RUNWAYPLACEMENT.COM SCAM : FASHION WEEK, JAY TOWNSEND - Page 4 - MyModelTalk Free Casting Calls for Models and Actors!

RUNWAYPLACEMENT.COM SCAM : FASHION WEEK, JAY TOWNSEND · 01-21-2007, 08:57 AM

WATCH OUT FOR THIS GUY:

FASHION SHOW SCAM – REQUIRES PURCHASE OF PICTURES TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT

www.runwayplacement.com

There is a guy who has invented a fashion event that does not exist. He asked for models, but required you to use his photographer to take your pictures in order to be in the show. The show does not exist, the venue he said the show was going to be at does not exist, and everything about the guy is a scam. He just wants you take pictures with his photographer and take your money. When I wanted to be in the show, all he wanted was for me to buy pictures from his photographer. I don’t know if the photographer knows that this guy is a scam or not, so I won’t mention him (YET…), but the guy putting it all together is a scam artist and you NEED TO KNOW so he doesn’t get your money. He runs the scam here, in California, Dallas, in Oregon and in Washington.

Quotes from his and "amy's" emails to me: “You need to get professional photos first!!”
"You need to shoot with [name of photographer removed] or Jace will not use you in the show." “we do not like working with other photographers”

When I asked to BUY a ticket to go to the show to watch and offered to help, they answered an email with:
“NO, you are not a hi fashion model and no you can not buy your way
in...” “we do not need your help, so just buzz off please!”

The event is called SAN DIEGO FASHION WEEK or SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK, Winter Formal Portland

The guy trying to set up the event is "JACE" or "JTM" or “JAY” or "Jay Townsend"

His website is listed to:
Whois info for, runwayplacement.com:
Registrant:
Corbin Carvel Media, LLC
61332 Sparrow Ct
Bend, OR 97702
US
Domain name: RUNWAYPLACEMENT.COM
Administrative Contact:
Townsend, Jay jay.townsend@corbincarvel.com
61332 Sparrow Ct
Bend, OR 97702
US
+1.54519615288
Technical Contact:
Hostmaster, Hostmaster hostmaster@aismedia.com
7000 Central Parkway
Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30346
US
+1.7703507998 Fax: +1.7703509409

He sends out emails pretending to a fashion booker "AMY" from a company called RUNWAY PLACEMENT

They have a web page with no info at http://www.runwayplacement.com/

They use the following myspace pages:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endid=42145591
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=107922500

They use and have used the following emails: sandiegomodels@gmail.com , amy@runwayplacement.com , runwayplacement@gmail.com , bookingpro@gmail.com , winterformalportland@gmail.com ,

They use a phone number of 6198691806 , (619) 869-1806, 323-973-3037
619-869-1806, (same number but so you can search on it)

They said the event was going to be at 416 4th Avenue in San Diego (no such place)

They have run this same or similar scam in Seattle, Portland, San Diego and Dallas

He says he lives in LA JOLLA- he actually lives at the alcoholic halfway house on Island Street in San Diego (he originally had demos and photos sent there in a previous craigslist posting ): http://www.nosdco-aa.org/links/detox.shtml

Don’t let him take your money- If he wants you to be in show ask him WHEN AND WHERE IT IS AND HOW MUCH IT PAYS. When he can’t answer tell him to “buzz off”.

Don’t PAY to be in a fashion show!!!! and pass the word on to shut him down

Another report from another watchdog:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...9-06e8db33e05b

03-14-2007, 03:28 PM

Nicole, you may want to add a picture to your profile. Something graphical to represent you whenever you "speak" on MMT...

cooknicole · 03-14-2007, 03:30 PM

thank you so much I really appreciate it!

DigitalMocking · 03-14-2007, 07:48 PM

Nicole;

I'm glad you took the time to post on here and reply, I'm Sarah's father who spoke with you about this potential scam issue.

