O Camgirl is here to call out the liars and scum of the adult webcam modeling industry. Before I start listing them off, though, I’m going to give you the tools you need to recognize actual scams for yourself.
10 Red Flags to Watch Out For
1. A company, or individual claiming to represent a company (henceforth “they”), approaches you first.
If you are cold contacted through social media, email or instant messenger, it is most likely an attempted scam. At best, it is a studio or affiliate looking to recruit you so that they get a cut of your check.
Cam sites advertise but they do not contact you unless you contacted them first. Always go directly to the company you want to work with.
2. They request an interview via webcam.
They are trying to get a free show out of you, under the guise that you are “auditioning” for a modeling position. This is unfortunately a common scam in the sex industry and webcam modeling is no exception.
Legitimate companies do not “interview” prospective models. You don’t even need to send nude pictures with your application.
3. They request nude pictures.
See above. Legit companies will likely ask for a full body photo and a head shot. They won’t specify, but you’re free to keep your clothes on.
4. There is an application fee.
The only real start-up investment I can think of might be for your webcam or some novelty items. If they ask for some kind of processing fee, it’s a scam. [tweetthis]Legitimate cam sites pay their models. Models NEVER pay their cam sites.[/tweetthis]
5. They don’t request identification to prove you are over 18.
This is an extremely important part of the application process. If they don’t verify your age, they either don’t know what they’re doing or they’re after something else. Either way, I would run lol.
6. They guarantee income.
If it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. If they promise you’ll be making a certain amount per hour, it’s either not a cam site or it’s a scam. When customers spend money on you, you get paid. There are no guarantees in this business.
7. There is no contact information on their website.
If you can’t send them an email or give them a call, they don’t want to talk to you. I would wonder what they’re hiding and find a more professional company to work with.
8. You contact them but never receive a response.
Most established sites will get back to you within a few days. If you never receive a response, it could either be bad customer service or illegitimate. Not a definite scam, but definitely not a good sign.
9. You receive a response from a free web-based email account (hotmail, gmail, etc.) and/or the response sounds like a recruiting ad and doesn’t answer all your questions.
If they are unprofessional, they aren’t going to be fun to work with even if they are legit. But if the email doesn’t come from the cam site’s domain or recruiting division, you’re looking at an attempted scam.
10. They offer to pay you through Paypal.
It’s against Paypal’s appropriate use policy to send or receive money for adult related services. I know of many models who have tried to use Paypal for this type of transaction and the result was a frozen account and surrendered funds. Paypal is not a payment option for cam sites.
Again, this could be a scam or it could be incompetence. Either way, I wouldn’t work with the company.
If you’ve encountered a scam in the webcam modeling business, I would love it if you’d share your story. If you’re looking at something and aren’t sure whether it is legit, I’ll gladly take a look for you. I appreciate all comments and questions posted below.
Take it easy.
Hi cat I’m just looking to start out I like in the uk I have found strictlymodels.com but they look like they are a 3rd party and I wounded if you knew anything about them or could suggest any good company’s to go to?
Hi, they are a third party yes, charge up to 50-60% of your earnings, best avoid.
For the UK your only site is http://www.adultwork.com but via companies like http://www.dailypayservice.com you can work on US sites also and still be paid into your UK bank.
Recently I was working with Jessica kent web cam modelling. Owned and operated by Ben Kent. He has since ran off with not just several thousand dollars of my money but lots of other models have been stolen from. Please be warned of this scam. He signs up his models on several sites so.if you eber want ro leave you cant work for 90 days. Je promises dollars that are very unrealistic. Lies and theft is all he has done.
I was hoping I would be able to share an email I recieved from an anonymous business who contacted me from a professional job ad I put on Craigslist when I was looking for work. Please let me know if you can look it over and let me know if it sounds like a scam?
Thanks
Hi Rochelle,
You are welcome to email me at tylr.cat@gmail.com anytime.
Thank you for reaching out!
Cat
Hey Cat, (sorry about the duplicated comment; I gave you the wrong email address)
Thank you for the blog! I’m thinking about becoming a camgirl and I was wondering something as I tried signing up for Jasmin.com. There’s a section asking for ID number document or passport, and that sketches me out. Is that normal for websites to ask? And will it affect my future career when I apply for jobs? (I’m hoping to become a nurse or doctor). I’m just scared that giving my actual documents the “camgirl” profession will show up or something. Thank you!
Hey Ashley, no worries! It is absolutely normal for cam sites to request this info, as they are legit companies and need it to pay you like any other company you work for. All that would show up on a background check is that you were an *independent contractor* for *the site’s parent company* which is usually related to the actual software they use, and has nothing to do with adult entertainment.
Aw thank you for your response, Cat!
I see… so their site parenting company would not reveal any “adult” hints at all? I’m quite paranoid so I like to be smart and as much informed as possible about these kinds of things! Also, I read on other forums that some companies sell ID documentations or identity to third parties; does that actually happen?
When you read their Performer Agreement, you can see the actual company name that would show up on your check. I’m not going to name it here because it could then bring up this site when someone searches for it. No, any big legit company is not going to sell your info. That would be amazingly bad for business. 🙂
Thank you again Cat; that’s a relief! However, would the same apply for Adult Work as well? Do you know if it has a normal non-sexual sounding actual company name? (I’m living in the UK so hopefully the process is similar). The reason I might sign up with Adult work is because my friend can add me to her camming group to get it featured.
Best,
Ashley
You can find this information for any company within the documentation you’re required to sign when you register. I can’t speak specifically to AdultWork personally as I’ve never tried the site.
i used to cam for streamate… but had my account closed for something i was accused of that i did not actually do…. such is life though…. this was about a year ago… am i able to open another account with streamate or am i permanantly banned….i am unsure of this… just having account closed is bad enough… i lost all my followers and the like… or is this a permanant thing as i found them to be the best site to work for… i have tried to ask directly but as yet have not had a response in over a month..
