Philip Foster Jailed for £13.6M Modelling Fraud, Over 6,000 Victims

Philip Foster, a former actor from the soap opera Brookside, has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for masterminding a £13.6 million fraud that deceived over 6,000 aspiring models. Operating from his home in Marbella, Spain, Foster ran a network of fake modelling agencies for more than eight years, exploiting the dreams of young individuals and their families. Victims were lured in by social media campaigns and offered 'free' test shoots, only to be pressured into purchasing expensive photographic portfolios that yielded little to no chance of securing actual modelling work. Following a six-year investigation by National Trading Standards, Foster and eight associates were prosecuted for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. The fraudulent operation left many families in financial ruin and emotional distress, with the chairman of the National Trading Standards describing Foster's actions as 'cruel exploits.' Foster's lavish lifestyle was funded by the proceeds of this extensive scam.