Face National Models & Talents and its managers, Jennifer Lynn Gill and Chad E. Johnson, are permanently barred from conducting their modeling business, the Attorney General's Office said. The agency must also pay back approximately $135,000 in refund to its estimated 512 customers in North Carolina and other states.
According to the Attorney General's Office, the agency made its money in cities across the United States, since 2001, by selling photography contracts to modeling hopefuls that attended screenings advertised on television and radio.
After participants tried out, they would call the modeling agency the next day, where they were told they made the cut and were asked to sign a contract and schedule a photo shoot, the Attorney General's Office said.
"This so-called modeling agency was more interested in taking people's money than in helping them find work," the Attorney General's Office said in a written statement Monday. "They told nearly every modeling hopeful they had 'the look' because they were looking to sign up as many paying clients as possible."
The agency would allegedly charge the participants approximately $600 for the photo shoot, promising a high fashion shoot with experienced photographers, make-up artists, and hairstylists. Consumers who filed complaints with the Attorney General, however, said the shoots were disorganized and unprofessional.
Models were also asked to purchase almost $400 in photographs and cards to send to prospective employers, which according to the Attorney General's Office cost less than $40.
Attorney General Roy Cooper contends that Face led consumers to believe that the company would land them traditional modeling jobs in print and runway work at salaries of $150 per hour. Instead, the company signed up approximately 8,000 customers who wanted to be models and found them less than 800 jobs, generally promotional work handing out product samples at events for $15 per hour less the agency's commission.
"Instead of looking for the next cover girl, most of these model search companies are really looking to take your money," Cooper said. "Don't even think about attending a screening offered by a modeling agency without checking the company out thoroughly."
The Attorney General's Office said it will attempt to contact all of Face's customers to give them an opportunity to claim a refund and said consumers may also contact the office toll-free at
1-877-5-NO SCAM
for more information.
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