An email from “Jennifer, Project Manager with Under Armour’s Global Marketing Operations team” offering you a modeling opportunity may seem legitimate, but it’s actually part of a new check fraud scam. Here’s what you need to know.

The scammer is using Under Armour’s name and logo, and they do not have anything to do with this scam and are most likely completely unaware that it is happening.

How the Under Armour Model Scam Starts

I got an e-mail from Jennifer Old – jenniferoldham.underarmour@gmail.com, claiming to be impressed by my Instagram and asking to share more details about a potential collab.

The obvious red flag here is her Gmail address. If you get an email like this, just send it straight to the trash bin. I only answered back to get the full scammy story.

I did actually ask them why they weren’t e-mailing from the Under Armour domain and the reply was: “I currently work directly with Under Armour and am reaching out to you via my personal email to ensure smooth and direct communication.”

OK, sure…

The First E-mail:

My name is Jennifer, Project Manager with Under Armour’s Global Marketing Operations team. I came across your Instagram and was impressed by your creative direction and overall presentation.

We are currently preparing for a June/July 2026 campaign and believe you could be a strong fit. I would be happy to share more details and discuss a potential collaboration. Please let me know your availability or preferred way to connect.

I’m Going to be an Under Armour Supermodel!

I replied back to let them know I was interested in being an Under Armour model and to please send me the details. In this next reply is where they start setting up the check scam. (I’ve removed some of the unimportant e-mail details to make it shorter)

Hi,

We’re excited to share that Under Armour is launching a new Community Style Campaign centered around the debut of our latest clothing collection. This initiative is designed to highlight everyday style, creativity, and self-expression while strengthening connections with local communities.

As part of this campaign, we are currently seeking male and female talent for a promotional photoshoot taking place at train stations or railway locations across the USA and Canada. The objective is to spotlight the new collection in dynamic, real world environments while reinforcing brand visibility.

Role Details:

Model holiday wear, makeup looks, and current fashion trends

Wardrobe, hair, and makeup will be provided on set

Compensation: $2,500 total (including $500 upfront)

Location: Nearest railway station or track in your area (to minimize travel)

We are working in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to ensure secure, controlled, and isolated locations for the shoot. A limited crew including the photographer, makeup artist, and stylist will be present to maintain appropriate safety protocols. Please confirm that the above details are clear so we may proceed with the next steps.

Next Up: My Bank Information

I let them know I was very excited and ready to move to the next step. I got another long e-mail that ended with, “Please forward your Statistics for Attire, Statistics for shoes, and the following information as clearly outlined below in order to sign up and enable our financial department to prepare your payment.”

Below that was a list asking for typical model things like my height and weight, and a lot of personal details like my full name, address and name of my bank.

I filled everything in using the name Sarah Sanderson (from the movie Hocus Pocus) and put the address as the real house address from the filming location: 98 West Ave, Salem, MA 01970. Then I totally made up a phone number.

Getting Deeper Into the Scam

They let me know they got my info, and now “Matthieu Thomas, the event coordinator,” will contact me shortly with more details regarding the shoot.

This is the last I heard from Jennifer, and Matthieu took over.

He messaged me: As part of our standard onboarding process and in accordance with our business policies, we kindly ask that you provide a brief written introduction about yourself, along with three (3) recent photographs of your work. Additionally, please let me know whether you have received the Agreement Form from the Project Manager.

I wrote back to let him know, yes, I had done all that. Of course, I hadn’t, since I didn’t want to waste my time on it.

But Matt was totally ready to get to the next step! He sent me a very official looking fake contract to sign.

Now Time for the Check Fraud

I did not send any of the photos, details or even sign the contract they sent. But that didn’t stop them from sending me a check!

Matt let me know: “An advance payment of $500 will be issued to secure your participation, with the remaining balance of $2,500 to be paid on the day of the shoot. An additional $2,000 will be included in the payment to cover costume expenses; this amount should be forwarded to the fashion stylist once the payment has cleared.”

