Philip Foster, 49, a part of Brookside, lived a luxurious lifestyle by taking advantage of the dreams of a young model and her parents for eight years. Sheffield Crown Court asked.
The national e-commerce trading standards team based in York and Northerrton exposes his business, including an extensive network of fake modeling institutions, and is currently fleeing an eight-and-a-half-year prison term in Spain.
Foster of Marbella, Spain, was absent from Sheffield Crown Court on Friday and was sentenced to conspiracy to fraud along with eight other associates sentenced to the same crime and money laundering charges.
The team's work won them the praise of the judge.
Passing the sentence, Judge David Dixon said: Some people are very confident in the level of deception and have taken out their payday loans, making it clear that the scam is manipulative and cynical.
“It is a horrifying, mean, dishonest behavior, and each of you deserves to go to prison.
“Officers have done exceptional work to bring these defendants to trial, and it hasn't been easy or easy.
This study was conducted with specific skills. You need to give praise based on the skills deployed. ”
York City Council Councilor Jenny Kent said: “Mr. Foster and his colleagues have created millions of people by exploiting the hopes of young people and leaving behind paths of broken dreams and financial difficulties.”
Trade Standards executives gave up large sums of money to the false promise of securing paid modeling work with a scam that ran from a Spanish base in which more than 6,000 victims were raised, where he lived a luxurious lifestyle.
He used a network of British associates to run a series of fake modeling institutions and photography studios discovered after six years of research in cities such as London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry and Nottingham.
The victims were offered “free” test shoots, handed over a glossy pamphlet, and others like them said they had to buy a photo portfolio for the modelling institutions that interest them.
The scammers then bought the victims a photo of their portfolio and joined the agency to become an agency model.
Some of them made future payments using credit transactions arranged by scammers or expensive payday loans.
In return, the victims got poor quality digital photos.
Foster bought high-end watches and cars with a share of revenue, but many victims told NTS investigators that they felt financially and emotionally devastated, humiliated and betrayed.
Some people have experienced enduring pain that has affected their confidence, happiness and their ability to trust others.
The fake institutions that did not pay taxes were present for a short time before they dissolved and were rebranded repeatedly.
According to the NTS, the money from the scam was washed through a British bank account and then before being transported in cash on commercial flights by conspirators.
An executive member of the North Yorkshire Council for managing Environmental Councillor Greg White said:
“In some cases, parents believed they were investing in their child's future, borrowing money or sacrificing their savings.
“I encourage people searching online to model opportunities to remember that legitimate institutions don't ask for money in advance. Often, only fraudulent institutions promote expensive photography as a prerequisite to getting a job.”
Michael Foster, 27, of Liverpool, was jailed for three and a half years for conspiracy, while Jamie Peters, 52, of Warrington, was suspended for 24 months for the same crime.
Lisa Foster, 42, of Astley, Greater Manchester, was given 18 months of suspended prison, Emily Newall, 29, of Catoresley, Manchester, was given 10 months of suspended prison, and 44-year-old Clott, Berkshire, was given 12 months of prison sentence.
Each of them was convicted of conspiracy to fraud.
Paul Fleury, 57, of Swinton, Manchester, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 12 months for conspiracy to fraud.
Aslihan Foster, 39, of Coventry, was sentenced to 18 months, while Paul Evans, 39, did not receive a known address, but both were sentenced to three and a half years in prison after being convicted of a crime related to money laundering.
The York and North Yorkshire teams were supported by Southwest Trade StandArtds officers.
