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.
Doing a tribute to a late radio icon while riding a treadmill? (click “Next” above or below)This is WAY over the top. I may be missing something because I don’t listen to the Steve Harvey Morning Show. With all due respect to the true radio vets on the Steve Harvey Morning show, Carla and Shirley Strawberry, and to Steve’s legacy as a media mogul, in my entire 30 years of radio, I have never seen a true “radio pro” do a show on a treadmill let alone make a tribute to a recently departed radio icon at the same time while riding it. Steve would fire me because I would be the one person to tell him this sh is unacceptable. We need to hear directly from and see Shirley on camera Steve, is the one who worked with him right? What gives? Is it me or is this disrespectful to our craft and to Doug? Can you imagine a preacher doing a funeral while eating chicken and waffles?Am I making too much of it? Can you IMAGINE if a true radio Radio DJ like the late Frankie Crocker did a show on a treadmill in urban? he may have done it on a horse or while skating but he would have made it spectacular. Anything less would have never happened. Perhaps I am expecting too much but being a radio pro is a SKILL and a CRAFT there is no compromise, you work within those parameters. Perhaps a comedian would do a tribute on a radio show while riding a treadmill but a true Radio DJ…. would not. Considering that my urban radio brethren will not respond to this I’m asking fans of radio if I’m wrong. I will open my mind and imagine the possibilities. Perhaps Steve has started a new trend. Here are my suggestions for other unorthodox ways to do a show on the air and to make a tribute to an icon. Your thoughts? (RIP Doug)
