Marvel Models (marvelmodels.com) aka Marvel Modeling
Consumer Inquiry
- July 23, 2004
- I saw on your website that there was a missing link for Marvel Models (www.marvelmodels.com).
- I was recently recruited to their open casting call, and was wondering if this company was legit. I noticed when going through the background check, that I should not pay ANY upfront costs. For this company, they are saying that I will need to pay $595 + $19.95 per month for maintenance of a digital comp card.
- I would really appreciate any feedback you can give me about this company. Thanks for your very informative website and I look forward to your response.
Background
This company is a splinter from the Wilhelmina Scouting Network scam, the worst modeling scam in American history. It is the same type of company run by the same person from approximately the same location. Edriss Farazi used to own and operate an emodel / Options Talent / Trans Continental Talent franchise in Worcester, MA:
You said they charged $595 + $19.95 per month for maintenance of a digital comp card, which is similar to what Wilhelmina Scouting Network did; they charged $995 + $19.95 per month for maintenance of a digital comp card. (The price when it was called Options Talent was $595 + $19.95 per month for maintenance.)
According to Farazi, he used to split fees with the photographer, a big no-no in the modeling industry, and worse still, he jacked up the price of the photoshoot behind the models' back. The extreme price increase meant the models were gouged! Models would be charged $395; the photographer was paid $100 per model. Farazi pocketed $295, unbelievably almost three times what the photographer, who was doing all the work, got paid:
Edriss Farazi and Afareen Modeling Management, Inc. v. Terri Bears et al, ¶27.]
Consumer Complaint
- I decided to go with it and agreed to pay the fee because I knew I
needed a new comp card in digital format. So I thought I would pay the
$595 and they would give me a complete photo shoot and all! Instead,
he wanted to use the pictures I already had and still charge me the full
amount. However, I only paid a portion of it and gave them a voided check
for the monthly fees. They cashed the check IMMEDIATELY!
I then realized that there was no date on the contract stating how long they would be taking money from my account. Also, none of their material was on letterhead paper...everything was straight off someone's home printer. I knew I shouldn't have been so eager, now I got scammed! My girlfriend said she was scouted two weeks earlier and they were asking for $395.
As a result, I am closing my bank account so that they will not take more money from me. The scarey thing is they have all my info! I thought it was weird that they asked for a social security number--but I didn't give it to them. Take it from me...MARVEL IS A SCAM!! - http://ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff102810.htm
One complaint said they advertised a "Dream Job" on Monster.com for model scouts the same way that WSN did.
- Marvel Models - MM Corporation "Dream Job" never Their next fashion statement will be an orange jumpsuit Elmhurst Illinois
-
First of all, I would greatfully like
to thank everyone who has reported this agency for scamming models
and also job seekers like myself! Also, I would like to thank "ripoffreport.com" for
providing everyone with the knowledge that they seek!!
I received the same exact email from an Estella Summers with Marvel Models in regards to a job opening with the company! It was a last minute interview and I was to arrive at 10am and be expected to stay until 2pm at their Chicago location (which is in Elmhurst, not Chicago). Thankfully, I did a search to check out this agency, for their website is not all that helpful. I thank my lucky stars that I did!
I have been having a hard time looking for a stable place of employment with a reputable company and Marvels Models will never have the luxury of having me added to their staff!!
This place is a joke and thank you to everyone for posting here and letting myself be aware of this fraudulant company and anyone else in the future!!
Marvel Models needs to be shut down!! - http://ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff104861.htm
When WSN suddenly went bankrupt, after it was banned from posting fraudulent job ads on Monster.com, there were WSN franchises which also closed their doors, but some of the franchises continued; they just changed the name to continue the same advance-fee model and talent scouting business.
Marvel Models has an office in Boston. In fact they are based in Massachusetts:
The BBB said they have an office at:
Marvel Models
109 Highland Avenue
Needham, MA 02194
Marvel Models also has an office in Illinois:
Marvel Models
340 W Butterfield Rd
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(Source: BBB.org)
Marvel Models was contacted on June 8, 2004, and asked if they have a modeling agency license. The State of Massachusetts publishes a list of licensed modeling agencies, and Marvel Models is NOT listed (checked Sept. 2004):
License Report Division of Occupational Safety - Employment Agency
http://www.mass.gov/dos/forms/ea-models.pdf
It is illegal to scout for models in Massachusetts without a modeling agency license. If you are asked to scout or be a model scout for a company without a license, you will be breaking the law.
