Complaint Review: Willows Photo Service

Scammers calling themselves Willows Photo Service, Crystal Photo Services, or Crystal Willows and a variety of other names, are targeting people that have their profiles posted on popular modeling websites.

The fraud works like this...

You are contacted by email or telephone by a potential 'employer', stating that they viewed your internet profile on a modeling website. The 'employer' claims they work for a company that wants to hire you for a modeling job in your hometown area. You are offered an advance payment of 20%, which is equal to several hundred dollars. This payment will be mailed to you in the form of a company check or official money order. You are told that the balance of your pay will be given to you in cash on the day of your modeling assignment. You gladly provide your home address and personal information to receive the advance payment check.

The company check or official money order arrives at your home a few weeks later and it is for several thousand dollars more then what you are supposed to be paid. You receive a follow-up email from your 'employer' explaining that the overpayment is meant to pay the photographer for your photo session.  You are told to deposit the check into your bank account and when it clears you are to keep your portion as your advance payment and send the remaining money to the photographer via Western Union or Money Gram.You are really excited about this 'modeling job', so you followed all your 'employer's' instructions exactly. 

Several days or weeks later, you are surprised to be contacted by your bank telling you the check or money order that you deposited was discovered to be a worthless counterfeit. Your bank demands that you immediately return all the money or they will have you arrested.

You then realize, that you are the victim of a scam. All the money that you sent out by Western Union or Money Gram is untraceable and is your loss.