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My friend is starting an exercise gym and wants me to be her fake "After" picture. Should I do it?

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5 answerers thought this was unfair.

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quesera
quesera
September 22, 2009 08:53 PM
False advertising and fraud are illegal and can result in law suits. If you participate, and someone chooses to pursue the matter, you could become a party in the case. Do you really want someone after your wallet because you lied? Many, many people get away with this. In fact, some "before and after" pictures are so blatantly two different people that it's comical. But is it worth making yourself into a liar for? Even if you never make anyone mad enough to seek damages?
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ml962
ml962
September 22, 2009 09:27 PM
I agree that it's illegal and your friend can find yourself in some real trouble (and so can you), but I get that you don't want to have to confront your friend. You might want to just pass it off as being busy, and if that doesn't work, simply say you don't feel good doing it and say she could probably find someone else. Unless your friend actually did help you get into shape in which case maybe you can find an old photo of yourself and it wouldn't be illegal.
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randolphs
randolphs
September 22, 2009 10:00 PM
Would it be obvious from the photos themselves that you're not the same person? I would think that would kind of eliminate the entire purpose of the ad right there, unless the two of you look very similar (apart from some extra weight).

Personally, I don't have the major legal or ethical dilemma as the other folks who had answered. I say, if you two think you can pull it off, and you put a small disclaimer in tiny type on the age (such as "photos feature two different models...your results may vary..."), it's pretty unlikely there would be serious legal ramifications.
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jasoncalac...
jasoncalac...
September 22, 2009 10:10 PM
Why on earth would you do something so unnecessary and unethical? If your friend owns a gym tell her to give ten people free training sessions and diet advice for 30 days if they are willing to be in the advertisement.

Motivate them with a free years membership if they hit their target weight in 30-60-90 days.... BINGO! now your friend can actually do this without being a fraud.

.... and you don't have compromise your ethics.

seriously!
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psycgirl
psycgirl
September 23, 2009 01:51 AM
That's not a good sign. Your friend really shouldn't be starting out her business in that way. That is not only unethical it is so unfair to her potential new customers. I would feel so duped if I went to a gym and found out later that I had been lied to. She needs to do it the old fashioned way and do it the right way. She shouldn't have put you in that horrible position either. That is not very friendly. She should have known that would have made you feel uncomfortable and awkward.
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