- Modeling Agencies / Model Searches:
- The recruitment and/or placement of models in Massachusetts requires an Employment Agency License. No persons or firms may engage in the business of modeling without a license, this includes conducting open calls, conventions, solicitations, or interviews, or signing agreements with, assigning, or placing models.
- http://www.state.ma.us/dos/ea/
Marvel Models in the News
Sex Offender Accused Of Teen Modeling Scam
Farazi Did Not Properly Register With Sex Offender Board
POSTED: 6:48 p.m. EDT September 1, 2004
UPDATED: 7:39 p.m. EDT September 1, 2004
BOSTON -- A sex offender believed to be running a modeling agency is under fire Wednesday after police say he did not properly register with officials as required by law, and teenage models say he took their money and dashed their hopes.
NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that police say Edriss Farazi, a Level 2 sex offender, is conducting business at a Needham address not listed with the sex offender registry. Also known as Edward Farazi, he was given probation, not jail time, for indecent assault on a woman two years ago.
As required, Farazi registered as a sex offender, but listed his work address as Framingham. Needham police investigated Farazi after receiving complaints from clients of Marvel Models, a company police say he operates from a Needham office building. Not listing his current Needham work address violates the terms of his probation.
Complaints about his modeling business landed Farazi in court Wednesday.
Farazi's lawyer said he is the target of clients who are unhappy that their modeling careers didn't take off.
"It is unfortunate that people make accusations, and he becomes very vulnerable to false accusations. This involves disgruntled clients," said defense attorney Thomas Giblin.
Police believe Farazi is the president of Marvel Models, but his lawyer said he's a consultant and he's done nothing wrong.
"The man is not a full-time employee there, he does consulting. He is there, but not all the time. It is just a matter of disgruntled people trying to hurt someone," said Giblin.
Farazi was released on $500,000 cash bond and left the courthouse without comment.
Farazi will appear in court for improperly registering with the state's sex offender board in October. Farazi will return to a Worcester court in two weeks for a probation review.
There are no outstanding charges of sexual assault or misconduct against Farazi, and he is not accused of abusing any models. Rather, NewsCenter 5's Susan Wornick reported, the models say he took their money and didn't come up with the modeling jobs they paid for.
Wornick said she began investigating Farazi and Marvel Models after receiving dozens of complaints from teenagers who say they were stopped at area malls by someone claiming to be an agent saying they could get them great modeling jobs. But after paying hundreds of dollars, the teenagers got nothing.
Pamela Generoso, Nathalia Lima and Raissa Gomes say Farazi approached them at the Natick Mall.
"(Farazi) said, 'You should be a model, you guys are beautiful,' stuff like that. 'I work for models and we are looking for beautiful girls like you three,'" said Generoso, 14.
Farazi then allegedly invited the teens to a casting call.
"I felt so excited, because all I ever wanted was chance to be a model," said Lima, 15. "I was shocked because I never had a chance like that."
The teens said when they arrived at Marvel Models in Needham, they were told modeling would cost hundreds of dollars, and their parents paid with cash and credit cards.
"Our parents didn't think twice before paying. They paid right there at the same time," said Gomes, 15. "They were excited too."
But after paying more than $600 each, the teens could not get answers about where or when they would start modeling. They say research on the Internet convinced them that Farazi and Marvel Models had tricked them.
"I don't know what to say," said Gomes. "They, like, lied to us. Stole money, tried to get more money. That is just not fair."
Wornick tried to speak with Farazi at his home in Framingham Wednesday, but no one came to the door.
"Any chance we get for doing something big like that -- we get so excited," said Lima.
"To find out that it was just all fake, it was horrible," said Gomes.
The teens and their families have filed complaints with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/3700020/detail.html [Sept. 2, 2004].