Streamate support is notoriously pretty terrible. I recommend opening a new account under a new email if you really like the site.
Awesome… I loved streamate… it was the politeness of MOST of the clients… the site itself was set up decently too… everything about it was great compared with a few others out there I have tried..
Cat,
I recently did a show on chatturbate, and was asked to PM a guy…. he then told me he was a recruiter and gave me an email address… yes gmail… i mailed them and they told me that they are a pvt members club… that the members pay $500 a month.. this is how they make their money… and if i am available to work then i just turn on my skype which is set up solely for them and the purpose of camming… they make offers as they come in and i can either refuse or accept… they gave me two skype contacts… one is their controller… the other is my room to chat in and apparently i cannot be recorded when using this room… Their is no cam site… they are called skycams2016,, and apparently a members only club… the only way to join is to be reffered by another member… they pay through payoneer… but… asked for no ID… as the recruiter said he had seen me on chatturbate so they knew i was 18 already… they only take girls that are recruited… no applications… it sounds a little dodgy…. and i cannot find anything on them… good or bad… could you help at all??
Hey Kittens,
There are a few red flags here. Trust your gut, and stick with the cam sites we know are legit! I know it can be easy to doubt yourself because you want certain things to be real, but this isn’t.
thanks Cat…. No matter how exclusive I cannot fathom why someone would pay someone else $500a month just to find them a cam girl.. when sites have the listings for free.. plus they keep making assurances that I cannot be recorded through Skype from their end.. which from my understanding…is complete bull sh*t… I appreciate the insight.. thankyou.. I just needed to hear it from someone else.. Oh BTW. they never asked to see me nude.. they didn’t even ask for a profile pic.. which I found odd… really odd…
Do you have a forum for those models that scam members too? It would seem its always the models who are getting scammed and sometimes not for money, just for free shows? What about the models taking real money from members and supplying no service? I would like your opinions on this matter. One models experience with one site doesn’t seem fair to brand the site as unreliable. Although most major sites seem to run their business above board, there are numerous offshoots and affiliated sites with less scruples. Thank you for the interesting reading.
Hello cat I was wondering if you know anything about Diamond house studios I want to start in this type of work I was researching about them but don’t know if it’s a scam
It’s not a scam, but it is a studio, which means they’re just signing you up with one of the main sites and taking a cut of your pay. Unfortunately I can’t find much information about them, so I can’t say whether they’re good or not. I suggest checking out the reviews and trying one of the more popular sites!
I agree with the person above who said “Paradise Kitty” is the worst they truly are,
Now i am using a site called Jasmin its a pretty small site i think (?) but never had any problems what so ever and its more of private like person to person less crowded and that fits me better i think..
So you’re saying Jasmine is reliable?
They are one of the bigger private-oriented sites. Yes, they’re reliable.
I’m signed up with Paradise Kitty too and they are THE WORST!! They don’t answer the phone, I had to get streammate involved to even get them to reply to an email. I’m still trying to get my first pay out, but they claim to have next day pay out available. Any advice from anybody who’s worked with these awful people before would be appreciated. I just want to get my money and leave.
dealing with the same BS. Paradise Kitty didn’t even send me a payout form until i was like ok I’ve done all this work where the hell is my money??i didn’t know they were a third party too. taking a cut of our money so fucked up
I’m looking into becoming a cam model but I’m not sure where to start! There are just so many sites to choose from. I’ve been looking at Livejasmin and it seems legit but I’m not positive. Any advice is greatly appreciated
There are a lot of sites to choose from! Livejasmin is legit for sure, though I haven’t had a chance to review it personally. I would also recommend checking out our reviews section, where we’ve rated a few of the more popular sites for you.
Hello, please email me or reply to this comment here. I signed up with a company called Paradise Kitty and I am trying to hard to get out, I don’t want to work with them, they are taking a percentage from my earnings, I called and called AN do no answer. Please help me get out of this.
I’m sorry to hear you signed up with Paradise Kitty. Unfortunately if you’ve already started using the account you’ll have to wait out your contract – find another site to start on in the meantime and don’t touch the account. I’m not sure whether they have you locked in with them for 6 months or 1 year, but you can find out by reading the contract you signed with them.
If you need a recommendation for another site to work with in the meantime let me know and I can help you with that!
Hi cat! I’ve been considering becoming a cam model to pay for college tuition on this website called “camjobs.com” and I’ve been reading reviews about it for a while and I can’t seem to find anything negative. Have you ever heard of it Orono was anything about it?
Thanks so much.
Hi Anna! Thanks for reaching out. Camjobs is a MyFreeCams studio. I always recommend working directly with the sites you want to work on, because that way you keep the full commission that site pays out. Working with a studio, the studio usually gets a cut of your earnings and you lose autonomy. Hope this helps!
is the a site that you can talk with other couples? or just one person and Web show is not necessary? a site that you are comfortable doing your own thing.. Thanks
I’m not sure I understand what you’re looking for.
Like a Webcam chat with others and not always having to do sexual stuff..
You don’t always have to do sexual stuff on cam. You do what you’re comfortable with, always.
I’m looking to get started and I began to sign up with i-camz. Luckily I haven’t completed the application process, because apparently it’s no good. I’m really hesitant, they ask for a picture of your passport, your social insurance number… is it safe to give out this information?
I’m also guessing a red flag is if the site asks for a credit card number, they shouldn’t need that I wouldn’t think
I’m from Canada too, and I’m wondering for the American sites they should send you an international form instead of a W5 to fill out for tax purposes?
I also once tried signing up to this Canadian cam girl site, i forget what it was called, something like Canadiancams …. pretty sure it was a scam, but I didn’t go far enough to lose money at least.
Anyway this is all very new and interesting and I am so grateful to have stumbled across your site. I really felt completely alone and vulnerable in this but I feel way more prepared and safe now. I just wish you could be sitting next to me helping me with the application haha. It looks like chaturbate is the safe way to go, I think I’ll give it a shot.
