Complaint Review: Greyshade Agency

The mastermind behind greyshade agency, "John Hernando" & "David Bertin" thinks all models are stereotypical airheads. Wrong-o. 

greyshade agency is about as grey & shady as can be. Posing as an agency that covers a wide variety of print & web media professionals and in my case, specifically models -- greyshade lures models in under false pretenses in order to gain access to their bank account.

greyshade starts their scam with a basic casting email requesting recent photos + measurements -- the standards. Their email address is convincing, using a typical agency format ([email protected]) and their signature gives the name "John Hernando" Booking Manager with a generated note about the emails being "secure". The type of signature you'd receive from your lawyer, but not usual an agent.

This email chain builds up to we'd love to add you to our roster & in fact, we have a $7k+ shoot we'd like to submit you for with the company Bershka. 

Bershka as far as I can tell is a legitimate European chain store, think Forever 21 with very cheap, very stylish looks. Physically, I fit the bill as their pre-existing models online and I've booked legimate work like this before -- why not take the chance?

As soon as I accept the offer to be submitted, I am greeted with an epic email with a ridiculously long explanation of greyshade's biz platform + Bershka's. Useless information, but a lot of it to guise the scam you're about to endure.

Then a contract is mentioned and I immediately flag this. I ask for the contract right away and a rudimentary, false contract is sent my way with 10 poorly written deal points. None of these clauses feature any formalities of an actual contract nor do they state dates or payment info but highlights the fact that you have to pay for your wardrobe. But here's the catch -- they'll send you the money to do it! 

That's not all, you also have "follow all the instructions as instructed". Redundant and vague. 

The scam is they pay you $500 upfront, but "the rest" of the check goes to your wardrobe fees because you have to go buy the clothes. Of course. If only life were that easy! 

John won't implement dates, location or payment info into the contract but ensures your money will arrive in 24 hours. 

Sure enough, I wake up to an email and text telling me the money has arrived and that I must deposit it into my bank account and send him the receipt. Yeah, right. 

A fedex envelope with a return address to David Bertin 594 Broadway in NYC. A false check for $4k+ from the Eastern Savings Bank. 

A day goes by and we don't communicate. He writes to me saying that if I don't tell him what's going on and why I haven't deposited the check in 12 hours he's calling the FBI + local police because "its obvious I am scamming the ageny". HAH. Okay dude... Good luck!

My lawyer reported that this scam has been seen on other modeling forums, so please watch out. Don't waste your time with greyshade!