A former TV soap actor has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after masterminding a £13.6m fraud that targeted aspiring models.
Philip Foster, 49, ran an operation involving a network of scandalous modeling agencies for more than eight years.
Foster, who resides in Marbella, Spain, was sentenced in absentia at Sheffield crown court on Friday for conspiracy to defraud, along with his eight associates.
More than 6,000 victims were deceived into parting with large sums of money under the false promise of securing paid modeling work from the fraud Foster orchestrated from Spain, where he lived a luxurious lifestyle.
He utilized a network of associates in England to operate a string of fictitious modeling agencies and photography studios in cities including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham.
The scam was exposed during a six-year investigation by the National Trading Standards (NTS).
Following the sentencing, Lord Michael Bichard, the NTS chair, remarked that Foster’s “cruel schemes left countless victims plagued with debt, enduring emotional distress and severe financial burdens.”
The victims were tricked into believing that a modeling agency was interested in them after they responded to a local photographic studio and social media advertising campaign.
An invitation for a “free” test shoot at the photographic studio was used to extract money, as victims were informed that they needed to purchase portfolio photographs from the studio in order to join an agency and become a model.
Some victims resorted to credit deals arranged by the fraudsters or expensive payday loans to cover the initial payment.
In return, the victims received poor-quality digital photographs that held little to no chance of securing them professional jobs, and most did not receive any paid modeling work.
Foster indulged in luxury watches and cars with his share of the proceeds, while many victims claimed to have been left both financially and emotionally devastated, feeling humiliated and betrayed.
The deceptive agencies, which paid no taxes, existed for brief periods, being dissolved and rebranded repeatedly.
Scam money was laundered through UK bank accounts before being transferred to Spain or carried in cash on commercial flights by accomplices, according to the NTS.
North Yorkshire councillor Greg White stated, “Foster and his fellow scammers ruthlessly exploited young hopefuls attempting to break into an intensely competitive industry. In some instances, parents borrowed money or sacrificed savings, believing they were investing in their children’s futures.”
“I urge anyone searching online for modeling opportunities to remember that legitimate agencies do not request upfront fees; it is generally only scam agencies that pressure expensive photoshoots as a prerequisite for securing work,” White added.
Foster’s associates were also convicted of conspiracy to defraud and have been sentenced. Michael Foster, 27, of Liverpool, was jailed for three and a half years, while Jamie Peters, 52, of Warrington, received a suspended 24-month prison sentence.
Other associates, including Lisa Foster, 42; Emily Newall, 29; Atif Qadar, 44; Paul Fleury, 57; Aslihan Foster, 39; and Paul Evans, 39, received various suspended prison sentences for their involvement in the scam. Aslihan Foster and Paul Evans were convicted of money laundering-related offenses.
Jenny Kent, of City of York council, commented, “Mr Foster and his associates amassed millions by exploiting the aspirations of young individuals, leaving behind a trail of shattered dreams and financial hardship.”
Philip Foster, 49, ran an operation involving a network of scandalous modeling agencies for more than eight years.
Foster, who resides in Marbella, Spain, was sentenced in absentia at Sheffield crown court on Friday for conspiracy to defraud, along with his eight associates.
More than 6,000 victims were deceived into parting with large sums of money under the false promise of securing paid modeling work from the fraud Foster orchestrated from Spain, where he lived a luxurious lifestyle.
He utilized a network of associates in England to operate a string of fictitious modeling agencies and photography studios in cities including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham.
The scam was exposed during a six-year investigation by the National Trading Standards (NTS).
Following the sentencing, Lord Michael Bichard, the NTS chair, remarked that Foster’s “cruel schemes left countless victims plagued with debt, enduring emotional distress and severe financial burdens.”
The victims were tricked into believing that a modeling agency was interested in them after they responded to a local photographic studio and social media advertising campaign.
An invitation for a “free” test shoot at the photographic studio was used to extract money, as victims were informed that they needed to purchase portfolio photographs from the studio in order to join an agency and become a model.
Some victims resorted to credit deals arranged by the fraudsters or expensive payday loans to cover the initial payment.
In return, the victims received poor-quality digital photographs that held little to no chance of securing them professional jobs, and most did not receive any paid modeling work.
Foster indulged in luxury watches and cars with his share of the proceeds, while many victims claimed to have been left both financially and emotionally devastated, feeling humiliated and betrayed.
The deceptive agencies, which paid no taxes, existed for brief periods, being dissolved and rebranded repeatedly.
Scam money was laundered through UK bank accounts before being transferred to Spain or carried in cash on commercial flights by accomplices, according to the NTS.
North Yorkshire councillor Greg White stated, “Foster and his fellow scammers ruthlessly exploited young hopefuls attempting to break into an intensely competitive industry. In some instances, parents borrowed money or sacrificed savings, believing they were investing in their children’s futures.”
“I urge anyone searching online for modeling opportunities to remember that legitimate agencies do not request upfront fees; it is generally only scam agencies that pressure expensive photoshoots as a prerequisite for securing work,” White added.
Foster’s associates were also convicted of conspiracy to defraud and have been sentenced. Michael Foster, 27, of Liverpool, was jailed for three and a half years, while Jamie Peters, 52, of Warrington, received a suspended 24-month prison sentence.
Other associates, including Lisa Foster, 42; Emily Newall, 29; Atif Qadar, 44; Paul Fleury, 57; Aslihan Foster, 39; and Paul Evans, 39, received various suspended prison sentences for their involvement in the scam. Aslihan Foster and Paul Evans were convicted of money laundering-related offenses.
Jenny Kent, of City of York council, commented, “Mr Foster and his associates amassed millions by exploiting the aspirations of young individuals, leaving behind a trail of shattered dreams and financial hardship.”
