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Florida Models Florida Modeling Scams NOTE 12/06/16/0543 - Please
note that, as of December 6, 2016, that this scam section of this classic
legacy Florida Models web site is being heavily edited. At the time of this
writing, it is December 7, 2016, just over 15 years since the Independent
Modeling program was launched on September 4, 2001. If you know of a modeling scam that Florida Models should know about, contact us. Please note:
only accredited sources will be posted. If You've Got The Look, Look Out! Avoiding Modeling Scams Facts for consumers from the Federal Trade Commission: If you've think you've been scammed by a bogus model or talent scout, contact your local consumer protection agency, state Attorney General, or Better Business Bureau. They're in your local directory assistance. In Florida: The Division of Regulation is responsible for enforcement of professions and related businesses licensed by DBPR under the Division of Professions to ensure that the laws, rules and standards set by the legislature are followed. To file a complaint (against a talent agency) visit MyFloridaLicense.com
Florida Laws and Info: FYI: Each talent agency must maintain a permanent office and must maintain regular operating hours at that office. If they don't, they are in violation of Florida law. Please use a licensed talent/model agency. Florida Talent Agency Statute Information (on sister site Tampa Bay Modeling) 468.412 Talent agency regulations. 468.406 Fees to be charged by talent agencies; rates; display 468.410 Prohibition against registration fees; referral. 468.407 License; content; posting. 468.408 Bond required. 468.415 Sexual misconduct in the operation of a talent agency. 468.411 Labor disputes; statements required. If you have had a problem, or want to check up on an agency, the FTC has a helpful article: If You've Got "The Look"...Look Out! Avoiding Modeling Scams. You can also phone the FL state licensing board, or check out the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation website. All that information is publicly available online, or by dialing information. It's a good way to check that someone is indeed licensed, possibly find out something about them, or be able to report them if they are operating without a license. You can use the DBPR database to search licensed Florida talent agents (TA) Online License Search. Of course, don't forget the Better Business Bureau, they are online too at www.bbb.org. We hope you never run into a modeling scam, but if you do, please report it! It helps make the world a safer place for everyone else. Have you experienced a scam?Here is some information you might find helpful if you have been the victim of a scam. Of course, you can report anyone who has broken the law to your local law enforcement agency. Talent agencies that break the law can be reported to the state licensing bureau.If You've Got "The Look" . . . Look Out! Avoiding Modeling Scams The FTC published a helpful article, which also tells you where you can turn for help if you've been scammed. BBB Advises Caution When Dealing With Talent/Modeling Agencies The Better Business Bureau has an article as well, and can also be used to report a business. www.bbb.org The Department of Business and Professional Regulation Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation Bureau of Investigative & Consumer Services Office of Consumer Complaints 1940 Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0782 Find DBPR emails for each county in FL, Division of Professions, Talent Agencies. If you are going to email them to check on a license, use the Online License Search link above instead. If you have a complaint, you must provide specific information about what laws were violated, including facts, dates, etc. You should also consult an attorney and your local law enforcement agency if you feel the law has been broken. DBPR Online You can do an online search for a talent agency's license here. DBPR's online complaint form If you know of a licensed (or unlicensed) talent agency operating illegally in Florida, use this form to report them to the state. You must have specific information, dates, times, examples of violations, and witness information can also be provided. Fight Fraud in Florida Use the complaint form that goes to the Department of Business & Professional Regulation. The department investigates complaints against its licensees and, if necessary, brings administrative cases against them. If you have a complaint against a licensed talent agency, you could use their online complaint form. However, you must provide specific information, facts, dates, etc. that clearly shows how the agency violated the law. Economic Crimes Division, Office of Attorney General 110 Southeast 6th St., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 Phone: 954-712-4600 FAX: 954-712-4658 For reporting civil, not criminal matters. The Attorney General's Office investigates and litigates civil cases involving certain Florida Statutes, including civil theft, misleading advertising, and deceptive trade practices. Miami/Dade Small Claims Court Documents and information/guidelines for those needing to resolve civil disputes