A former Brookside actor who orchestrated a £13.6 million modelling scam that deceived thousands of aspiring child models and their parents has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
Philip Foster, also known as Philip Dowd, played Christian Wright in the Liverpool-based soap in the 1990s. Now 49, he lived a lavish lifestyle in Spain while running an elaborate fraud network in the UK.
A Nationwide Scam
Operating through fake modelling agencies and photography studios in major UK cities—including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham—Foster’s scheme promised aspiring models paid work but instead left families financially ruined.
Victims, primarily young hopefuls and their parents, were lured in by social media ads offering modelling opportunities. They attended “free” test photoshoots only to be pressured into purchasing expensive portfolios—falsely claimed to be necessary for agency representation.
While victims spent thousands, often taking out credit or payday loans, they received poor-quality digital images with little to no chance of securing modelling jobs.
Years of Deception & Luxury Living
Between 2010 and 2018, over 6,000 victims were scammed. Foster laundered millions through UK bank accounts before transferring funds to Spain. He used the profits to fund a lavish lifestyle, purchasing luxury cars and high-end watches, while victims were left in emotional and financial distress.
To evade detection, Foster and his team frequently dissolved and rebranded the sham agencies, avoiding tax and accountability.
Justice Served
After a six-year investigation by National Trading Standards (NTS), Foster was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison at Sheffield Crown Court. Several of his accomplices also received prison terms or suspended sentences for their roles in the fraud and money laundering scheme.
Officials warned aspiring models and their families to be cautious, emphasizing that legitimate agencies do not demand upfront payments.