Fashion Rock (Allegedly Unethical Firms)

Fashion Rock Sites:

Model Scam, The Model Scam, The: "Former talent scouts looking for models claim they weren't selling a dream, they claim they were hired to sell a scam! Fox 61's consumer reporter Shelly Sindland discovers that sometimes pursuing a dream can mean a trip to fantasy land." [Fox 6 (Fashion Rock) http://fox61.trb.com/news/wtic-010602cc-options-models,0,3970084.story High Priced Talent High Priced Talent: Family was going to spend $795 and $19.95/month to list 14-year-old, but changed their mind after consulting the Internet about the company. By Michelle Mauch. [KRIS-TV] (Fashion Rock) http://www.caller.com/ccct/kris_tv/article/0,1641,CCCT_995_1773289,00.html Actors Equity Alert: Options Talent Actors Equity Alert: Options Talent: "The company says the site is used by many people who would employ actors such as the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and Clemenger BBDO. When Equity contacted some of those named they said that they do not in fact use the site." (Fashion Rock) http://www.alliance.org.au/leadstory/2002/equity02.htm Embattled Modeling Agency Owner Must Pay Restitution Embattled Modeling Agency Owner Must Pay Restitution: "After months of investigations touched off by an ABC Action News report, the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation has found Model 2000 guilty of fraud and deception." [ABC Action News Tampa] (Fashion Rock) http://www.abcactionnews.com/stories/archive/030116model2000.shtml Nationwide Fashion & Talent Competition Offers Prize 'Contracts' but No Work for Contest Winners Nationwide Fashion & Talent Competition Offers Prize 'Contracts' but No Work for Contest Winners: Press release by New York State Consumer Protection Board. "'No Reuben, no Clay, no answers' from contest tied to former Wilhelmina modeling scam." (Fashion Rock) http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/PressReleases/2004/April192004.htm NYS Slaps Model 'Scam' NYS Slaps Model 'Scam': "The New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is hounding Louis J. Pearlman--the Florida-based music promoter responsible for teen bands the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC--for alleged model-scouting scams in Manhattan and Buffalo through the Wilhel (Fashion Rock) http://www.backstage.com/backstage/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2008611 EModel Rip Off Inside Report EModel Rip Off Inside Report: Scout for modeling agency details her experiences and exposes unethical business practices. (Fashion Rock) http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff8667.htm Modeling Scouts: An Action News Special Report Modeling Scouts: An Action News Special Report: Undercover investigation. Interviews with company spokesman and Deputy Attorney General. Spokesman reveals that all clients make the cut to appear on their website, after a $595 photo shoot and $19.95/month listing fees. [WPVI-TV 6--Philadelphia] (Fashion Rock) http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/features/05062002_SR_modeling.html Hunting for Models Hunting for Models: Investigative report of allegations of bogus model scouting. Interview with former employee, BBB president, general manager. Company president's previous convictions for fraud. [New Times Broward-Palm Beach] (Fashion Rock) http://www.newtimesbpb.com/issues/2001-09-06/news.html More Complaints About Local Talent Scout Company More Complaints About Local Talent Scout Company: "An Action 9 investigation has found mounting complaints against the Orlando model scouting company Fashion Rock. More than 80 consumers have filed complaints with the Florida Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau combined." [ (Fashion Rock) http://www.wftv.com/news/3583899/detail.html 5 Investigates: Recruiting Model Wannabes 5 Investigates: Recruiting Model Wannabes: "Transcontinental Talent claims to be the largest scouting agency in the world, but local authorities want to know if people are getting scouted or skunked." By Barbara Rodgers. [KPIX/KCBS San Francisco] (Fashion Rock) http://beta.kpix.com/news/local/2003/02/14/5_Investigates:_Recruiting_Model_Wannabes.html Pearlman's Jihad Pearlman's Jihad: "Pearlman's newest offering, Fashion Rock, LLC, has gone on the offensive, inundating his critics with lawsuits. On June 4, Fashion Rock, which sells weekend conventions to wannabe actors and models for $1,500 a pop, filed a lawsuit against 200-plus (Fashion Rock) http://www.orlandoweekly.com/slug/archive.asp?g=4494 Better Business Bureau Report: Wilhelmina Scouting Network Better Business Bureau Report: Wilhelmina Scouting Network: "This company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to a pattern of complaints concerning misrepresentation in selling practices, including that the consumer is being selected to be on the Company's website and the Company's representative (Fashion Rock) http://www.orlando.