Modelling scams (Bongacams, Chaturbate)

Webcam Chatter - a new type of modelling scam

If you want to be a model you have to be cautious. All kind of people may try to exploit your ambition and lack of experience by promising you a carreer, but will actually just try to take your money without providing something real in return. A fake modelling agency may for instance offer to manage you for a payment from you, or try to sell you a portfolio or photoshoot.

Now a new type of scam has emerged. If you fall for it it will take your money, your time and even your dignity.

This is how it works:
Scenario 1: webcam chatter

In some way somebody approaches you looking for models (or actresses, or hostesses, or something else). For instance you read an advertisement in a magazine from a modelling agency looking for new faces. They may look for women of at least 18 years old, speaking english or another western european language.

If you apply they will have an intake with you. There they will offer you work. But it will not be a classic modelling assignment. Instead they want you to chat on webcam on the internet. They may tell you lonely people will want to talk to you and are willing to pay you money for that. Then they offer you a contract outlining the details. You will be in their work place for some time, a few days, a week, maybe a month, and you will be chatting on 1 or more websites. They will offer you a percentage of what you earn. They may tell you you can make a large amount of money doing it. Because you will be talking to rich foreigners you will need to speak english, spanish, german or other languages. They may describe it as modelling, acting, promotion, maybe even tv or social work, and your face will be known all over the world.

Then, when you arrive at work on your first day, you will be put on your workspot and you will start chatting. You hope your visitors will start paying you for your polite and lucid conversation. But nobody will actually do it. Instead people do all kind of sexual requests. Without informing you they have put you on a sex site.

They told you you can make money only chatting on that site. And that is true. But in most cases it is not a lot. They “forgot” to tell you you would be on a website that is mainly used for sex for money.

Suddenly being on there only a week or a month seems endless. It turns out you will not make your target if you just chat. You will be left with a considerable debt if you don't make the target. You can not quit, because you will have to pay for costs if you do. So you are stuck. If you want to make money or at least not end up with a debt you will have to comply with the wishes of the visitors, and show nudity and perform sexual acts. If you want it or not.

Instead of a modelling agency, the company turns out to be a cam studio. That is a company that facilitates people performing on webcam for money. What seemed like a nice side job starting your carreer turns out to be a trap in an online brothel.

Scenario 2: webcam chatter on sex sites

In many cases the cam studio will be honest with you and tell you you will be on sex sites. Obviously if they tell you you will be there only to chat that will be just the same deception as scenario 1. They may call it flirt or dating sites, so you are not immediately aware of the adult character. But even if they would tell you you will have to do sexual things to get money, it may still be a scam.

First of all they will not really offer you a job or an assignment. That would mean they would pay you an hourly fee or a salary, and in most countries social securtity and part of your taxes. Instead they sell you time at the studio. They leave you a percentage, but the rest they will take as rent for a workspot at their outfit. You will bear all the risk. If you do not make money they will not support you. Instead they will charge you.

Decent cam studios may only take 25% or less of your earnings, but some studios take up to 90%. If you live in a poor country, 10% of the proposed earnings may sound like a good deal. But in reality the earnings may not even be close to what is proposed. Your actual income may turn out really low.

They will not tell you you can easily do it at home. All you need to be on those sites is fast internet, a computer, a cam and some privacy. If you have that at home you do not need the cam studio at all. And if you don't, you should ask yourself if a large percentage of your income is really a fair price to get it at the studio.

Some cam studios will charge you money for the usernames they make for you on the websites. But most (if not all) websites they will put you on are free to access, and a broadcaster user will be free to make. Even websites that charge money for visitors of the chatrooms (paysites) will not charge money for the broadcaster users. The costs are only there to keep you from walking away from the studio.

In some cases you will also sign away your freedom to be on the websites on your own account. Many studios will not allow you to be active on the websites outside them for a year after you quit.

So this is basically a scam similar to the older modelling scams mentioned above. They sell you a deceptive service you don't really need for too much money, under false pretences.

Binding by debt, offering a fake job and making it look different from what it actually is, is a common method for human traffickers. It seems cam studios often use similar techniques to practicians of that scam. Cam studios will usually not displace you or bring you to another country. Still you can say this way of recruiting and stimulating people to stay is a form of human trafficking or slavery.

A cam studio will not help you in your modelling carreer in any way.

What to do about it

There are a few things you can do when you encountered this scam. Some of them may always prevent further trouble for you or others. Others you only need when you are already in a degree of trouble.

Here are a few tips.

Never do what you don't want

People require things you did not expect and don't want. They may have told you things that are untrue or only partialy true. That is deception and a reason to cancel the agreement. Whatever the penalty in the contract, walk away and seek legal aid. They can never take a penalty without going to court. There they would have to explain why they did not tell you straight and honest what you would be into. Outrageous and baseless cost claims and fines will usually not be honoured by a judge.

Talk to people you trust

This scam thrives on silence. It can go on as long as nobody speaks about it. Your friends, your family, people who are on your side should be aware that you are in trouble, so they can help you. That is what friends are for. You may be embarrassed about the whole thing. You may have signed for secrecy, but being silent to the people who love you to protect people who betrayed you is not the right way to go.

You can go to the police, but they may not want to help you. In some countries it is formally legal. In other countries police may be corrupt. If you go to the police, do not go to a police station near the studio. They may be friendly with the studio or even be paid off. Go to a police station near your own home.

Seek legal aid. If the police does not help you, a lawyer may. A lawyer may advise you how to get rid of the contract or how to avoid the penalties in your contract. In most countries illegitimate claims in contracts are void. That means even if you signed for it, it does not count. There may be a regret period for contracts. Deception or failure to comprehend the full consequences of a contract when you sign it may be a reason to declare it void. A lawyer may advise you on that.

Seek help in an aid organisation. They can give practical help, like how to get rid of the contract. Also they can advise you on how to prevent further problems. They may have seen similar cases in the past. They may want to take action themselves too. They are there to help you, but you can help them help others.

A large international aid organisation is La Strada International. Their main focus is human trafficking, but they can also advise you on this. They are based in Amsterdam, and have offices in many countries: the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Belarus, Moldova and Macedonia.

If the advertisment you saw is deceptive

They pose for instance as a modelling agency looking for models or actors, but turn out to be a cam studio recruiting broadcasters on sex sites. Notify the magazine or newspaper you found it in. Tell them your experience, if needed anonymous, and why you think it is a fraud. There is a good chance the editors have a policy on deceptive or indecent advertising and will put it in the adult contact section, or even stop placing the advertisement altogether. There are more people like you who might fall for this scam. If the studio can not advertise, it will be much more difficult for them to find new victims.

Don't trust liars

They lied to you and deceived you. They will probaby lie to you again. If they find out you have regrets they may do you new offers and promise great things. Remember they will all be deceptions, designed to make you think you want what you actually do not. The people you are dealing with are most probably experienced professional scammers. They don't care about you or what you want at all. They only want to use you.
They are a cam studio, not a modelling agency or impressariate. In most cases the only extra work they will ever have for you is more time on more sex sites. I have however heard reports of performers being manipulated into prostitution.