Thank you so much again xx
Hey! I-Camz is just a studio, so I definitely think Chaturbate is a good place to start learning.
As long as it’s a legit site, they will need your ID and everything in order to pay you. Yes, if you’re working for a site based in the US they’ll have you fill out a W8ben for taxes. Very few sites actually do require a credit card for age verification – the only one that pops to mind is Niteflirt, which is a phone sex site I work on sometimes. Usually this isn’t a thing on cam sites.
Really glad to hear you’ve found O Camgirl helpful! If you have any other concerns or questions don’t hesitate to get in touch. 🙂
Thanks for visiting!
Hi.. what’s a good couple site? Thanks
A lot of couples do really well on Chaturbate. Thanks for stopping by!
Hey Cat, Thank you for all the helpful advice. Ive worked in the adult industry for almost 5 years. I’ve worked at a dancer and also in the legally brothel’s in Nevada. I’m fairly familiar with the IN and OUTS of the adult industry Trade. But I’ve recently became a mother. and traveling to Nevada and being away from a week or longer isn’t a option. I’m really interested in WebCam Modeling but that is the only thing I haven’t done in the Industry. What are good sites to start up on? and what are some things you do while doing a show? Just some examples? Do you play with toys? or strip tease? do fetish stuff too? I also called cloud 9 and eyecandy ( ran by the same people ) And I called them about 3 months ago when I still pregnant and was going to work while pregnant but I ended up in the hospital for about a month trying to stop labor. and he was in the NICU for almost 2 months and so working wasn’t really a option. Now hes home and I’m able to work now, but would like to get all the info before, so I know exactly who do sign up with, what to do while doing a show, and how much to charge usually and just really how to be a professional web cam model. I appreciate all your help and taking the time to answer all our questions. thank you hope to hear from you soon! have a great day!
-Ash
Hey Ash,
Thanks for reaching out. I would recommend checking out Chaturbate. Your shows are limited only by your imagination and personal boundaries. Your guests will often give you some ideas if you’re feeling stuck. 😉 Think about what you’d be willing to do on cam, and create a “tip menu” for your profile. Examples might be 40 tokens for boob flash, 200 to get up and dance. Playing with toys, strip tease, and fetish stuff are all great ideas, too.
You’ll learn the most by diving in and doing it, but be sure to check out all the success tips available here on O Camgirl to help you along. I hope this is useful, and best of luck with everything!
Cat
Hi Cat I loooove Your Post Thank you sooo much,
I’m a camgirl on Chaturbate And Bonga, My Boyfriend And I wants To Start up a new Cam site But it’s still in Proccess you know Programmers Take their time Plus I’m adding Some Ideas Day by day And My Question is My boyfriend Beieve in me and He thinks I’m able To recruite Some 10 girls Yet We’ll launch The website on 1st January,
The problem is that I really don’t want to seem Like A scammer So I’m just being carefull, do u have ideas On how I can do to get them girls please???
If you don’t want to seem like a scammer, I would advise not being a scammer and offering actual value. Good luck!
Hi Cat,
I recently found an ad on craigslist (I know, I know) about a male cam model who does couples work and is bringing some new girls onto his team. We got in contact and we’ve been chatting, he seems nice and genuine enough.
None of the above red flags have popped up, but he won’t reveal the site he works on until we meet in person (day after tomorrow) so I’m a bit weary…
Do you know anything about JakeMyersLive ??
Hey Eep,
Just looked the guy up – looks like he’s working on Streamate primarily. Not sure why he wouldn’t want to tell you that. Be safe. Don’t ever do anything before you see proof of payment.
If you are new to webcam modeling, I would recommend trying some solo performances before seeking out a partner to work with. Find out if the business is for you, and keep your full commission.
Best,
Cat
I am interested in doing some girl on girl cam work, how would I get in touch with other girls locally to do this? I’d prefer to work with some that have experience in cam work.
I have experience stripping and doing live girl on girl shows at parties, but never any web cam.
Hi Missy,
I would recommend establishing yourself as a webcam model first, and then you’ll be better able to connect with other models via forums such as Wecamgirls and Stripperweb. You may also have some luck using Backpages or Craigslist but I wouldn’t personally recommend those. Sorry I can’t be more helpful. Good luck!
Cat
Hi,
I’m looking into becoming a Cam Girl, is there advice or training I can get to help me do the actual work? I am a bit clueless about what I actually do(obviously I have a fair idea lol), and would really like some tips so I do it right and gain customers.
Thank you 🙂
Hi Tishy,
You’ll find all kinds of tips for succeeding on cam on our aptly named “Success Tips” page. 🙂
Let me know if there’s anything specific you need help with that isn’t there yet.
Thanks for visiting!
Cat
Thank you Cat for getting back to me 🙂 I will have a read and let you know if I need anymore advice. Really appreciate what you do for people on this site 🙂 fantastic and informative
You’re welcome Tishy! I’m glad to help 🙂
Hey Cat, you’ve already helped me once, here’s hoping you (or someone just as competent!) you can help again 🙂
Here’s my situation; This has been my first week camming on CB, and so far I really love it, not a single bad exp with anyone or anything to make me want to stop. But there is one thing that kind of bothers me, and that I don’t quite understand..why do so many guys (well, I am assuming they are mostly men) get seemingly obsessed with becoming your moderator? What do they seek to gain from that activity? Sometimes I feel a bit harassed by said guys..and I am always grateful and courteous when they offer to help and on the few occasions I have given them a shot at it. But now I am overwhelmed and frankly, tired of dealing with their pushy personalities. I enjoy having a mod, it definitely makes some things easier. But I just DON’T understand the pushiness. Any thoughts?
Oh, and keep up the fantastic work! You are amazing!
