Is the AMMS (American mall model search) a scam?

Is Audition America/American Mall Model Search a Scam?

• My bf and I were at the mall about a month ago and we saw this stand to register for this modeling/acting audition. They only had vague questions such as name, age, height, phone number, and email address. We filled it out thinking nothing of it. My bf received a text from a guy who didn't tell his last name and said he was from Pasadena, California and his audition was at the Pasadena Mall. We are not from California. Now, this same guy calls my bf back and told him that there was a mix up and it's at our local mall. I received a call from this guy an hour after my bf did. The auditions were the next day which is kind of odd that's it was a last minute deal. Anyway, the only thing we did was say a one liner and walk the catwalk. One of the people that was there during the process were dressed oddly with these wide pants and his back pocket was ripped while the other two were dressed more professionally. We were then gonna be told if we passed or failed the audition and I believe that everyone passed, which is kind of odd is it's a real audition. My bf and I nor anyone else was told that there was a fee or that we had to pay anything. After we found out that we passed, we were shocked that there was a $50 down payment for this photo shoot that we only had 2 days to prepare for. and 2 more payments after that for $150 total. There was also another package that was 3 payments of $99. We're college student and we simply could not afford that. The only head judge talked to us about interning for them 3-4 days a week to possible earn more photos, but how is that possible when the photo shoot is in 2 days? My bf and I were really excited but I am really skeptical about these people. Is it ethical to charge people without them knowing what the fee is in the first place cuz for all we know, it could of been any price.

• Answer:

  Of course it's a scam. If they came up to you in the mall and said, "Hey, pay us a bunch of money for a photo shoot," you wouldn't be interested. So they set up a bogus audition that everybody passes, and then they try to hard-sell you the photo shoot. They try to con you into believing that you'll be launching a big modeling career when you hand over your money. The whole thing is a ripoff. Don't give them a penny. If you've already given them that $50 down payment, don't give them any more. And make as much of a fuss as you can about getting your money back.