ANYONE can claim to be a professional photographer or a talent scout. And all it takes is an e-mail account and a contact number for someone to post recruitment ads on the Internet.

Searches across popular advertisement websites and even Facebook in the past week easily tossed up about 50 such ads: "Young aspiring models required. Part-time, experience not necessary. Pays well."

The lines vary slightly but some were explicit in what was required of the applicants: "Willing to pose in artistic nude shoots (sic)" or "must wear sexy lingerie/underwear".

Most listed age requirements as between 18 and 23.

If these are bogus advertisers, they may lure young, impressionable and aspiring models.

Junior college student Jasmine T, 18, said she read a Facebook page seeking part-time models for overseas assignments last August.

The slim voluptuous teenager told The New Paper on Sunday: "I was quite keen as I've always wanted to go into modelling.

"I thought it would be good to start with something simple. Should I not make the cut, it wouldn't be so embarrassing as my friends won't have to know about it."

Two days after leaving a message on the Facebook wall, Jasmine received a private message with a mobile phone number.

"The man introduced himself as a Singapore-based agent for two lingerie brands," Jasmine recalled.

They met at an Orchard Road coffee joint where he turned up with two catalogues from the labels.

She said: "It didn't occur to me that he could be lying. He was dressed well and professionally. He even produced a name card."

But it did not carry a company name, office address or land line number – only a mobile phone number and post office box address.

Jasmine said: "I found it odd but he explained that as a freelancer, it was not cost-effective for him to get an office space."

No portfolio

As Jasmine did not have a portfolio, he offered to take her pictures.

She said: "He told me that since I have a good figure, I should not have any problem securing assignments. The only thing was, I must be daring enough to try bold shots."

Jasmine added: "I made it clear that I wouldn't agree to nude shots but he assured me that it would not happen.

"He claimed that his clients demanded all photos to be taken tastefully and professionally."

Jasmine and the "agent" met a week later at a Balestier Road photo studio. The shoot started smoothly as she was first asked to pose in three different sets of sports attire.

Then she was shown five sets of lingerie and asked to pick three to wear.

Jasmine said: "I was uncomfortable because they were very revealing and I was not allowed to wear any bra.

"But he kept telling me that it was hard for me to make it as a model if I was so inhibited."

After some persuasion, she ended up posing in two sets of lingerie.

When Jasmine later told her cousin about it, she realised she could have put herself at risk. She was also not paid for the job.

Jasmine said: "I decided I wanted out."

Accompanied by her cousin, she met the man three days later and told him that she had changed her mind.

"He was all nice and understanding, telling me that it was right for me to reconsider my decision," said Jasmine.

"He showed me the photos and said it was a pity because I looked photogenic."

While Jasmine was satisfied with the photos too, she turned him down.

She said: "I was scared because the photos were too revealing – my nipples could be seen."

Jasmine asked for the photos to be returned to her and the man agreed.

In December, she was shocked to find out that four different poses of her were put up on a social escort website.

Frantic, Jasmine called the man and he sounded shocked and promised to investigate.

The man later blamed his assistant for the "slip-up" and promised he "would do something about it".

Jasmine said: "Though the photos have been removed, I still dread to think there may be others floating around somewhere.

"It's a painful lesson – I've learned now that vanity can be costly to gullible girls like me."

When The New Paper on Sunday contacted the man, he insisted it was "all a misunderstanding that has since been cleared".

When asked who he was working with at the two lingerie companies, he said: "I no longer work with either company. In fact, I've also retired from this trade."

The Facebook page was also taken down after The New Paper on Sunday spoke to the man.

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