Where there's smoke, there's fire and this company and the people involved in it seem less than reputable. Their website is advertising a fashion show that doesn't exist with no other information about their company at all, they change email addresses like most people change pants and the combination of "this has to be done NOW" pressure along with not giving out any verifiable information are the hallmarks of grifters. The part about telling you we'd pay you less money AFTER the photoshoot really set of alarms in my head as well.

Amy has been in contact with my daughter recently telling her that they still really want to work with her, but can't handle working with her 'difficult to deal with' and 'tacky' mother. To me it just sounds like an attempt to separate my daughter from her money by dealing with her directly. Mind you, my wife did nothing but ask a few simple questions, which she was promptly cut off after asking and she got no real answers for. No company name, no dates for the upcoming shows, no locations, no show names or organizer names.

I hope you really aren't involved directly in any kind of scam like this, I like to think the best of people.

fluffy_dolphin · 03-24-2007, 06:23 PM

I was the person who originally posted the information about this SCAM ARTIST. I do feel sorry for the photographer who got dragged in to this (that is why I left the name of the San Diego photographer out- he is being informed of the situation now) but this guy IS and continues to be a THIEF and LOW LIFE.

The photographer probably was an unwitting participant , but that is what this guy is good at- you almost don't know where the scam is coming from, some smooth talking, some pressure here and there and then either he has your money and disappears to another city, or he SENSES you are about to catch on to him, and then YOU are the problem model and he gets rid of you- like he tried to "get rid of me".

As long as everyone keeps a watchful eye out for "JAMES" and stops him, there is no reason that legitimate business be it models, photographers and even modeling schools can't move forward. It is scum like these people that damage the industry as a whole.

Keep an eye out and STOP HIM IN HIS TRACKS. I saw this posted on another site and thought i would repost it here. He seems to be in Portland and Seattle now for a show on the 24th and 25th.

DigitalMocking - 13 Mar 2007, 03:59 am
It looks like these folks are back again, but they're getting a little smarter. Their craigslist adds are less specific and they're using a less aggressive approach when you talk to them.

Jay is now James, he's got a new phone number, but in Portland, its still the same horrible photographer he was using before, Nicole Cook. James is now the head of "model placements" of beverly hills, using a new 424 cell phone number.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/tfr/289145484.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/tfr/291807999.html

My wife talked on the phone to someone named "james" who said his company was "model placements" in beverly hills, he's the one who referred us to nicole cook. She'd have to be in on the scam as you pay her.

There are a few more bits:

1) Her fee is "usually" 300 dollars, but because he's going to pay $100 of her normal fee from a 'model scholarship fund' he has to help new models, but whatever we do, don't mention this to her until after the shoot is done that we're getting the 'special' price.
2) it HAS to be done within the next 48 hours.
3) the show he's recruiting for is on the 24th and 25th in seattle, but no show name given.

ALSO- his myspace page has been "updated". He now says he is a MEDIA BUYER, A SWINGER (who wouldn't want their fifteen year old daughter hanging out with this guy) and making some appearances in ALABAMA. Plus he hasn't even graduated from high school...

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endid=42145591

DOES ANYONE HAVE HIS NEW CELL PHONE NUMBER IS OREGON/SEATTLE?

fluffy_dolphin · 03-26-2007, 05:09 AM

I got a reply from the lovely folks at RUNWAY PLACEMENT when I sent them an email pointing out that their scam had been uncovered and reported by SEVERAL people and the attention they were getting on this website!!!!!:

From : amy simms
Sent : Saturday, March 24, 2007 7:24 PM

We like it, we just say those are the fat girls that are upset. We avg
900 people per month, your our only complainer you little extcasy pill
head driven spammer. we have plans for you if you reply...

END MAIL

So to all the women turned down by RUNWAYPLACEMENT.com, JAY/JAMES TOWNSEND and AMY SIMMS, don't worry, it was because you were a "FAT GIRL". Feel better now? Or do they just not turn anyone down?

So does anyone out there want to try to defend them now?

Some math: they are scamming 900 models per month (at what $100 per head?) that would be upwards of $90,000 per month, or just over $1 MILLION per year. SOMEONE SHOULD SUE THEM AND GET ALL THAT MONEY BACK!!!!!