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Report: #1276961

Complaint Review: Modeltest - Beverly Hills California

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Remy — Orange California USA
  • Author Confirmed What's this?
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  • Modeltest 332 S Beverly Drive Beverly Hills, California USA

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Erik DeSando's latest money-making attempt is called Modeltest, which was advertised on Instagram for modeling hopefuls who want to make their "big break" in the industry. The website for it is not even active anymore, which was www.modeltest.biz. I am an aspiring model who wanted to try out this program and see if it could help me make connections, do a screen test, or give me advice for going into the industry, and I had no prior information on DeSando before this, nor did I know he was running this company. 

After submitting an application via the now-defunct website, I received a text message from this company a couple weeks later (still not knowing it was from DeSando--or from anyone, specifically) saying "Thx 4Submission to Modeltest.biz. Casting in LA Mon-Weds. Can Ear $10k/month as Social Media/Magazine Model Txt 310-693-1874 to Attend Rply STOP 2quit or HELP". I replied with "attending" to the listed phone number. Later on I received a text that told me when the casting interviews were, and to reply with the day I was available, my name, and my Instagram or Facebook name. I gave my name, said that I was free on Tuesday 12/29/15 at 5 PM, and gave my Instagram username.

Here is the exchange verbatim:

12/27/15

(310) 693-1874: Thanks for your application for Instagram for Models/Modeltest we are holding the initial casting interviews: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of next week @5pm in Beverly hills. We have limited spots to secure your space so please send us what day you can attend and ur full name and ur (IG) Instagram name or ur (fb) facebook name. We will text back a confirmation after reviewing your social media. If you have been in already please ignore this text! Thanks

Me: Tuesday, Remy Cashman, @celloesque

(310) 693-1874: Remy, you are gorgeous. Love your look. Instagram needs work, but we will help you with that. Definitely think we can work with you. You are confirmed for 5 PM on Wednesday

(310) 693-1874: Hi Remy,

You are confirmed for your Model Test casting tuesday December 29th @ 5PM. Address of the location below:

Beverly Hills Casting

332 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

*Cross Street is Olympic Blvd. *Park at the 2 hour free Beverly Hills parking on Charleville Blvd and Beverly Drive. *2 blocks north of the casting place that's called Beverly Hills Casting and Jeff Rice Films.

Reminders below:

*Please be 15 minutes early *Bring a snap shot of yourself you can leave (Optional) *Dress code is Semi casual, we want you to look presentable *We encourage you to bring family or other support (Optional)

Please confirm your attendance. Thank you!

Best Regards,

Christina

Admin Assistant

Ej@instagramformodels.com

(310) 693-1874: Sickle cell and pregnant--you are interesting.

Love the distinction runaway-fitness-I fashion model.

Oh, and you're really hot too. Definitely think we can work with you. Please select a time that you would like to come 4 casting in on Wednesday 2 or 5 If you're living at home, we want you to bring a parent to the casting. It's better for you if they Buy in to this opportunity. And it's a huge opportunity with the way you look

Me: I'm not pregnant. This looks like a scam

(310) 693-1874: We are sorry for the slight mis date on your confirmed date :)

Me: Did you mean to send that to someone else?

(310) 693-1874: We are a very legit agency. Nothing is a scam

Me: I just want to make sure you're looking at the right Instagram page.

(310) 693-1874: We are trying to build confidence nor was it a mistake .. Some girls are worried and might be concerned if they are. We are letting you guys know that its ok! We still may use you ! :)

Me: I understand that. I'm asking you why you said I was pregnant.

(310) 693-1874: We didnt say you were! Its just an highlight regarding if you guys are concerned. egx: some girls are afraid they are too short, fat, has an illness,too tall,has freckles and might even be pregnant!

Me: No worries, I just misread the text. I'' be attending nontheless. Sorry for the misunderstanding!

