Industry News: Cosmopolitan Photo Scam

Several photographers recently reported that they received emails containing what looked like a terrific assignment, but they later discovered that it was part of a con. Someone claiming to be an editor from Cosmopolitan asked them to produce a fashion shoot. But some details did not quite add up.

The “Assignment”

“Hello, My name is Steven Brown, and I’m the booking Director and a contributor on www.cosmopolitan.com,” read the initial email. “I’m looking for a professional photographer to produce an independent outdoor fashion photoshoot for the magazine.”

Brown, who also identified himself as an “associate editor,” was inviting his prospects “to concept, shoot, and produce 25 images with a “smart, fun approach and distinctly Cosmopolitan style.” The images would become editorial content, which he planned to publish on “www.highnobiety.com”

In exchange, he was offering photographers a $2000 fee, credits for the images, and “more gigs to come.” An additional $4000 was budgeted to cover the cost of two models, a hair/ makeup artist, and a wardrobe stylist. The client was to provide outfits.

 “If you find this interesting enough,” Brown offered, “please apply with personal info and samples of your work.” That was perhaps most bizarre: editors don’t usually provide assignments and then ask for a portfolio. It happens the other way around.

Red Flags

• The email came from a Gmail address. If it were a real assignment, it would likely come from a Hearst or Cosmopolitan email address.
• There was no email signature, which is unusual.
• The phone number did not seem to belong to Cosmo. Nobody answered when we dialed; instead, there was an unidentified voice instructing callers to leave a message.
• The project description, which was attached to the email, was not on Hearst or Cosmo letterhead.
• There were several typos and syntax errors in both the email and the project description.
• The real Steven Brown’s job title is Bookings Director, not booking Director.
• The author referred to his parent company as Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. However, Hearst Communication owns Cosmopolitan Magazines.
• The URL provided — www.highnobiety (where the images would supposedly be published) — did not work. A Google search did not provide any other reference to that publication at all, let alone a connection to Hearst or Cosmo. Do they mean https://www.highsnobiety.com/?

Further Reading:

• Wonderful Machine: Expert Advice: Photographer Scams
• Wonderful Machine: Industry News: Miami Vibes Magazine Photo Scam
• Wonderful Machine: Industry News: Another Magazine Photographer Scam
• PDN: Scam Alert: Phishing Scheme Targets Freelance Photographers
• PDN: Update on a Photo Scam: Photographer Lucky to Get Money Back After Fake Fader Assignment
• Photoshelter: 4 Scams that Target Photographers
• Petapixel: Photographers, Beware These Fake Gig Scam Emails
• aPhotoEditor: Scam Alert: Fake Magazine Shoot (Departures, W, Others)

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