CHARLOTTE, N.C. — UPDATE: Organizer claimed all the All-Star events on the website will go on this weekend. Reporter Stephanie Tinoco tried setting up an interview multiple times to ask additional questions. Organizers have not responded to multiple requests.
A Concord woman said she was recruited to be a model for an NBA All-Star fashion show, but something didn't add up and now she said she's out hundreds of dollars.
Eyewitness News reporter Stephanie Tinoco started digging and found out that we weren't the only ones asking questions.
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The woman received paperwork and calls early on but as it got closer to the event, she said there were schedule changes and last-minute cancellations. She thought that was suspicious.
“I was very excited about being a part of the NBA All-Star fashion event,” Keedra Shields said.
It sounded like a dream come true for Shields.
[NBA All-Star Weekend: Who is participating in what event]
“All the designers were going to design us different outfits,” she said.
Shields said someone claiming to be with the SYT Initiative sent her a message on Facebook telling her she was the ideal model candidate for their big show and asked for an email address.
“From there, he sent me the information package to be one of the models for him,” Shields said.
This welcome packet promised access to concerts and after parties and an opportunity to use fashion to advocate for its cause -- heart health.
Shields said she was asked to pay for a hotel room in Charlotte for the weekend even though she lives in the area.
“I paid $229 for a hotel that they claimed we needed to be part of this event,” Shields said.
Her receipt looked legitimate but found out otherwise when she called the hotel to confirm the booked room.
“The hotel manager said that there was no such reservation in my name, no reservation scheduled at all in my name,” Shields said.
The hotel manager verified that there was no reservation and he was not aware of a fashion show.
Tinoco called the venue in Mooresville where Shields was told the fashion show would be held.
The owner said SYTI has booked a conference room for a show, but organizers have an outstanding balance. Venue operators haven't heard from them since.
The yacht club party listed on SYTI's website was never booked, which would’ve costed more money.
“I’m actually very concerned about the other models that could be involved as well,” Shields said.
A click on relationship testimonials on SYTI’s website takes you to a page with three smiling faces and glowing reviews. One claims she was allowed to attend a private island catered to college students and the owner of the company is so down to earth.
But Channel 9 did a reverse search of the images attached to that review online and found the same photo used for reviews on dozens of sites, all using different names.
Searches of the other two reviewers on the SYTI site turned up the same thing.
The organizers for the fashion show could not be reached Wednesday night.
Shield filed a police report and has been in contact with her bank.
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