with monetary damages less that $5000. Helpful if someone owes you money, and will not pay you or has your property and will not return it, and you have been unable to resolve the situation any other way. Similar listings for other counties in FL. The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service provides referrals to attorneys who will conduct an initial one-half hour office consultation for no more than $25. Most areas in Florida also have legal aid and public defender offices which provide legal help without cost, or at a nominal fee to persons who cannot afford to pay a lawyer. Every citizen in Florida has the right to be represented by an attorney in a civil lawsuit. Civil lawsuits are cases other than those in which a citizen is charged with criminal activity by the state or local government. If you have a civil legal problem, but cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, you may be able to obtain an attorney through your local Legal Aid or Legal Services organization, which provides free legal services to those in need. Legal Aid agencies available to you will be listed in the yellow pages of your phone book under "Attorney--Legal Services" or in the white pages under "Legal Services and/or Legal Aid." If you cannot find your local agency in this manner, then you should call either the local bar association in the area in which you live (for instance, Seminole County Bar Association) or The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service in Tallahassee and ask for the number of the Legal Aid office closest to you. The Florida Bar toll free number is 1-800-342-8011. Remember, most lawsuits or legal problems with which you may be involved have time limits, after the expiration of which your rights may be lost. You should act quickly. Therefore, contact your local Legal Aid office should you need assistance. If you have had a problem, or experienced a scam, you need to do something about it. When you do not report something, the person or company who victimized you, is allowed to move on and scam the next person. If someone has broken the law, or done something you feel is not right, report them to the appropriate places listed above. Those resources are there to help you, and all the other people unscrupulous persons/companies may hurt in a similar manner. If you are a photographer or business being accused of something, listen and try to work the problem out. There have also been reports of photographers being scammed by models, demanding free reshoots and the like. We must all take responsibility for our actions, and our reactions. If you cannot work out a situation, please report it in an appropriate way, to someone who can help you get the issued resolved. Here is another great suggestion from one of our website users:
All information naming parties has been removed, per the order of Florida Models Editor C. A. Passinault, on December 6, 2016. This is in no way a result of any action being taken against us by any party, any threat against us, or as a result of anything else, and this is, in no way, any admission of wrongdoing or assumption of potential liability. The reason for removing this information is that most of it is outdated, that it names parties, that the reference links backing up the information are unreliable, as many of the links no longer work, and that this scam section is so outdated that it is pretty much useless. The new Florida Models web site will have something much better, and we will link to it when it is up. If you have
questions or problems concerning any of the information posted on the
websites listed above, please contact them directly, or your local authorities.
09/27/12 - 09/28/12 - 10/27/12 - 12/06/16/0559 - 12/07/16/0534
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Original Florida Models modeling resource web site founded by Kitania Kavey and Ken Horkavey in 1996, making it one of the first modeling resource sites in the world for independent models. On September 27, 2012, Florida Models became an Independent Modeling site, and is directly affiliated with Tampa Bay Modeling, Independent Modeling, Advanced Model,and all of the Passinault.Com companies, which includes Aurora PhotoArts, all of which operate out of the Tampa Bay area, but offer services throughout Florida. This is a free modeling resource site, and you are not obligated to buy any services or products advertised on this site to use it. As of September 27, 2012, the site editor and webmaster of Florida Models and sister site Florida Actors is C. A. Passinault. The current owners are not responsible for the content published by the original owners. This web site is based out of, and published in, the Tampa Bay area of Florida, which is ground-zero of the next modeling industry. FLORIDA MODELS EMULATED CLASSIC LEGACY SITE UPDATES LEGACY SITE REFRESHED ON SERVER 09/26/12 - 09/27/12 - 09/28/12 - 09/30/12 - 10/10/12 - 01/13/13 -12/31/13/0917 - 02/05/15/1032 - 03/29/16/1544 - 07/31/17/0018 - 01/05/23/0357/ TERMS OF USE - DISCLAIMER All classic content © 1996-2012 Florida Models, Florida-Models.Com and Kitania Kavey. New content © 2012-2023 Florida Models, Independent Modeling, and C. A. Passinault. All rights reserved. |