So, they are saying they will send $2500. I keep $500 and send $2000 to the fashion stylist. Then they will pay me my $2000 after the shoot.

How the Overpayment Check Scam Works

What they ended up sending me was a check for $1000. It was a very bad check that probably wouldn’t have even worked if I tried to deposit it. I’ve gotten way better fake checks than this!

I blocked out the banking and routing info because it is most likely connected to a real stolen account.

First, the check isn’t even signed where it should be. They sent a photo of the back, and they signed it where the person who is depositing should sign it.

I asked them why it was only for $1000 and they replied:

Sorry for the confusion, but I think there was a misunderstanding about the payment structure. You will be paid in installments. The first payment will include both your upfront payment and the costume payment, which will be issued together in a single check for $3,000.

Once the check clears, you should keep $500 as your upfront payment and forward the remaining balance to the stylist.

I told them I tried to deposit it, and the bank flagged it for a hold. I said I needed to call them in the morning. This set them off on a flurry of frantic e-mails trying to get me to send screenshots of the bank message.

And Now the Threats

After Matt exhausted his efforts trying to get me to send screenshots, it seems I was transferred to a new person. I guess they have a whole scam team working on this!

I got an email from Jason Dan at jasondan096@gmail.com letting me know they were not going to tolerate my actions anymore and will seek legal action if needed. Oh, so scary!

I hope you are well. I’m reaching out regarding a concerning issue we’ve encountered, where some models have been mismanaging or taking team funds without authorization. This is a serious matter, and we want to be clear that such actions are not tolerated.

We strongly advise that you refrain from any involvement in this kind of activity. If necessary, we are prepared to pursue appropriate legal action, including contacting your financial institution to address the situation.

Kindly provide a response within the next two hours so we can resolve this matter promptly. If we do not hear back from you within this timeframe, we will proceed with further action.

I gave them this response:

Are you saying people mismanaged funds and were not supposed to send me a check? I was instructed to deposit it. You are welcome to contact my bank to sort it out if that is not the case.

Jason then said, “The check you deposited is been credited to your account, do well and make the payment to the stylist.”

After I told him the fund did not clear, Jason surprisingly dropped communication. Usually at this point they start threatening even more, so that was surprising.

Out of curiosity, I messaged them again about two weeks later.

Jason replied back almost immediately to ask me if the check had cleared. Funny, because if it was their check, they would know if it cleared.

Just to waste more of his time, I asked them to send me a new check.

Don’t Get Fooled by Check Fraud

Sending a check for more than the amount you are owed, and having you send a payment to someone else is a classic overpayment scam.

By the time your bank catches the fraudulent check, you have already sent the money and will never get it back. On top of that, you have to pay the money back to the bank and may get a fee for the bad check.

It’s important to stay vigilant and informed about the tactics used in operations like the Under Armour model check fraud scam. This experience highlights several key takeaways:

1. Verify Authenticity: Always check the legitimacy of opportunity offers, especially when they come from personal email accounts instead of official company domains. Scammers can easily impersonate legitimate companies to deceive individuals.
2. Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off, such as unusual payment structures or requests for personal information upfront, it’s critical to pause and evaluate the situation. Scammers often create a sense of urgency or excitement to cloud your judgment.
3. Do Your Research: Look for online reviews or reports from others who may have encountered similar scams. Websites dedicated to exposing scams can be invaluable resources.
4. Never Share Personal Information: Be cautious about sharing sensitive information like banking details, especially with individuals or entities that you have not verified.
5. Report Suspicious Activity: If you encounter a scam, report it to relevant authorities or organizations, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local consumer protection agency. This can help prevent others from becoming victims.
6. Educate Others: Sharing your experience and warning friends and family can help create awareness and reduce the chances of them falling victim to similar scams.

Staying informed and cautious will help you protect yourself from fraudsters looking to exploit unsuspecting individuals. Remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it often is.