Do guys (and women too I suppose) try to take advantage of cam girls as moderators? I’m new, and a bit confused as to the pushy behaviour some of these guys have when it comes to wanting to be a moderator..what do they seek to gain, if anything? And any suggestions on how to deal with the pushiness? Thank you to all who support and contribute to this site, it has been a huge help since day 1!!
Hey Lacey,
So glad to hear you’re enjoying camming on Chaturbate so far! This is a great question – let’s take a stab at it. Your guests want to feel important, and being a moderator helps them achieve that. It also takes them off the hook for tipping, or so many of them think.
Your silence and ban buttons are not just for abusers. They are for any user who is taking away from your groove, and who is making camming tiresome for you in any way. I would not be so grateful or courteous with these guys, honestly. A simple “no thanks, I don’t need a moderator right now” should suffice, and if they are pushing you to change your mind when you’ve already said NO, you have every right to warn them that one more word on the subject will result in their silencing. 😉 There’s no need to ever put up with undesirable behaviour of any kind.
IF you want a moderator to help with your room, offer the position to someone who’s been around for a while supporting you, not just someone who’s pushing you for the title.
Remember, you are the boss.
Good luck! And thanks for taking the time to stop in with your questions, Lacey. I always appreciate your comments. 🙂
Cat
Hi Cat!
I know its been a year since anyone’s replied, however if you still visit this I’d like to ask a question. I to am interested in this type of lifestyle. I don’t want to do this my whole life–if I have to it’s cool–so I needed to ask what the best way is to hide camming from future employers. If they do a background check, would they know about my camming? Also, my dad does my taxes, how would I be able to keep this secret from my family if I don’t do my own taxes? Otherwise, how do you suggest I do my taxes once I start this kind of work. One more question…if my taxes are done by a professional, would he know the type of work I’ve been doing? As you can tell, I’m not to informed on the subject of taxes. I’m an anxious person, so I worry about everything. I hope to hear from you!
Thanks,
Sh0tsy.
Hi Sh0tsy!
As a cam model you’ll be an independent contractor, which is all anyone needs to know officially. We’re planning to talk more about filing taxes soon, but in the meantime I would recommend doing your own taxes. I would say something like that you want to learn and handle that responsibility on your own. It’s actually pretty easy using software like TurboTax for example (I’m in Canada, but I’m sure there’s something similar available in the US as well) – that way you can claim all your work related expenses like toys, outfits, hardware, and even part of your rent. Otherwise, just come up with a feasible story to explain the income, such as Internet sales or remote customer service. I definitely understand your anxiety and hope you find a way to make the camming life work for you!
Best,
Cat
HI!
I need help….Today was my first day of being a cam girl. I felt (and was) so unprepared and had no idea what I was doing, what was right to say or do etc etc. Then this person gave me 100 tokens and was like “hey i can help you, I help cam girls get their cam scores up and earn real money. you are doing everything wrong. you need to log off and Skype me, i have very important information” so of course Im like freaking out and flustered wondering if everyone thought i was an idiot for “doing it wrong” and I skyped him.
We talked for a long time. He had some good pointers about the site in general and seemed pretty down to earth and eager to help but he also asked if i wanted to fly out to cali to take pics with his company. This is the site
http://www.ftvgirls.com
he said thats what he does for all the very popular cam girls (promoter?) anyways, he sent me links and sounded like he knew his stuff but it was still….odd. He said the company would even pay for my ticket and daycare for my son. WHAT. He also claimed I would make at least 4,000.
Honestly, I want someone with wisdom to help me because I am clueless and would love help but my gut says he’s lying….
He also asked to see my body just to know what type I was and when I was like ok his camera turned off and something replaced his screen that said “Manycam.com” but it was only up for a few seconds.
I felt like he was trying to broadcast me! Am I right?? When I asked him about this he claimed it was up from other cam girls using his computer and that i would need to use it too one day (and that he was indeed not doing what i thought)
GOD it would be so awesome if he was legit because he was def saying a lot of good/helpful/hopeful things. But its WAY to good to be true and the many cam thing?
Please help:(
ps there is more but i already typed a book and hope to god you read this haha.
Hey Girlie,
All I can say is you should trust your gut. If something seems too good to be true, it is likely not true. It was your first day on cam! In the future, I would recommend staying on site and don’t agree to talk with people over Skype or other channels. You are opening yourself up to potential scams. Good luck! Cat
Hi there. I found an ad on Craigslist and they left a phone number. I’ve been very nervous recently even though I spoke.on the phone with a girl and she asked for verification photos and now she wants to set up my account over the phone. I am just not sure if its real or not. They have a studio with all the equipment and they get a percent. She even offered to go half on my transportation fees for a little while.
Hi Ave,
Physical studios are an option but due to the cut they take I don’t recommend using them unless you absolutely can’t work from home. You don’t need a fancy setup to get started, plus you can cut out the transportation fees altogether! Read more about the equipment you’re going to need in this post.
Hi! I’m new to camming and trying to decide which site is right for me and was wondering if you had any information on the reliability and traffic of PandoraModeling?
Hi Mrs. L! PandoraModeling is a Flirt4Free studio, which is not necessarily a bad thing but often means that part of your check ends up in their pocket. I would recommend signing up directly with Flirt4Free for sure- it’s a great site, and where I started personally.
Hi hun, iv just started camming, did a bit if research but so glad iv found your site. Have you heard of cam4.com? It all seems legit but would be nice to have it confirmed by someone who knows about the industry 🙂
Hi Poison, Thanks for reaching out. Cam4 is legit, although I haven’t tried it personally. You can see the sites we’ve reviewed for you here. Best, Cat
Not a prospective cam girl or anything, I actually kinda stumbled across this researching a separate scam type, but I did want to mention that it is good there is somebody out there looking out for these people. I imagine it’s really easy to be taken advantage of when you don’t really know what you’re doing. This is good of you.