(310) 693-1874: No problem! See you soon!! :)

 

12/29/15

(310) 693-1874: Confirming weds at 5 Remy, if for any reason u absolutely cannot attend let us know now so we can replace u as there are alot of girls on the waiting list. Thx see u tomorrow at 5 PM at Beverly Hills casting !

Me: I said I was coming Tuesday. I'm already here.

(310) 693-1874: Ok great that's even better see u at 445

Me: What is the room number?

 

The main text with all the information was sent from someone named "Christina" who was titled as "Admin Assistant" but the email below was apparently DeSando's (Ej@instagramformodels.com), though I did not know this until arriving at the building, which was inside of an office entitled Jeff Rice Films. I am aware that Jeff Rice is a legitimate figure in the industry and as far as I know is not a scam artist. However, upon entering the room, there was no Jeff Rice, and there was certainly no admin assistant named "Christina." It was Erik DeSando sitting at a desk, telling the friend who came with me that she was "pretty cute too", and he was the only one there. Not only that, but every text I received said that it was located at Beverly Hills Casting, which was several blocks away. 

 

About 5 or 6 other girls came in for the audition, most of whom had someone with them, which is customary for modeling interviews, auditions, or photoshoots. After filling out an application form (photos to follow), we were guided into an audition room with several couches and chairs and a small TV flat-screen showing the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show from 2011. We waited in there and watched that for about fifteen minutes before he came in to talk to us at 5 PM.

 

For about thirty minutes we listened to DeSando talk about how he used to own a talent agency (which was shut down), and how he used to work with Donald Trump and the Miss USA pageant (during which he coerced many girls into sexual favors, a link to an interview with one of the models can be found here: http://jezebel.com/5990342/a-former-miss-california-usa-contestant-slept-with-her-recruiter-this-is-her-story). He continued to make incredibly demeaning comments toward women, saying he liked to work with them because they are "sedentary" and "won't try to take his job." I began to feel very uncomfortable but I stayed to see just how bad it would get.

 

After talking about how “college is a waste of time and money” (I’m a full-time university student) and how “anyone can become a model,” he then began to slyly bring up the amazing discounts that his friend, Peter Baratti, could give to everyone in the room. Although Baratti is a legitimate photographer, DeSando hinted at the fact that headshots would still cost about $600. If you paid this fee, you would not have your choice of photographer, which is not a sign of a legitimate modeling agency, no matter how legitimate the photographer is. I started to realize that this was a scam to get these modeling hopefuls to pay Baratti for headshots under the guise of making their “big break,” and DeSando would get a share of the profits. By this point, the girl sitting next to me had already left due to being so uncomfortable, but DeSando did not say anything, he continued talking.

 

At this time, DeSando stated that “If you have professional pictures of yourselves, you either paid for them or f**ked the guy taking them.” My friend and I were so upset by this statement that we decided to leave the room. As we walked out, he stopped his speech and watched us walk down the hall towards the door and said “where do you think you’re going?” My friend said “have a nice day, sir” and we left the building.

 

I was so uncomfortable around DeSando that I decided to do further research on him when I came home, only being able to find out his last name online from those who have worked with them and who never have again. At the interview, he only gave his first name, as well as his nickname “EJ,” but did not at any point give his last name, probably so as to keep his infamy swept under the rug. He has never once worked at Beverly Hills Casting, nor is he even a respected name in the industry. He has been sued for fraud countless times and he continues to do the exact same scam artistry that he did at Be Productions, but under a different name and method. 

 

I cannot say that I know exactly what happened after I left, but I can say that this man has a very infamous past, and has been ran out of several reputable businesses because of his criminal activity. I felt extremely unsafe and uncomfortable in that room and the fact that he was asking for potentially thousands of dollars from modeling hopefuls for headshots, without saying so beforehand, deems it necessary that this matter must be attended to for the sake of hundreds of girls trying to make it in such a difficult industry. I have blocked his phone number from my cell phone. 

