Student’s scam alert over online modelling: Woman, 20, warns other would-be influencers not to hand over money up-front for the chance of commission on sales
- Millie Clarke, 20, from north London, approached to model for Instagram ‘brand’
- Bristol University student found herself £284 out of pocket after buying clothes
- Brands lure would-be influencers in with discounts for promoting clothes online
When Millie Clarke was approached by fashion firms on Instagram to be a ‘brand ambassador’ she was flattered by the chance to make some money modelling their clothes.
But instead of earning a fortune by posting glamorous pictures, she found herself out of pocket to the tune of £284 with a pile of cheap clothes she could not return.
Now Miss Clarke, who paid upfront for the clothes she was promoting, has warned others to beware the underbelly of the multi-billion pound influencer industry.
Millie Clarke, 20, from north London, was approached to model for Instagram ‘brand’ – but found herself £284 out of pocket with a pile of cheap clothes she could not return
‘It is a massive risk to gamble in this way,’ said the 20-year-old Bristol University student.
‘I was really disappointed by [the clothes’] quality. When I complained, I did not get any refunds. I could have got a lot more for my money on a verified website.’
Celebrity influencers such as the Kardashians and Beyonce can earn up to a million US dollars to boost a product online – but it can be a very different story elsewhere.
Instead of being paid for advertising, brands lure would-be influencers in with discounts for clothes if they promote them online, and promising commission on anything their followers buy.
Miss Clarke, who paid upfront for the clothes she was promoting, has warned others to beware the underbelly of the multi-billion pound influencer industry
But Miss Clarke, from north London, found that even when she posted pictures of herself in a firm’s clothing – with discount codes for her followers – she was not paid her commission.
She added that many such companies were difficult to verify or track down as they did not have high street stores or legitimate company accounts.
Katherine Hart, of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said such brands were breaching the 2013 Consumer Contracts Regulations Act.
‘They are grooming and targeting young people who are susceptible to flattery,’ she added.