blank

I'm not going to respond really because Jeff pretty much covered what I would have said (that we're in the habit of telling ALL people to tread cautiously with ALL agents, since most people who ask these questions are minors and ignorant of how agents work and what they do). I will add this: "How are we to know that she is not good friends with a competing company and is just trying to cause trouble? I'm sure you understand." We don't. We never do. We treat each and every request as if it were true, because if we didn't a lot of really young, naive and hasty kids would sign up with really dodgy agencies. If a couple of people out there are using such tactics, well then, that's an industry-wide problem to be dealt with by teaching better ethics in business. ... Also "Then "Second, never trust anyone who contacts you from such an online profile (unless you initiated the communication)." I have to ask the question, Why Not? It is no more of a fear than being contacted by phone or in person. It is 2009. We use the internet because it is better and faster." Why not? Because again you're dealing mainly with young, naive and hasty kids who might not think twice about giving their private info out online. Evidently you have not heard much about phishing, online scams, and online paedophiles. But you know, telling young kids to be cautious in the light of all these things is evidently not good for business, so I'll just never advise kids to be cautious again. (Just because the adult population is smart enough to distinguish a real email from a bad one doesn't mean the enlightened technological youths can. EDIT: Whoops, yeah lots of ADULTS get scammed every day, so obviously some adults aren't smarter /end edit. And just because you're legit doesn't mean others are. Yeah, it's 2009 - does that mean we have magically gotten rid of all the bad people with computers?) Sorry if I sound pissed off in that last point, but I take online crime seriously. How about you? I didn't say that you were dodgy (although as always the agent in question turns up to tell me I have), simply provided a few little ways of critically reviewing the information provided. As always, the only thing I ever truly say is to be cautious, know your rights, and not sign on the dotted line without understanding the company and their background. Surely as a business who is highly ethical (your words), you would advise the very same to your clients? Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne