The District Court has sentenced four people involved in a modelling-agency fraud to four to four and a half years in jail.

The court heard that from September 2003 to September 2005, a fictitious modelling agency in Tsim Sha Tsui lured 51 people who paid from $5,000 to $130,000 in administrative fees to become contract models.

They were also promised lucrative modelling jobs that never materialised. The victims complained to the Police after the agency closed down in September 2005. The amount of money involved totalled over $1.2 million.

Three men and a woman were later arrested and charged with conspiracy to defraud and dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence.

Police reminded job seekers to be cautious of all possible fraudulent schemes. Call 2860 5013 or any Police stations for enquiries or to lodge a complaint about such crimes.