Thank you, Nick. The camming industry is unfortunately overpopulated with people trying to take advantage of people. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Best, Cat
I am a single mom and would have to be very quiet most times but I am very interested in doing this.ayne this is an odd question but , would it possible to type back and forth or would it have to be actually speaking to everyone..?,
Hi Leah,
You’ll have the option of typing or speaking as you please. Most people will understand if you need to be quiet for one reason or another. Read more about the pros and cons of talking vs typing here. Hope this helps, and thanks for reading O Camgirl!
–Cat
Hi cat
I’m wanting to sign up directly with streamate and it talks about commission but it doesn’t seem to specify what % they take from my earnings??.
Hi Amy,
You can sign up directly with streamate here. The commission you get is 35% of what members pay. You set your own rates to determine what members pay. Hope that helps! Thanks for visiting 🙂
Hi I signed up for paradise kitty didn’t know it was for streamate and worked and made some cash, not enough for the minimum requirement. Although on paradise kitty’s site it says the will not garnish your funds if you haven’t reached the requirement and it pay time but mine were gone is paradise kitty a scam? I also cannot get in touch with a rep although I did at one time before I signed up help please
If you haven’t reached the minimum payout your earnings are still there, but you’re probably looking at the new pay period – your money will accumulate until you get paid out, and then you’ll see it. Paradise kitty is not a scam, just not a good deal for you.
Thank you SO much for being so blunt about things on this site. I’m an 18 year old college student looking to make some extra money and I really like the “no frills, no bullsh*t” style of your articles. Very informative and helpful! Well done!
Hey Britt, Thanks for taking the time to leave this encouraging comment. I’m very happy to hear O Camgirl has been helpful to you. -Cat
Hi,
I am a college student looking to make some extra cash. Would really love some tips to get started. Like what websites work best, what all will I need to make this work, and can I do an anonymous like where I dress up as a character to hide my identity.
Hey there,
Thanks for posting your question. You’ll find the answers have already been published around O Camgirl. I know there’s a lot of info around here 🙂 These links will get you on the right track:
Tips to get started
What websites work best
What you need to make this work
Hiding your identity
Hope this helps! Best, Cat
I am interested in becoming a camgirl. Is this only for twenty year olds who have the perfect body?,
Definitely not! There is a market for every body and every age. If you have a good attitude and put in the effort to learn this trade, you can make it work for you.
Thanks for your reply Cat!
You’re very welcome Tiffany!
Definitely not. I have spoken to women of all ages. Even over 60. Alf
This is the second article I read on your website and I’m really impressed of the things you share with your fans. You’re doing a really great job! This information is very useful for young ladies, who are attracted to this industry.
Thank you for your supportive response to my articles! All the best, Cat
Hi. I am considering being a camgirl. I am, of course leery of starting. Can you do only videos to start or is that a bad idea? Any sites you would recommend to use to get started? Thanks so much for any advice.
Hi Tiffany! If you’re more comfortable selling video clips then by all means, you can do that on sites like Clips4Sale or Customs4U. I personally prefer being on cam, but I recommend checking out Adult-Income for tips specific to selling videos. Good luck, and thanks for visiting 🙂 -Cat
hi, so I got a video request via my Instagram page, but I was wondering which is the safest way to get paid. I know PayPal is not done, but which method of being paid should I use? I was thinking maybe getting paid in bitcoins is the safest, but I’m not sure. If you have a good alternative please let me know!
Hi! If you’re doing custom video sales I would recommend using a site like Customs4U where the entire transaction is handled securely onsite. Otherwise if you’re on a cam site you could also require an offline tip as payment. Hope this helps!
Hi Cat do you know anything about paradise kitty.com? Seems legit from the website but wanted to check 🙂
Hi! It’s legit, but it is a studio. I always recommend signing up directly with the sites you want to work with so that you get your full commission. Thanks for posting your question! 🙂
So with paradise kitty do you get the full commission if you reach the $200 mark? Or should I have gone straight to stream mate?
Paradise kitty is just a studio – as far as I’m aware, they’ll take a cut of your check regardless of how much you make.
I feel your pain Krystle 🙁 The site really should be called Pimp Paradise. Your situation paints the same yucky picture of what happened to me except that Tommy Gibbs (owner/scammer) only signed me up to streamate. I never recieved the $200 I made in the first week working. I guess he didnt sign me up to live jasmine cause he learned quick that he could take full control of my earnings through streamate. So my advice to new models is to protect yourself from these crooks, listen to Cat and sign up to streamate directly 🙂 More Power to the models!
Hi! Thank you for your very helpful article. I found an ad on Craigslist and it seemed pretty legit and it checks out with what you wrote above, but I never feel 100% comfortable with craigslist. Do you by any chance know anything about this company: eroticmodelcams.com
Hi Frenchie! If they’re advertising on Craigslist it’s almost certainly an agency or studio representing a main site(s). Meaning: though they may be lovely to work with and even offer value in the form of training and support (most studios won’t bother with any of this), they are going to take a cut out of your pay and you’ll be bound to their contract. In the event that you ever want your full check you’ll have to wait out your contract with them before you can sign up directly with the site.
Cat i read all of your blogs or whatever and youre so sweet for doing this! You take off a crapload of scary stresses by doing this!!!
Now say i go to a legit site and start signing up for this, will my social security and personal info REALLY be %100 safe to start?
I would say 99.9%, yes. If the site is legit, it’s as safe as giving your info to any employer. They need it so they can pay you.
Glad to hear my site has helped you! 🙂
Hello Cat. Love your help. Instead of getting fully naked is it ok to wear just a lingerie top? Also do bigger girls cam also?
Hi, Sarah! Most camgirls do wear lingerie, and if you’re not comfortable being fully naked you don’t have to. Just be clear about your way of doing things, so that customers know what to expect, and what they can and can’t ask of you. If you don’t want to strip down fully for a private show, just be sure to let them know beforehand. Also, “bigger girls” can absolutely be camgirls. In fact, there are plenty of guys looking specifically for “bigger girls” (aka BBWs). I hope that helps!
