Kids Talent Network / Model Republic Kids Model Republic Trusting parent scammed by so-called talent agency Las Vegas, Nevada

I found out this scum bag is in business with a new company called Showkids only on twitter and has an escort service called Vegascandyman.com.

I am not a lawyer, but I do know that you all can file a police report on him regarding fraud and misrepresentation to attain funds/money. I may not have the exact name for the file to report,but I am certain its close.

All of you should print out the rip off report, and whatever other evidence you have like emails from Alex Simon, payment method, contacts, anything. Bring it with you to the police department, file the report have them transfer it to Las Vegas Police Dept, if you do not live here. And a Detective will definetely call you and will work with the prosecutors office to get Alex Simon. The Prosecutors office may also work to get restitution for all of you, but you may not get it all back.

You can also call

LVPD's Financial/Property Crime Bureau

Fraud Detail: 702-828-3285

Good Luck to Everyone

Yes, I (I'm the author of the original report) do have the original contract as well as copies of emails sent between myself and people at KTN. I don't know if this helps my cause or not but I thought I should mention it.

I also did receive a response to an email message I labeled "urgent" and sent to alex@kidstalent.net. I let them know my child's site had been hacked and I wondered what in the world was going on. He (or someone) responded that they would look into it right away. After a week with no response, I emailed again asking what was going on. Whoever was writing said "none of the sites had been hacked" so could I send them the link?! Nice. So I emailed them the link and they wrote back that if I sent in new pictures and all of my child's information they would get a new site up.

OK...so that meant they had no clue who my child was and probably had no record of our information. Ridiculous, but no shock considering the whole thing was a scam.

After a millisecond of thought I wrote back and told them I was not going to be sending them any further information (despite all the money I was out) since they didn't even seem to know their own site had been hacked until I notified them of it and it made me hugely uncomfortable that my child's photos were who knows where? Of course, after that I received nothing more from whoever was emailing me.

Yes, I still have the copy of the contract with KTN.

Would you happen to have the contract you signed with this company?

My 2 daughters had been with KTN since July 2008.  As far as I knew, all was going fine - they were supossedly submitting my girls to agencies, etc.  I sent in my updated pics every 3 months and would get a quick reply, and their websites would be updated within 48 hours.  Granted, I was a little disheartened that nothing had happened in being with them over a year.

However, giving them the benefit of the doubt (which I am finding is a character flaw of mine), I continued to do as instructed.  BUT, when I sent in my Oct 2009 updated pics, I got no reply.  Over the span of a month, I  sent e-mails to 6 different KTN addresses, including Alex's, and left 2 voicemails (would have left more, but the mailbox was "full").  I reported them to BBB, but they cannot do anything.

I am really pissed at this point - feel like such a fool for being "scammed" out of $1000 (since I had 2 daughters with them).  Don't know how to get my money back...considering it the cost of a "learning experience".  Can't see how he stays in business or how he sleeps at night...

My advice to anyone considering KTN...DON'T!  You'd be better off doing things yourself.  I did, and my daughter has an interview with a very reputable agency in a big city in a few days - all just from me sending photos and a letter...which I'm sure is more than Alex ever did for my girls.

Hi,

I am also a mom who submitted her child with Kids Talent Network.  They advised that they have a 100% successful rate with signing on their customers with accredited agencies.  They took the 495.00 and said they will get back to me asap with an agency because my son had what "it takes" to be a model and actor.  They never return calls or emails.  When I checked my son's page it had been hacked and I continue to try to call them and a receptionist answers, MODEL REPUBLIC.  I specifically ask for Lena, Rene or Alex and she said she can only transfer to one voicemail. I told her I don't want to be transferred and need to speak to someone immediately and have had no success for over 6 months.  I asked if the company was legit and/or fraudulent and the receptionist hesitated and just hung up.  That tells me something is going on and that they are stealing money from eager parents who were misled by Kids Talent/Model Republic.  I wonder how many others are being affected by this fraudulent company. It is disgusting how these companies get away with this.  If anyone knows how to get in touch with them, please advise or perhaps we can file a suit like you all mentioned. 

I am interested in a lawsuit, as well, if anyone knows a good lawyer, I'm really sure there is no way we can't win.  I don't understand how these people are still in business, honestly.  Somebody somewhere has to bring them down or this behavior will continue.

I just filed a report about them too. Same story. Also talked to Renne on the phone (March and April 2009). Never heard back from them! I have been trying to call but maybe the phone numbers I have for them are different. I tried calling someone called Lena, that creates the webpages for talent, and the phone was not in service. I tried to access my kid's page, it had been kacked. I tried leaving phone messages on the only phone that answers (the one that answers as Model Republic) and no response. I would like to be involved in case we can do something about the contract! There should be thousands of others in the same situation, because my daughter's talent number was 2000 plus, and I assume there were at least other 2000 kids! Please let me know.