Am I being paranoid?

[Bob Hubbard]

I do not get a lot of emails or calls from aspiring models. My profiles on modeling sites are hardly touched, and I know my web sites traffic intimately, where they fall on Google under various terms,etc. The majority of my contacts come through MM.

So color my surprise last Sept when I got an email inquiry from an underage girl looking to be a model. Sent back my standard "need your parents ok", never heard back. Exactly 30 days later, another underage girl sends in pics and an inquiry. Sent same reply, never heard back.

Fast forward to this week.
2 days ago I get 2 calls and an email from a gal in Machias.
Today I get one from Jamestown.
Both calls went in a similar direction, except the 2nd claimed to be an exotic dancer looking for a change. Mentioned another photographer had been more interested in her working for him as an escort. When I mentioned I prefer to stick with the legal and that many of my clients are cops, the call ended quickly. Both calls were very similar. Looking to break into modeling, willing to wait until spring to shoot, etc.

At least these 2 were legal aged, but it seems very odd that I'd get calls from 2 girls, 2 days apart, with both girls being about an hour away from me.

I got red flags going off in my head.

 

[Archangel M]

Did you ask how they found you?

 

[Bob Hubbard]

Yes, all claimed it was by my photography site. Email address they sent to however is not now, nor has it ever been the one on the site. Last 1 sent to my unlisted private email.

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Maybe you got put on a "list" to be checked out!

 

[Archangel M]

Hmmm. That is weird. Tried googling/searching your e-mail address to see if it pop's up anywhere? Somebody post it up somewhere on you on someplace like craigslist? Competitor, enemy, etc?

Do you even have a hunch or gut feeling (even if it seems paranoid) about whats going on?

 

[jks9199]

I see a couple of possibilities...

First one is sinister: someone with a grudge has dropped your name somewhere that implies you'd do more questionable photography... Unless you can find out where, and who did it, I don't think there's much you can do about this. Handle it like you've been...

Second one is annoying: just dumb luck... These girls are finding you because they're trying to find someone to take their picture, whatever their reason. (Sincere model or wanna-be-pornstar or child porn ring...) Again, not much I can see that you can do. You hang out your shingle, and stuff like this will occasionally walk in the door. Reputable business practices takes care of it, as you've shown.

Third is kind of sneaky: by the nature of some of your work, someone who investigates child porn may be checking you out. Again, not much you can do... but also, again, you've handled it the right way. You've required appropriate steps each time... Unfortunately, internet crimes against children is a hot topic right now, and there are so many task forces and groups doing it that you'll probably pop up on their radar every once in a while. You're in the same boat as a legit massage business or real escort business...

 

[Archangel M]

legit massage business or real escort business...

Ha ha...good one!

 

[jks9199]

Yes, all claimed it was by my photography site. Email address they sent to however is not now, nor has it ever been the one on the site. Last 1 sent to my unlisted private email.

Has either email address ever been connected with your photography business? Could a model or someone you worked with have gotten in trouble, and given it as "information" to get out of trouble? Who has it... and does anyone who has had it have a grudge against you?

 

[jks9199]

Ha ha...good one!

Hey, there are a couple of each out there! Just like there are some exotic dancers that don't "supplement" their income with private lap dances, if y'know what I mean...

 

[Bob Hubbard]

"does anyone who has had it have a grudge against you?"

Yep. Local scumbag who bad mouths me every chance he gets.

Another interesting thing....my photography page lists our photo biz line.
Both calls came in on my web biz line. Did find this listed in a buried page on my photo site, but the other line is prominent.

I rarely give out my personal address, usually it's a business address.

 

[Archangel M]

My guess is that you have been listed somewhere. Did you get caller ID on the incoming calls?

 

[granfire]

you know what they say: Just because you are not paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you.

If something strikes you as odd, chances are something is not right. What momma tells her girls: that gut feeling tells you something.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

yep. cell phones.

 

[Rich Parsons]

Bob,

I had an issue with Facebook, it required me once to add a second e-mail to log in from a different computer. Then when they changed security the main was still hidden but the secondary was open. Guess what a bunch of people grabbed and stored as my e-mail, the secondary, which is a junk e-mail account I check once every 6 months.

So, it might be from something like that.

Also I was going to reply to this but I decided it would be best if I did not. ;~)

So this post is invisible and no one can really read it. :~D (* Shhhh it is a secret *)

 

[Bob Hubbard]

I wonder if someone was investigating someone, if they would check on those who've dealt with them as well.

 

[granfire]

I wonder if someone was investigating someone, if they would check on those who've dealt with them as well.

Probably...

 

[Jade Tigress]

Seems suspicious to me Bob. Lots of ideas on why this could be happening, but you're handling it right so eventually, whatever/whoever it is, will lose interest. Very weird though...

 

[jks9199]

I wonder if someone was investigating someone, if they would check on those who've dealt with them as well.

Yes. Almost as a matter of routine...

 

[Xue Sheng]

Just because you are paranoid does not mean that there is not actually someone out to get you

 

[Bob Hubbard]

I'm amused, not concerned.

My paperwork is complete, all revenue declared, taxes paid. All ID's are checked, releases signed, and I don't work with underage girls outside of family portraits and school shoots.
Many of my clients are law enforcement and their families.

But I've got a few 'enemies' in both the MA and photography worlds, so who knows.