Hi, Cat! This a really great checklist, thank you so much for the post. Your site is helping me so much! ( I have to research things into the ground before trying it lol). I’m going to start camming soon and discovered the industry through a craigslist post that leads to a company based out of Indiana, teasecamgirls.com. They don’t hit any of these red flags, as far as I’ve seen, but I’ve never done this before lol, and after hearing you say it’s better to work directly from the site, rather than a studio, I’m a little on the fence. They’ve been really helpful, getting back to me asap with any questions I’ve had, no pressure to get naked right away, set expectations clearly on website. Any chance you’ve heard of them? I’m wondering if they’re their own site; I’ve only seen the application/faq/contact site.
Hi Page,
I have never heard of that site before and upon looking at it, I can’t even locate the FAQ/application pages. If you can send me direct links to those pages I’d be happy to check it out further for you. Thanks for stopping by O Camgirl, and sorry I couldn’t help more. Take it easy, Cat
Have you found any more information about this site? I applied and a guy contacted me saying they now have a studio in largo and want to know if it is safe for me to even go?
Hey Skylar,
I don’t recommend working for a studio at all, let alone at a physical location that is not your home. It could totally be legit, I don’t know specifics here – but frankly I wouldn’t work there. I want to work from my own home and keep my whole paycheck, and I think you should do the same. Keep an eye on our site reviews section for up-to-date recommendations. Thanks for posting your question!
Best, Cat
Hi, I’m very interested in getting into this industry because I do have physical impairments and cannot really do a physical job like I used to. I have a few questions for you. 1) are these sites legit and would you recommend them? webcam4money.com or webcamsignup.com
2) this may be really stupid but I’m curious. ok, so when you have to fill out your application and prove you’re you an all that… They won’t just take you name and have that be your name on the site will they? Like should I put a fake name on the application so that they don’t show my real name or will i have a chance to make an alias?
Hi Elle, thanks for posting your questions! 1) Webcam4Money is Flirt4Free and it’s where I started camming personally! So yes, I totally recommend that site for beginners. The other one you mentioned lists Paypal as a payment option, so I don’t trust them because that is not a legitimate payment option for this industry. 2) Not stupid at all. You do need to be careful about your personal information in this industry – you can apply under your real name, and you will select an alias or “stage name” at some point during the application process. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions, and best of luck to you.
Hey! i recently have had some urges to try out cam modelling since i have been getting quite confident with my body lately . I’ve found a site that i am considering but i am not sure how to tell if it’s a legitmate site. The site is called camgirlsignups.com and i dont think they really have any red flags going off for me, they even offered to put money (20$) in my account right away. However they do send a card that they say is like a debit card that has money on it and you can use to purchase things or pay bills with it. I’m weary of trying it but they are sending me a few emails. I Would really appreciate your help.
Hi! That’s great that you’re feeling confident enough to check out cam modeling! 🙂 The site you mentioned is definitely a studio, which means they’ll sign you up with a major cam site and take a commission off your check for themselves. It’s not a scam, but it’s not the best deal. Their site looks suspiciously like Streamate’s, and if that’s a site you’re interested in working you can sign up directly here. The offer to put money in your account right away is a bit odd, but the card sounds like Payoneer – it’s a common payment method. Hope this helps!
Hi,
Your website has been very helpful. Especially this post.
I used freelancer.com to find other part time work online like blogging, or writing articles, or other various works.
I came across Adult Webcam jobs, and the payment was too good to be true. ( Considering I use Chaturbate and it takes a lot to build followers and earn tokens and once converted, payment still is kinda low for the hours and efforts Ive put in )
So on freelancer, i bid on the project and i get instant response.
And i was asked to go on Skype, and he asked me to come on cam ( I was fully clothed ) and he wanted me to get naked and show my body, to which, i said no, because freelancer uses milestones, which basically secures that the person accepting the job gets paid.
And.. of course, he says okay, and says he will transfer to my Paypal account just to see me with my top off, which he never did and never heard from him.
Then today, I accepted another project XXX Adult webcam models 150USD ( per hour..) TOO GOOD right? And once i accepted, got contacted straight.
THEN five MORE random users contacted and hired me for project.
And I got added by one of them and he says no worries on payment and says he needs to verify me by webcam. ( To me, this means.. get on cam to prove that I am a chick.. or a model)
Then, told me to say these sexual words out loud and show my feet, i said no, i said i will but need to sent milestone or pay me through paypal.
Here is the conversation in short.
[8:19:30 PM] Amber.: Sure, and before video call, on freelancer, could you accept my milestone?
[8:20:12 PM] James: Yes we will create milestone after verifying yourself.
[8:20:54 PM] James: do you want payment via freelancer?
[8:22:12 PM] Amber.: Verifying myself on video call yes? And I prefer paypal if that is possible?
[8:23:55 PM] James: Yes Its possible. Do you have sex toy?
[8:24:18 PM] Amber.: Yes
[8:25:49 PM] James: Ok. We will do test call after one hour> Ok.
then
[9:58:31 PM] James:Show me your foot “i am a sexy girl, fuck my pussy hard now” say the line
[9:59:11 PM] James: can you talk?
[9:59:43 PM] Amber .: I will be your sexy girl and will ask you to f**k my p*ssy hard and show my feet but what about the milestone
[10:00:17 PM] Amber.: as ive been in this situation before, where I get on a video call and then say and show my body and do little sexy things then the guy blocked and deleted me and never paid.
[10:00:49 PM] James: yes everything will be done. And i sad to talk the line ,i wanna hear your voice first
[ I thought, perhaps he needs to actually hear my voice, so i said what he wanted me to say. ]
[10:01:44 PM] Amber.: Did you like that
[10:01:47 PM] James: Sorry i dont know wathever you are talking, but we will pay
[10:02:20 PM] James: ok take off that top
[10:02:33 PM] Amber.: How will i know you will pay?