Model agency run by sex con
By Norman Miller / News Staff Writer and Laurel Sweet/Boston Herald
Thursday, September 2, 2004A Level 2 sex offender from Framingham was arrested
Tuesday after police investigated allegations he scammed teenage girls out
of hundreds, even thousands, of dollars at his Needham modeling agency.
Needham police said Edriss Farazi, 26, was not arrested for the alleged scam,
but rather because he lied to the state Sex Offender Registry Board about his
job.
Farazi told the SORB he worked as a consultant out of his 47 Arberdeen Road
home, rather than being the CEO of Marvel Models on Highland Avenue in Needham.
"There's no way they would tolerate having a Level 2 sex offender affiliated
with that type of business," said Needham Detective Joe O'Brien.
A Level 2 sex offender is someone who is a moderate danger to the public and
moderately likely to reoffend. O'Brien said Farazi was registered in Framingham,
but not in Needham.
Nathalia Lima and Raissa Gomes, both 15, and cousins from Framingham, were
among those who lost money to Marvel Models -- $1,000 each.
They had minimal dealings with Farazi, but were angered they had their modeling
dreams dashed by the man.
"I'm very upset," said Lima, a Framingham High School freshman. "I've
always loved modeling, since I was 3. I used to watch them on TV and I went nuts."
"I'm upset because I wanted to do it," said Gomes, also a Framingham
High freshman. "I got really, really happy about it, because it's not every
day you get an offer like that."
Gomes, Lima and their friend Pamela Generoso were at the Natick Mall recently
when a man named "Will" approached them and gave them his card.
"He told us they were looking for girls like us," Gomes said.
The three went to Marvel Models in Needham and after a brief test modeling
stint were told to come back again, Gomes said.
When they returned, they were told the company was interested in representing
the girls, but they would have to pay $1,000. Lima said they were told they
were already scheduled to participate in a fashion show for clothing line Baby
Phat on Sept. 24 in New York. Each were to be paid $4,000.
Lima said Farazi complimented her and her friends.
"He said he really liked people like us -- he said he liked Brazilians because
they were more open," said Lima. "He said they were looking for more
Brazilians, who were 14 to 18. He wanted to put me on the Web site."
The girls soon found out the company had a shady past. They looked up the agency
on the World Wide Web, and found a number of complaints on a consumer watchdog
Web site.
The Framingham girls' story is similar to others, Needham's O'Brien said.
O'Brien said he began to receive complaints in April about the agency -- eight
in all.
It was while checking into those complaints that police discovered Farazi lied
to the SORB. Farazi is on probation for sexually assaulting a Worcester woman
who applied at another agency he was handling,
Farazi pleaded not guilty in Dedham District Court yesterday for providing
misinformation to the SORB. He was ordered held on $500 bail.
Farazi, O'Brien said, told "potential models and model wannabes" recruited
off the streets that they had to put up at least $600 to have their pictures
taken and have them posted online.
"They were told the company has offices in Tokyo, Boston, London, Los Angels
and Milan," said O'Brien. "They were told people would see their faces
and reach out to them to become models."
Lima, after learning Farazi was a sex offender, said she was glad she did not
have much contact with him.
"It's really, really scary," she said.
After the girls researched the company's reputation, they decided to back out
of the deal, Gomes said.
"They took our money and they would do no work," said Gomes. "We
went back there, and we told them we would want to cancel it -- that we didn't
want to do it anymore. They said they were going to send the money to billing
and billing was going to get the money back to us."
The girls never got back the $1,000 their parents gave them for the modeling.
It is unclear if the girls will ever get the money because they all signed
forms stipulating their deposits were nonrefundable.
Lima said she will not give up her dreams of being a model, but said she learned
a lesson.
"I was so excited because no one ever stopped me in the mall and said, 'You
should be a model.' It's not that easy. Everything that easy isn't always right," Lima
said.
"I'm going to keep trying -- I really think I should try," she continued. "I'm
going to look for more information about what agency I'm going to work with."
http://www3.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=76938 [Sept. 2, 2004].
