Scammers are targeting clients looking to get their hair braided by using real stylists’ work and creating fake social media pages.
Reports of Scams
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is receiving reports of scams targeting individuals wanting braids. Scammers take pictures from legitimate stylists and post them on fake social media pages.
Modus Operandi
Potential clients find the fake pages and book appointments, often making small deposits. Clients realize they have been scammed when they do not hear back from the supposed stylist on the appointment day.
Impact on Legitimate Businesses
Real stylists like Porsche Hensley, who has been braiding hair for over 10 years and owns Divine Innovation 615 in Nashville, are affected. Hensley reported instances where clients arrived for appointments, only to find out they were scammed.
Precautions to Avoid Scams
BBB advises not to pay for the service in full before the appointment. Visit the stylist’s location before booking. Verify the stylist’s work by searching for them online and including the word “scam” after their name. Ask for the stylist’s license number and verify it.
Continuing the Business
Despite the scams, stylists like Porsche Hensley remain undeterred and continue their work.
Conclusion
Scammers exploiting the popularity of hair braiding are causing issues for both clients and legitimate stylists. Clients are advised to take precautions to ensure they are booking authentic services.
This October, late Reggae Legend Peter Tosh will be honored with the opening of a new museum dedicated to his life and impact on the music industry and the world. A founding member of the groundbreaking reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer- his work with the group, later solo career, social activism, and advocacy of the Rastafarian religion have left a lasting mark on not only Jamaican culture, but the world at large.The project comes on the 40th anniversary of the commercial release of Tosh’s 1976 hit single “Legalize It”, and is promised to give fans a fascinating and introspective look into the life of one of Jamaica’s most celebrated figures. Many prominent artists/entertainers who have been majorly impacted by his life and music have also been invited to attend.When the Peter Tosh Museum officially opens its doors, Jamaicans and visitors from around the world will be able to see a large collection of never-before-seen Tosh memorabilia, as some of the treasures will be displayed to the public for the first time. Visitors will also be able to relive aspects of the non-conformist, futuristic and abundantly creative Tosh experience through sizzling audio and video recordings featuring the superstar, as well as iconic artifacts including his M16 guitar and beloved unicycle that became one of his favorite means of transportation. Also available will be exclusive merchandise for sale to the public.Museum Launch Itinerary:Wednesday, October 19th: Launch VIP Cocktail Event (7PM)Thursday, October 20th: Symposium (6PM)Friday, October 21st: Press Conference (10AM)Saturday, October 22nd: Museum Benefit Concert (8PM)Sunday, October 23rd: Peter Tosh Memorial Garden Excursion (9AM) Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness (Right) with Niambe McIntosh (Center, holding her Father’s M16 guitar) and Chairman of Pulse Kingsley Cooper (Left) at Jamaica HouseA self-taught guitar and keyboard player, Tosh and The Wailers became pioneers of the burgeoning reggae scene in the late 1960’s, and together they toured the world for over ten years. He left the band in 1973 to pursue his solo career and earned huge success with “Legalize It” and later solo releases. The project is promised to give fans a deeper look into the man behind the music. Tosh died at the age of 42 in 1987 during a tragic home invasion.“This is an important turning point in the preservation and advancement of my father’s legacy, and the museum will allow my father’s message of equal rights and justice to be heard by generations, both young and old,” Niambe McIntosh, daughter of the Grammy winner and administrator of the Peter Tosh Estate has recently said.The Museum project is a joint-venture collaboration between the Peter Tosh Estate, Pulse Investments Ltd, and Andrea Marlene Brown.Pulse Chairman Kingsley Cooper, who produced the 1983 Pulse Superjam concert which became Tosh’s last ever performance, and who led the initiative for the museum’s establishment, said he was pleased that the lengthy negotiation had finally borne fruit and he is looking forward to this game-changing project. “The great Rastafarian campaigner for equal rights and justice, for the abolition of apartheid and for the legalization of marijuana, who did not get his due in life, will now be duly honoured by this important addition to his legacy,” Cooper said.Tosh left behind a legacy that included countless hits, collaborations with artists such as Mick Jagger ( “Walk and Don’t Look Back”) and Keith Richards, and a family who have worked diligently in recent years on the Museum project and preserving his legacy.The Peter Tosh Museum, opening this October, will help to further solidify Peter Tosh as a founding father of reggae, and an abounding social activist who accomplid so much in a short time.