[10:02:40 PM] *** Call ended, duration 07:17 ***
[10:03:27 PM] James: We will pay. Are you new in freelancer?
[10:03:48 PM | Edited 10:03:59 PM] James: We had hired lot of girls
[10:04:05 PM] Amber.: Yes
[10:04:24 PM] Amber: I only done this on other sites
[10:04:28 PM] James: Ok. I can understand
[10:04:53 PM]Amber.: The milestone makes me more secure for me.
[10:04:57 PM] Amber.: I hope you can understand
[10:05:08 PM] Amber: Can you accept the milestone?
[10:06:50 PM | Edited 10:08:10 PM] James: Yes, I can understand. But we have rules. After verification you need to sign a contract of six months atleast that you will work with us these six months.
[10:07:46 PM] James: Only after contract signed you then we will send $160 to your paypal .
[10:08:09 PM] Amber.: Okay so can you send me the contract? You have seen i am real 😉
[10:09:05 PM | Edited 10:09:57 PM] James: I need to judge you whether you can work or not
[10:09:43 PM] James: If you want then i can give you girls contact those are working
[10:10:48 PM] *** Call from James ***
[10:11:41 PM] *** Call ended ***
[10:12:24 PM] Amber.: I don’t understand. Your profile is showtodate so i am assuming its your company. But your profile on freelancer has 0 review, 0 recommendation, nothing on it.
[10:12:33 PM] Amber: Don’t understand about the contract
[10:12:39 PM] Amber.: I work on chaturbate as a webcam model
[10:13:25 PM] Amber.: and you can make an account, and view my live chat, and pay tiny amount to see me do things or see me.
Or you can send me a small amount like 50USD as milestone, i can change it, then i will take my top off
[10:22:34 PM] James: So
[10:24:44 PM] James: Sorry , in that case you need to do at least one show with one client to get advance payment.
[10:25:41 PM]Amber: It’s fine, no thanks.
[10:25:58 PM] James: I dont think if you really ready to work then what’s the problem to get naked. May be last employer did not select you. But we liked you just need verification after that you can start work
[10:26:57 PM] Amber.: What kind of verification would you want?
[10:28:01 PM] James: I just want to make sure you can do one hour nude to show with a single client.
[10:28:48 PM] James: I want to make sure you are comfortable being nude on cam and use toy to fuck your vegina
[10:29:44 PM] James: We are going to pay a good amount. But we need to know our candidate
[10:31:30 PM | Edited 10:32:31 PM] James: We liked you ,now just need to verify your nudity.
[10:32:16 PM] James: After that we can sign contract and from tomorrow you can start work with three clients everyday .
[10:32:39 PM] James: So are you fine for verification ?
[10:33:37 PM] *** Call from James ***
[10:33:52 PM] *** Call ended ***
[10:34:05 PM] James: Ok.
[10:43:08 PM] James: Are you ready now
[10:44:14 PM] *** Call from James ***
[10:44:17 PM] *** Call ended ***
[10:44:29 PM] James: are you ready now?
[10:44:54 PM] *** Amber. blocked James ***
Now, from bidding on one ” XXX adult webcam” project, I now have over ten person private message me VIA freelancer inbox and all the same thing. Asking to get on skype, and saying they will pay.
So dodgey.
There are SO MANY project requests on XXX Adult Webcam projects on freelancer.com
Please do review and if they are indeed scams, i hope no other girl falls for it.
It’s so deceiving.. Anyways, i just wanted to share and hope no one else falls for this scam.
Hi Amber,
I’m so glad you posted this and also that you trusted your instinct and blocked those guys! This is sadly a very common scam, and it’s so easy to get pulled in by their lies because you WANT it to be true! I used to be so gullible and might have fallen for this thing once, but camming has taught me a lot. You NEVER EVER EVER have to do anything before getting paid. NEVER!! “I need to verify your nudity” is among the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Like, does he think you were born with clothes? Okay, seriously. Offering to pay by Paypal and needing to see you naked or have you do anything before paying – two red flags right there. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is a scam. Just to be clear, it doesn’t say anything bad about freelancer – freelancer is a great site for finding other types of work, and may even offer some legitimate adult work. But if it’s legit, it won’t look like this. Thanks again for posting! I definitely hope this helps others to steer clear of this webcam modeling scam.
Cat, I love your blog!
I am very new to cam modeling – is there a way to model without showing my face? I am a mother and I would hate for this to come back and haunt me (and my daughter) in the future. Also, right now I can’t afford to buy a computer, is there a way to be a camgirl by using my iPhone or iPad? One last question, I was looking into signing up with a site called I-Camz.net – have you heard of them?? Thanks in advance
Hi Penelope, thank you! Great questions 🙂 You’ll have a hard time gaining regular customers without showing your face – however, if you need to hide your identity I might recommend trying wigs and changing your makeup. Also, read this post about privacy.
You will need the processor/memory of a computer for streaming your cam. iOS does not support Adobe Flash Player, which will be a problem. I can’t see being successful without even a basic computer.
I-Camz.net is just another Streamate studio, and a bad one at that. They’ll take part of your check for nothing. Signing up directly with Streamate is a better option.
Thank you for reaching out with your questions. I hope this helps! Feel free to contact me anytime if you need anything. 🙂
Cat
OMG! You are awesome!! Thank you for your prompt reply. You should teach a course on webcamming! Thanks
🙂 You’re quite welcome. Thanks Penelope.
HI, i’m signing up for Streamate, they are asking me for my social security number. do they suppose to ask for that type of info? is it ok that I give it to them? how do you feel about this site? please and thank you
Streamate is a good choice! They require that information so they can pay you. It is normal. Feel free to send me an email if you need any help getting set up.