Perv's catwalk dreams all wet
By Laurel J. Sweet
Thursday, September 2, 2004
A convicted pervert, who prefers the title of international modeling agency
president, was arrested Tuesday in front of starry-eyed posers by police
investigating complaints that his dream machine was all smoke and mirrors.
Not a pretty picture.
``When you're sweating profusely, you don't look so
good,'' Needham
police Detective Joe O'Brien said yesterday of Edriss Farazi, 26, the
self-proclaimed CEO of Marvel Models on Highland Avenue.
Cries of sham from models-not-to-be began crossing O'Brien's
desk in
April and now total eight. It was while checking into those complaints that
police also discovered Farazi, who is on probation for sexually assaulting
a
Worcester woman who applied at another agency he was handling, lied to the
Sex Offender Registry Board about how he made his living.
He claimed to be a consultant, working out of his home
at 47 Aberdeen
Road, Framingham.
``There's no way they would tolerate having a Level
II sex offender
affiliated with that type of business,'' O'Brien said.
Farazi, he alleged, told ``potential models and model
wannabes''
recruited off the streets ``they had to put up a minimum of $600 to have
their pictures taken and their faces put on Marvel Models' Web site.
``They were told the company has offices in Tokyo, Boston,
London, Los
Angeles and Milan. They were told people would see their faces and reach out
to them to become models.''
But even the models whose pictures adorn the walls of
Marvel's
ramshackle ``corporate headquarters'' in Needham didn't work there.
``The building is a (expletive),'' O'Brien said. ``I
immediately
assumed there was something unethical going on there - immediately.''
Employees at Marvel Models said yesterday they were
not aware Farazi
had been arrested. ``He's hardly ever in the office,'' offered one.
Farazi was ordered held on $500 cash bail after pleading
not guilty
yesterday to providing misinformation to the board. A man claiming to be a
baby-sitter at his home declined comment.
Those left in the lurch, meanwhile, aren't likely to
see refunds.
They signed forms stipulating their deposits were
non-refundable.
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=42466 [Sept. 2, 2004].
For $600, you can be a star (witness)
By Laurel J. Sweet
Friday, September 3, 2004
A half-dozen more people who claim their dreams of modeling superstardom
were dashed by a globe-trotting deviant with a camera reached out to Needham
police yesterday.
And while he can't promise them a spread in Vogue, Detective
Joe
O'Brien hopes to make them the faces of the fraud case he is building
against Edriss Farazi, alleged president of Marvel Models in Needham.
``I told them to write down everything that happened
to them and send
it to me,'' said O'Brien, who has fielded approximately 14 complaints about
Farazi, 26, of Framingham, since April.
Farazi is on probation for sexually assaulting a model
wannabe at his
former Worcester agency, Options Talent. O'Brien said the ``smooth-talking''
Farazi had business cards that listed offices in Tokyo, Milan, London and
Boston.
A mother in Winthrop, whose 18-year-old daughter was
``discovered'' by
Marvel Models while relaxing on a Cape Cod beach, told the Rip-off Report,
an online consumer watchdog, she gave Farazi a $595 non-refundable deposit
to get her kid's picture marketed on the agency's Web site.
``We saw a horrible picture, barely visible,'' the mad-as-hell
mom
wrote, ``and for this we paid all that money.''
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=42670 [Sept. 3, 2004].
Talent scouts also lost out in deal
By Norman Miller / News Staff Writer
Friday, September 3, 2004
It was not just potential models who were bilked out of large amounts of
money by a Level 2 sex offender from Framingham who ran what authorities
called a fraudulent modeling agency.
Those people who Edriss Farazi, 26, hired to find the
models who lost
hundreds and thousands of dollars, also lost out.
"He, Edriss, he sold us dreams as well," said
Tyricia Jones, who worked
as a talent scout for Marvel Models of Needham.
"He told us we had opportunities," continued
Jones, who lives in the
Boston area. "He said he was opening an office in San Diego. I wanted
to go
there so bad. I was so determined because I was sold dreams."
Farazi was arrested Tuesday by Needham police after
several complaints
by models that they paid money to get modeling jobs, but never got the jobs.
