#trending: TikToker warns women about photographer who recruits them for a “unique photoshoot” with a sexual nature

SINGAPORE – A TikTok video of a woman warning others about an offer to take part in a high-paying, sexually suggestive photo shoot with 50 men went viral this week, with several users saying they had received a similar offer.

On Tuesday (July 2), 21-year-old up-and-coming designer Lai Yi Jing posted a video on the platform in which she said she had received an email from a man named “Gavin Choo” who claimed to be a freelance photographer based in Singapore.

The man said he was looking for models for a paid project, describing it as a “clothed” indoor photoshoot with a “unique concept”. In return, she would receive S$8,000 for participating.

Wondering if the whole thing was too good to be true, Ms. Lai asked the man for more details to determine if he was a reputable photographer.

The man replied that the model had to wear a crop top and a tennis skirt and that 50 other men would be performing a sexual act during the shoot.

He then announced that the compensation would be increased to S$12,000.

Ms. Lai said in the video that she did not accept the offer.

“I just want to point out that if you ever get an email, whether it’s to Gavin Choo or anyone else, and it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” she said.

“I would do anything for money, but not that.”

The video has been viewed more than 138,000 times and received 220 comments in the three days since it was posted.

Opaque, but “not new”

In the comments section of the video, TikTok users expressed their dismay at the nature of the man’s offer, with some urging Ms. Lai to report the man to the authorities.

Many commenters on the video said that the photographer had offered them a similar photo shoot via email or direct message on social media.

One user wrote: “Once this photographer asked me to do a shoot alone in a hotel room, but it was too vague so I declined.”

Another said: “I got this too, but the outfit and poses were different.”

However, several users stated that offers for such “photo shoots” have been around for some time.

One comment said: “I remember this exact thing happening years ago. I can’t believe it’s happening again.”

Another wrote: “This was a scam when I was 18… almost 18 years ago.”

As early as 2021, several women in Singapore had reported on social media about their experiences with similar photo shoots of a sexual nature.

In one case, a woman was offered up to S$22,500 for a three-hour shoot, for which she had to sign a non-disclosure agreement – ​​a legally binding document to keep information confidential.

The woman had filed a report with the police and the police informed her that they had tracked down the sender of the email and warned him.

Under the Film Act, it is illegal to make or reproduce obscene films, even if they are not intended for distribution or public exhibition. Anyone found guilty can be punished with a fine of up to S$40,000 or a prison term of up to two years, or both.

The Anti-Unwanted Publications Act also states that it is illegal to take obscene photographs if those photographs were taken for the purpose of sharing or distributing them to others. This offence can result in a fine of up to S$2,000 or a jail term of up to two years.

Responding to TODAY’s questions, Ms Lai said she made the video to raise awareness of the situation and that she blocked the man’s number after rejecting his offer.

Although she felt “disgusted” that such a situation had happened to her and other women, she added: “These kinds of things are to be expected because there are a lot of strange people out there.”

When asked whether she had filed a report with the police, Ms Lai said no because she initially thought that there was “no point” in doing so if the police could only give the man a warning.

However, she believes it would be worthwhile for the police to “re-examine” the case to determine whether the perpetrator is the same man who was responsible for the previous cases.

“We never know if his next victim will actually fall for it, and who knows what would happen (then)?” she said.

TODAY has contacted the Singapore Police Force and asked for clarification on what action can be taken against perpetrators in such cases where no obscene films or photographs were taken.