? scam? they certainly look like it I have to say. My friends looking at it, shes rung them up and sent a photo (she already works for a legit agency btw). SHe said they told her you get 600 flat fee for companionship, and extras is 120/hour on top of that, or something...too good to be true?
Sasha
xxx

[Anika Mae]

It looks like a scam to me. Not as obvious as some, but it still follows the format. (Also, the website says ?500 not ?600.)

Personally I wouldn't bother, but if she wants to make sure she could go ahead until they get to the membership fee. If she doesn't know about the huge business of scam agencies and might be tempted, send her to this thread and the one in Questions and Answers.

[Anika Mae]

Also, is anyone reading this and thinking that although there are loads of scam agencies out there, there might be real agencies that just look a bit like the scams and shouldn't be dismissed outright? Someone who's not basing a business on scamming people should know the industry at least well enough to know that there are real agencies and scam agencies out there with many clear differences. They're not going to accidentally and with good intentions end up looking like the scammers.

[Hermione]

Also, is anyone reading this and thinking that although there are loads of scam agencies out there, there might be real agencies that just look a bit like the scams and shouldn't be dismissed outright? Someone who's not basing a business on scamming people should know the industry at least well enough to know that there are real agencies and scam agencies out there with many clear differences. They're not going to accidentally and with good intentions end up looking like the scammers.

Never underestimate stupidity.  Everybody and their dog thinks they can run an escort agency now.  Many are absolutely clueless about the business and may suggest things that make them look like scams.  Consider the number of fake pictures out there!  I interviewed for one where they wanted me to pay a HUGE amount of money to rent a room in one of their flats. They were not actually a scam, because they had field reports that bore no semblance of plagiarism because they were negative.  They are not people I would do business with.  Agencies that look like scams are often not scams per se, but are still people to avoid. 

[xw5]

Sorry if this has been mentioned before but does anyone know of beautiful adults? scam?

Complete and utter scam. It's one of the ones based in Spain - what she'll get for the money is an 'ad' only she can see! Amazingly, this won't generate any work for her, but they will have her money so they won't care.