Mr [Martin Walsh] said any young person approached by an individual over any form of modelling should immediately verify their credentials. “Any of therecognised agencies will happily advise if an individual is known to them or will advise if they believe you have potential to be a successful model,” he said. “If they don’t listen to the experts that is when they become vulnerable. We are dealing with the dreams of young girls.”

POLICE have warned aspiring young models to beware of predators on the internet offering them a break in the fashion industry.

The warnings follow the arrest of a 35-year-old Indian national who has been charged with sexual assault after he allegedly masqueraded as a modelling agent named James Carter.

NSW police have alleged he used the social networking sites MySpace and Facebook. After chatting with a young Sydney woman online he allegedly arranged to meet her for a drink, spiked her drink and then raped her. The man remains in custody and will face court in April.

Police are concerned there may be other victims of the James Carter scam or other women who may have suffered similar experiences but not reported them.

Leading fashion agency Chadwick joined police yesterday to warn young girls to be wary of anyone purporting to be a modelling agent online.

Chadwick director Martin Walsh said that on the margins of the fashion industry there had often been unscrupulous people preying on the aspirations of young girls. The anonymity of modern technology had made it even easier.

Mr Walsh said any young person approached by an individual over any form of modelling should immediately verify their credentials. “Any of the recognised agencies will happily advise if an individual is known to them or will advise if they believe you have potential to be a successful model,” he said. “If they don’t listen to the experts that is when they become vulnerable. We are dealing with the dreams of young girls.”

Former model Mink Sadowsky, who is a runway coach for the reality TV program Australia’s Next Top Model, and who has appeared in numerous magazines including Harpers, Vogue, Cleo and GQ, said many young girls had unrealistic fantasies of becoming a top model.

She said the industry had a duty of care not to mislead them or place them in vulnerable situations.

Ms Sadowsky said one of the most common tricks was for predators to offer young girls the chance to have professional pictures taken to help them break into the industry. The current generation of young girls had grown up on a diet of celebrity magazines and instant fame and were particularly vulnerable. “Our job is to be honest and straightforward with these girls. At the end of the day, it is a business. At our level it is a very professional industry. Not everyone is going to be appropriate.”

She said some girls would not take no for an answer, or face reality. “They’re the ones we’re worried about. If approached online be very, very cautious.”

Crime manager at The Rocks in Sydney Detective Inspector Murray Reynolds warned young people to be careful about the images of themselves they were putting up on the web and on social networking sites.

Credit: John Stapleton