 

DeSando in Courthouse News (involving Miss USA):

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/12/06/63494.htm

 

DeSando in Ripoff Report (involving Be Productions):

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Be-Productions-Erik-DesandoBe-Domingo-Casanas-Domingo-Ivan/Emeryville-California/Be-Productions-Erik-Desando-Be-Erik-DesandoBe-Domingo-CasanBe-Productions-Domin-442621

 

DeSando has two LinkedIn profiles:

 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikdesando

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikds

 

An ABC7 article (involving DeSando and Be Productions):

http://abc7news.com/archive/7185004/

 

Models and people in the entertainment industry, BEWARE OF THIS MAN. He does not care about your success, and he is doing what he does best. Do not let him get away with that, and be sure to warn others. 

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 12/29/2015 11:29 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/modeltest/beverly-hills-california-90212/modeltest-erik-desando-lures-modeling-hopefuls-into-paying-for-headshots-under-the-guise-1276961. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
1Author
3Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#4 General Comment

Same experience!

AUTHOR: LP13 - ()

POSTED: Thursday, September 21, 2017

I just stumbled across your post after mindlessly wandering the Internet at work. I thought about checking up on "Model Test" & Erik DeSando as I do sometimes to see if the business progressed. Like you, I met "EJ" but in NYC in the summer of 2015. I stayed for his whole spiel, & afterwards he expressed his interesrt in me. He asked for money which immediately put up red flags. When I said I was not comfortable going forward, he shooed me out the door & said I wasn't getting any younger. Upon going home, I researched him & found A TON of reports against Erik DeSando. I wrote a review on Yahoo! after another girl had inquired if "modeltest.biz" was a scam:

"Yes!!! Yes it is. I met with Model Test in NYC. Look up the name Erik DeSando aka "EJ." He s had a few of these businesses & has been sued because he s a scam artist. This is his latest endeavor. They make you pay up front & if you don t, they re rude & rush you out of the room. Probably because you caught on to their scheme & there are so many hopeful young women who will buy into this because they see it as a breakthrough -- their shot. Dont do it!!! Just look up Erik DeSando. I wish I did before I wasted two hours on a Saturday morning meeting with this creep."

 

He is sleazy & a con artist. I hope other hopefuls are able to look up his name & see this site before they give him their $$!!!!

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#3 Consumer Suggestion

Eric Desando - He tried to lure me several years ago and when I called him out on it he called me crazy

AUTHOR: PR Executive Rebecca Landrith - (USA)

POSTED: Friday, August 18, 2017

Sorry that happened to you ... I met Mr. Desando in NY several years ago and when I called him out on his game he called me crazy. He preys on children. I reported him to the FBI. He should be in jail. I can't believe he's still doing this. Pls keep Warning ppl. This is an OUTRAGEOUS ABUSE. And I'm puzzled why other ppl don't catch on. :(( I suspect he may be running a Human Traficking scam or participating in one. He's VERY dangerous!! He was also involved in a Murder, and Insurance scam. His roommate knew a Medical Doctor who Lied about the death and identity of a victim his roommate had killed for money. So sad. Sick ppl in this world. I Pray for him that he will Focus on becoming an Ethical Human Being. And use his power and connections for good.  I have tried to warn other women and girls and families about him and they have shown Contempt towards me as well.  I hope ppl realize this man does NOT have your interests at heart.  He is a Very, very dangerous predator.

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#2 Author of original report

Rebuttal Response

AUTHOR: - ()

POSTED: Saturday, March 26, 2016

Thank you for your response and for keeping me updated, it seems that he's fixed the original website (it hadn't been working back when I initially published this).

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#1 Consumer Comment

EJ operating under new website

AUTHOR: Anonymous - (USA)

POSTED: Thursday, March 24, 2016

www.socialmediaformodels.com @socialmediaformodels on Instagram Daryl@socialmediaformodels.com Using super model Joanna Krupa as bait ! Modeltest.biz is still functioning and where I submitted my application. Was initially contacted by Daryl. Then Anne who claims to be Admin Assistant. When asked details for location of meeting, I was told they had a conference room booked in Mission Valley and to just ask for EJ. No last names were given of anyone involved.

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