Happy end to Jade's lens scam saga

HAPPY ENDING: Masterton photographer Jade Cvetkov and art teacher Jann Lenihan, who set up a Givealittle page to get Jade a new lens, after she lost money in a scam.

Jade Cvetkov feels as though all her Christmases have come at once.

The Masterton photographer was left heartbroken after she attempted to buy a professional-grade camera lens from an online store -- only for the company to fold and the seller abscond with the $3000 she paid.

After she was denied a refund from her bank, Jade's close friend and fellow photographer Jann Lenihan set up a Givealittle page to raise the funds needed to get her a new lens.

Jade's story attracted much media attention -- including an article in Midweek on August 4 -- and, as a result, she received a refund from Westpac, and Nikon New Zealand and Photo Warehouse offered her a heavily discounted lens.

The Givealittle page also raised over $2000 within the space of a few days.

Jade, who has photographed various Wairarapa sports teams and events free of charge, said she said receiving both financial support and the messages of encouragement from the Wairarapa community has been "bloody amazing".

"The scam was devastating -- I felt like I couldn't trust anyone.

"I was going around thinking there were so many b******s out there, but this has shown me we live in such a cool community, one that comes together to help people when they're down.

"I'm so thankful."

Jade has since received her new 80-400mm lens, which she said will help improve her sports photography -- and hopefully lead to more paid work.

Thanks to the media exposure, she has been asked to photograph the upcoming Wairarapa Maori Sports Awards, and do school photos for Pirinoa School.

"This will change my life: I feel I can move up a level, and go professional.

"When the lens arrived in the mail, it was just like Christmas. I never thought the day would come."

The funds raised for Jade through the Givealittle page will go towards additional photography equipment -- a move the donors have wholeheartedly supported.

Secondary school art teacher Ms Lenihan said she is "stoked" for her friend.

"I wanted to show Jade there were good people in the world -- and I think we've done that."