When Needham police investigated the claims, they discovered
Farazi was
a Level 2 sex offender who had lied to the Sex Offender Registry Board about
what he did for a job. He claimed to work out of his Aberdeen Road home,
rather than as a CEO to a modeling agency.
Jones said she worked for Marvel Models for two weeks
during August,
but never got paid because Farazi said she did not sign up enough models.
"I didn't get paid for any of my work," said
Jones. "I scouted for
free. I worked for free. I have a family. I have no money. I have bills.
What am I going to do?"
Jones said Farazi gave everyone a lesson on how to scout.
He said to go
to malls and nightclubs and to hand out business cards.
"We weren't looking for Tyra Banks," said
Jones. "We were looking for
girls who could fit in any category."
Jones said she became suspicious after she spoke to
her cousin who was
hired as a model. After the woman paid all her money, she was told she had
a
job on the "American Idol" tour. But when she went to where she was
supposed
to go, it was a promotion of Kellogg-brand products.
"When my cousin told me what had happened to her,
I said if it could
happen to her, it could happen to anyone," Jones said.
Jones said she was supposed to be paid $400 a week base
pay, and up to
$1,400 a week for incentives. Now, Jones said, she has nothing.
"I want to contact the Attorney General's office," said
Jones. "I was
lied to. I was sold a dream. (Farazi) was smart. He knew what to say to us."
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=77011 [Sept. 3, 2004].
Modeling agency faces new investigation
Owner, a sex offender, had no state license
By Christina Pazzanese
Boston Globe
September 12, 2004
A Needham modeling agency run by a convicted sex offender now faces additional scrutiny from state licensing officials.
Marvel Models of Boston is ''under investigation" because it is not licensed to operate in Massachusetts, a requirement for all modeling agencies, said Robert Prezioso, commissioner of the state Division of Occupational Safety.
Needham police arrested Marvel owner Edriss Farazi, 26, of Framingham, on Aug. 31 for failing to register his work address on Highland Avenue with the state Sex Offender Registry Board.
Farazi pleaded not guilty in Dedham District Court and was held on $500 cash bail.
''We were aware of his operation," said Prezioso, who added that he wasn't ''aware the owner had a criminal history" until news of his arrest.
Farazi did apply for a license in the last two months, said Prezioso, but failed to complete the form, which requires consent to a criminal background check and an affidavit signed by two witnesses attesting to the owner's "good, moral character."
Since news of Farazi's arrest, two women have reported to police that the agency charged them between $595 and $1,190 to cover costs for modeling assignments that never materialized, said Needham Police Sergeant Edward Callahan. Needham police first learned of the agency when Farazi reported a computer laptop stolen from his Highland Avenue office in April, said Callahan.
Within weeks, police received more than a dozen complaints from agency clients about the company's unfulfilled promises of modeling jobs and the fees charged for photos and contracts. That prompted police to conduct a basic criminal check that revealed Farazi's status as a ''moderate risk" Level 2 sex offender. Farazi had told the registry board he was a ''self-employed consultant" working out of his Framingham home.
The attorney general's office has received several phone calls from angry clients, but only one formal complaint has been filed since April, said spokeswoman Sarah Nathan, who declined to say whether the attorney general intends to look into the business.
Before the recent arrest, Farazi, a former Northeastern University student, had been convicted of indecent assault and battery of a potential client of Options Talent, a Worcester modeling agency franchise he opened in 2001.
Farazi has been out on probation since February 2003. Farazi has not been accused of assaulting anyone associated with the Needham business.
Court records indicate Farazi had also purchased a modeling franchise in Cincinnati and was planning to open others in Las Vegas, Albequerque, Long Island, N.Y., and Canada. But in April 2003, Farazi had a falling out with an Orlando, Fla.-based parent company, eModel.com.
Farazi sued company officers and several other corporate entities they operated under for ''schemes to overcharge, defraud and otherwise scam" him out of his share of fees charged to customers, according to court records. The company terminated Farazi's franchise agreement in 2003, alleging that he conducted ''an elaborate ruse" to hide income and withhold payments from them, court documents show.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/09/12/ [Sept. 13, 2004].
