Charleston Influencers Join Forces to Combat Fraudulent Management Agency

Charleston Influencers Unite Against Fraudulent Agency

Charleston, S.C. — A troubling tale has emerged from the picturesque city of Charleston, where a group of social media influencers found themselves tangled in a web of deceit spun by a local business owner. At least a dozen content creators say they were misled, lied to, and financially exploited by an influencer management agency, sparking a wave of caution across the influencer community.

Among the voices of this group are Morgan Hill and Nicole Farina, who are both buzzing with energy as they create engaging posts about fashion, beauty, and the charm of Charleston. Morgan, a native of Charleston, has successfully built a following of over 16,000 across her social media accounts. Meanwhile, Nicole fell head over heels for the city and developed ‘The Charleston Diaries’ to highlight local events and experiences to her audience of more than 67,000.

A Promising Opportunity

Earlier this summer, both women excitedly signed contracts with a management agency called Dyoowe, after being approached by its owner with promises of new collaborations. “The pitch was so good and I was so excited about having a team,” Morgan recalled. However, this enthusiasm quickly gave way to concern when they were asked to pay sign-on fees—$1,000 for Morgan and $500 for Nicole, even though they signed on just a day apart.

“Because she was a start-up I figured she needed a way to pay her team,” Morgan explained, rationalizing the substantial payments. But as weeks passed, both influencers began noticing more red flags than they initially realized.

Spotting Red Flags

“I wanted to give her 100% chance to be my manager,” Morgan said. But when she discovered that she was the one bringing in collaborations without much help from the agency, her rosy outlook began to dim. “For the first month and a half I was like ‘Oh yeah they’re doing things’ — and then like mid-July I was like, ‘Wait a second, how come nothing is really happening?’” Nicole echoed Morgan’s sentiments about the growing frustrations.

Further complicating matters, Morgan revealed, “The agency was taking 20% of my earnings, even though I was bringing in the majority of the collaborations.” Payment issues also became a common theme for both women, with some deals dragging on for months without compensation. “It took three months to get paid for a photo usage deal,” she added, comparing it to her normal quick payments from brands, which usually come within a day or two.

Connecting the Dots

Just when they thought things couldn’t get worse, Morgan was pitched a supposedly “life-changing” opportunity involving one of Nicole’s events. “I basically looked at Nicole and said tell me what this opportunity is,” Morgan recalled. Their conversation revealed an unsettling truth: both influencers were being misled.

After connecting with other frustrated team members from Dyoowe, Morgan learned that financial mismanagement was rampant. “We had to get out,” she was told. Soon, both women realized that they were not alone in their experience; several others were voicing similar frustrations.

A Collective Stand

Feeling empowered by their shared experiences, Morgan and Nicole sent a legal letter to Dyoowe, asking to be released from their contracts with no buyout fees. Coincidentally, that very day, the agency’s entire team resigned. “I talked to three of my friends that were signed on with her, and the next morning talked to maybe three more,” Morgan remembered, acknowledging the ripple effect of their collective action.

The day following their legal correspondence, news broke that Dyoowe would shut down its operations. In the aftermath, Morgan finally received the money she was owed, but many other content creators are still waiting on their payments.

A Community Comes Together

Despite the ugly encounter with the agency, Morgan and Nicole are determined to turn their experience into a positive message. “You might think from an outsider’s perspective that it’s all competition—but it’s not,” said Morgan. Nicole added, “It was really good to just see us as women come together and make it happen.”

To help others navigate similar situations, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs has stepped in to offer valuable tips for influencers considering working with an agency. In a world where online marketing continues to thrive, such cautionary tales serve as reminders that community and networking can be powerful allies against fraud.