I was thinking about working for paradisekitty. I would like your advice about them. And can you give me a list was cam sites that you think I can work for. Thank you
ParadiseKitty is a studio that will sign you up with LiveJasmin and Streamate. As always I highly recommend going straight to the cam sites you want to work for rather than going through a studio, because most studios will take a cut of your check to pay themselves. There are plenty of good options out there. Take a look through the comments and posts here at O Camgirl to find a few. Thanks for stopping by! Best.
I like to post nudes on reddit just for fun, and I’ve established a small fan base there. I’ve only been doing it since summer atarted, but ive already had requests to sell panties, videos, and Skype sessions. I’ve even been suggested to try cam modeling. The last person to suggest claims to be a cam model herself from streamate. She contacted me through reddit pm. Though curious, I’m very leery. She made it sound glorious…is that someone recruiting, or just recognizing potential?
It sounds like you do have potential in this business if you’re already getting those kinds of requests. Whether this person is recruiting really depends on the link she offers. Sounds like she was having a good day, lol. If you’re interested in trying Streamate yourself, just make sure you go directly to them without hitting an agency or studio.
Hi Cat! I have read through a few of your posts and have to say I’d still like to try it out. Like another poster I looked into Paradise Kitty and also 121webcams. 121webcams seems to be a decent agency but they’re still an agency. So how would I go about trying to get set up with a camsite to cut an agency out? Do you have a provision in your contract to get paid if they sell your image or videos to another site? Also can you pick a name or is one assigned to you?
Hi! Thanks for stopping by O Camgirl and posting your question. I took a quick look at 121webcams and it is just a cover for Internetmodeling.com, which I don’t recommend based on its reputation. They are an agency that, like most agencies, take a cut of your pay check. This particular one will sign you up with Streamate at a 15% pay cut.
You can sign up directly with Streamate and get your full check instead by going straight to the Streamate Recruiting division. The other site this agency deals with is Chaturbate, and this is their direct sign up link. Both are solid sites but I do recommend starting with just one while you learn the ropes.
They won’t sell your images or videos to another site, but the contract they’ll provide will grant them ownership of every media you upload to their site. They may use it for their own advertising, for example. I’ve never had issue with this stipulation, but that is just me.
You do get to pick your own name. Let me know if you’d like any assistance with that step, or if you have any other questions I can help with.
Best.
I keep getting contacted by a new site, sellyoself .com, and another red flag is that they pay using PayPal. Stay away!
Thanks for the tip Roxanna!
I am new to the industry and started working for a company. I worked about a month. This company was my “studio” that did train me intensively. They set my hours and would give me crazy anxiety if I didn’t get on during my scheduled time. The recently deleted my account, the cam site keeps telling me to contact my studio for payment, or that they are “looking into” the situation. Yet, no one seems to be able to get a response. I’ve called the studio numerous times along with emails and texts, yet no response. I recently used a google voice number to call my manager and he actually answered, until he realized who I was then simply hung up on me. I worked through Paradise Kitty, and they made me an account on Streamate. I was unaware I was pretty much hiring a studio, yet with all the training I figured it would be beneficial for me at the time. I can’t explain how crazy of a process this has been. I’ve researched and researched yet don’t seem to find any other complaints about Paradise Kitty. It’s a reputable site and has been around for four years from what I understand. They first made me a Jasmin account and I did get paid directly from them. But have yet to receive anything from the Streamate account. In my eyes I don’t understand why someone would go through that much effort to train me constantly and hook me up with a proper account, only to scam me from another. I’ve tried so much to get a response, yet no one can simply confirm a payment, let alone a payment date, or when a check will be processed. I’m wondering if there are other girls who have had this same experience. This is affecting my rent, when you assume you have a lot of money coming in, it’s very relaxing. I was so happy, now it’s possible I might lose my house – as now I am late on rent. I can’t imagine I’m the first person or only person that this has happened to, and I saw (with remote access) lists of the other girls that one manager has under his paradise Kitty account. I tried to advise Streamate that this will happen to other girls. They do not seem to care, nor do they halt payment to the studio. I advised Streamate I wasn’t getting paid and they continued to pay the Studio. I’m not sure what to do about the situation. Is there anyone else who has had the same issues? Or knows about Paradise Kitty? I could use any advise I could get at this point!
Thank you
K
Hi Krystle,
First off, I’m sorry to hear that this has happened to you. It’s become evident to me that as long as these guys are making money, they don’t actually care much about anyone who isn’t directly signed up with them (not through a middle man studio like Paradise Kitty). This is why I always recommend signing up DIRECTLY with the cam sites. I work directly with Streamate now and I have never had an issue getting paid. Take out the middle man and you take control!
I definitely understand why their training may have seemed beneficial. However, just the fact that they set your hours raises a red flag with me. The most beautiful thing about cam work for me is that I set my own hours and I don’t have to deal with that kind of bullshit from people I “work for” – working directly with cam sites means I really only work for me.
I’m sorry that I don’t have any specific information regarding Paradise Kitty. I hope someone comes along who can help! I would otherwise recommend contacting Chris Martin. He’s a lawyer who has taken an interest in camgirls’ rights and he’s also written for O Camgirl. He may have some useful advice for you.
I really hope this works out in your favour! It’s so not cool to put in all that hard work just to be ripped off. 🙁
Best,
Cat
I’ve been on Paradise Kitty for months and I don’t get a pay out. I send emails, texts, I call and leave message but never get a response! I also need to pay me bills which is why I even joined the site. How do I get a real site that will pay??
Hi Nikki,
I’m so sorry to hear this has happened to you! Unfortunately there are so many studios like this that just aren’t worth your time. We’ve reviewed a few sites over in Cam Site Reviews (aptly named) for you to check out. Let me know if I can be of any more help!
Great post. I am sure it is well needed. There is always someone looking to take advantage of someone.
Thank you for commenting Lisa!