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&ComID=0733000038000155 Better Business Bureau: Fashion Rock LLC Better Business Bureau: Fashion Rock LLC: "This company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to a pattern of complaints concerning misrepresentation in selling practices, including that the consumer is being 'selected' to be on the Company's website, the Company's representatives (Fashion Rock) http://www.orlando.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&ComID=0733000038000274 Hidden Cameras Expose Talent Agency Scam Hidden Cameras Expose Talent Agency Scam: "Hidden cameras exposed the conniving side of the catwalk inside Transcontinental Talent's Ferndale office, Ruth Spencer reported." [NBC 4 Detroit] (Fashion Rock) http://www.clickondetroit.com/det/money/ruthtotherescue/stories/ruthtotherescue-178920020021115-151135.html Talent Scout Accused of Sex Abuse Out on Bond Talent Scout Accused of Sex Abuse Out on Bond: "A talent scout arrested on sex abuse charges is out of jail after posting a $10,000 bond." [NBC 13 Birmingham] (Fashion Rock) http://www.nbc13.com/news/1642547/detail.html Options Talent Group: An I-Team Investigation Options Talent Group: An I-Team Investigation: Special report after undercover investigation by I-Team reporter Randy Travis on the modeling scouting company based in Orlando, Florida, called Options Talent, previously known as eModel.com. [Fox 5 Atlanta] (Fashion Rock) http://fox5atlanta.com/iteam/options.html Cashing in on Dreams of Glamour Cashing in on Dreams of Glamour: Major modelling agencies touted by eModel as users say they don't use the site. Company refuses to comply with Elite's request to stop using their name. [Virginian-Pilot] (Fashion Rock) http://www.pilotonline.com/business/bz0128mod.html Modeling Scouts Run Less-Than-Model Company Modeling Scouts Run Less-Than-Model Company: Hidden camera investigation. Claimed advisory board members like Don Johnson and claimed clients like Elite Agency deny any connection and want company to stop using their names. Interviews with Labor Commission attorney and head of Mill Valley franchise (Fashion Rock) http://www.kron.com/Global/story.asp?S=780825 Alleged Unethical and Illegal Behavior Practiced by Options Talent Group Alleged Unethical and Illegal Behavior Practiced by Options Talent Group: In Los Angeles, Options Talent employees do not need to show any identification when recruiting child and adult models, posing a potential threat to other employees and the community. [PR Web] (Fashion Rock) http://www.prweb.com/releases/2002/6/prweb41045.php Dream Boat, The Dream Boat, The: "eModel, OptionsTalent: It promises nothing, guarantees nothing, sells nothing, does nothing except stick your photo on a website." Investigative report including stories of former members. [The Wave] (Fashion Rock) http://www.thewavemedia.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=21303 Orlando Talent Competition Misleads Would-Be Models Orlando Talent Competition Misleads Would-Be Models: "An Action 9 investigation has exposed the sales tactics used by a nationwide talent competition based in Orlando and tied to boy band king Lou Pearlman. Fashion Rock has already been blasted by the New York State Consumer Protection Board as a 'sham (Fashion Rock) http://www.wftv.com/news/3324446/detail.html Trans Continental Talent: An I-Team Investigation Trans Continental Talent: An I-Team Investigation: Followup report on new name, Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, and protest by former client outside Atlanta office handing out copies of company's unsatisfactory Better Business Bureau record. [Fox 5 Atlanta] (Fashion Rock) http://www.fox5atlanta.com/iteam/tct.html Modeling Aspirations Could Cost You Modeling Aspirations Could Cost You: Investigative report of high-pressure sales allegations by Todd Ulrich. Interviews with consumer, former employee, Options Talent Executive, and Judy Pepper, Central Florida BBB President. [Eyewitness News 9] (Fashion Rock) http://www.icflorida.com/partners/wftv/consumer/models_05092002.html Council Member Questions Pearlman's Dealings Council Member Questions Pearlman's Dealings: "Orlando city Commissioner Vicki Vargo says new information has caused her to rethink the city's possible partnership with entertainment king Lou Pearlman to revitalize Church Street Station." By Jill Krueger. [Orlando Business Journal] (Fashion Rock) http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2003/02/10/daily52.html 'American Idol' It Isn't 'American Idol' It Isn't: "The organizer of a nationwide talent competition has denied allegations that it misled winners with promises of 'more than $100,000 in contracts' as models, actors or singers." [AP/CBS News] (Fashion Rock) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/21/national/main612928.shtml