Steve Pammenter, the current CEO of McCandless was the co founder and COO of Global Personals, and White Label Dating, dating sites in the United Kingdom. After acquiring McCandless Group in Summer 2025, instead of marking a new chapter, he “rug pulled” the entire organization making off with millions in unearned money contractually intended for McCandless models.

It has been factually verified by numerous former models, when McCandless Group changed ownership, the models and creators who built this business were not paid starting on oujr around Jnuary 2026. The story that is now emerging around this acquisition, based on first hand accounts of the models, is that shortly after acquiring McCandless in 2025, Steve Pammenter had ceased payments to models and creators despite still earning money from legacy payments platform CCBill.

Pammenter’s rug-pull went down while some creators were still creating content as well as generating profit for the company. There are at least fifty models who were left high and dry by this rug pull and are currently comparing notes in a group chat.

Additional details from Pammenter’s background is relevant to understanding the events that have recently transpired. His management of McCandless Group has brought an increased scrutiny of the company.

For context, Global Personals ceased trading in 2024 and is currently in liquidation. The company has been accused of fraudulent practices, such as fake profiles. While the COO, blogged about “increasing transparency and strengthening our relations with our partners to lay the groundwork”. This was portends for the future, as he seems to be at it again. His various business ventures, most  recently as June of 2026, include, WhiteLabelFans, a platform that Steve just launched, which is “aimed at the creator and fan subscription economy.

Described on the Global Dating Insights, as allowing for the launch of “fully branded fan subscription sites,” for creators and entrepreneurs. WhiteLabelFans, modeled after OnlyFans pun intended, is offering “AI populated niche models, updated daily, automated AI chat and image generation,” as well as cloning capabilities and described as providing “scalable solutions for fan supported content business”.

How will this new venture compare to the ecosystem which he created at McCandless Group? Where, “allegedly” (yet to be established legally) Steve Pammenter did not pay for the work and contributions of his talent. Which leads to questions about the circumstances under which this acquisition came to be, and what led to the takeover and what happened after.

Pammenter reportedly “made off with millions of unearned American dollars”. Sponsored Australian surfer and exclusive content creator Ellie-Jean Coffey, was one such model who was stiffed by Pammenter.

Shore Thang has a history with Nick McCandless of the McCandless group, from its early days.

According to Shore Thang creative director Zachary Elliot, McCandless had started his own creator platform before the launch of Shore Thang.

In 2020, Nick subsequently tried to poach models who were under contract by Shore Thang, causing a dispute which escalated to litigation over the course of several years. This dispute went beyond issues over the acquisition of talent, and had to do with boundaries as much as business relationships.

Public court records indicate Shore Thang filed three separate lawsuits in 2021, in a California small claims court. What began as a legal battle in the formative years of Shore Thang had turned into a dark chapter in its history.

In 2022, Shore Thang sued Nick McCandless in US Federal Court. Shore Thang was able to secure some wins in the beginning. The initial small victories however, were soon subjected to appeals, issues with procedures as well as with legal representation. There was another legal dispute with the attorney Gerald Fox, who used to represent McCandless. With rumors circulating that Gerald Fox, who is described as a “reptile,” and previously represented Nick McCandless was recently sued by McCandless in Florida.

“Whatever they call palace intrigue in Florida, is happening now,” exclaimed Zach. Who by his own account wrote several articles about Nick McCandless, which caught the attention of his former models.

One of the models was Ellie-Jean Coffey, whom Zach had purchased content from in 2020. This was around the time she signed with Nick McCandless. Julia Burch, Bree Cheyenne, and Empress Ellie among other models, Ellie-Jean Coffey included, were “mysteriously found working” for Nick.

This was after being outright discovered by Shore Thang.

In 2020, Elliot blogged about a very cordial and business like conversation with Nick for what lasted twenty minutes.

At that time, Shore Thang was a boutique model management, while Nick operated a software based platform for creators. They discussed the different approaches which they were taking with respect to their businesses. Talking about where their businesses overlapped, in a way which was reportedly non-confrontational.

This conversation served to establish a history of communication between both parties before the “hostilities” began. The dispute did not end with the lawsuits but kept escalating for two years, where McCandless tried to undermine Shore Thang by poaching models and clients, submitting fraudulent copyright takedown notices.

Nick McCandless interfered with client and creator relationships, and tried to divert business away from Shore Thang. Engaging third parties to damage the reputation of Shore Thang as well as leveraging pressure and publicly disclosing private email conversation in US Federal Court filings.

This was part of a broader strategy by McCandless to weaken their competitor. All the while benefiting financially from opportunities, talent and clients that allegedly belonged to Shore Thang.

Google search results for Nick McCandless  arranged for positive publicity, such as “planting favorable” stories online about himself.

Another of the public allegations against McCandless is concerning the Reddit account of Shore Thang. McCandless admitted to actions which ultimately led do Shore Thang losing it’s Reddit account. The copyright complaints due to false DMCS notices resulted in Shore Thang losing its company Reddit account, which took five years to build. This is part of a broader pattern by McCandless and others related to his organization, McCandless Group.

Engaging in the aggressive solicitation of Shore Thang’s clients. Shore Thang creditor director Zachary Elliot posted evidence of the McCandless Group’s disruption of business, including but not limited to screenshots of DMCA takedown notices.

DMCA otherwise known as the Digital Millennium Copyright act, is a legal mechanism within which the removal of online content can be requested. The notices involves models and creators such as the Coffey Sisters and Empress Ellie and other models.

Since about January 2021, Nick McCandless has allegedly utilized DMCA take down notices against competitors, for content which Shore Thang owns copyrights to.

As Shore Thang creative director Zach Elliot, a statuesque and colorful individual known for his comedic takedowns either in video of blog form, had publicly posted evidence which he had compiled to the FBI’s Cyber Crime Task Force in the Los Angeles Field Office. To further document the alleged unlawful behavior of McCandless Group, Zach published the evidence online, thereby establishing the timeline and allowing for the evidence to be independently evaluated.

“That this Steve Pammenter has extended a legacy of shady dealings from McCandless to a bunch of their models, is not surprising,” said Zachary Elliot, when asked for comment on this article. “I despise them. If somehow Pammenter, McCandless, and Gerard Fox were to all fight each other into oblivion in Florida court, I would raise my glass and propose a toast.”

The DMCA notices are believed by Zachary Elliot, to be submitted by the McCandless Group maliciously and in bad faith. Hundreds of these take down notices being issued repeatedly, appear to be not about copyright infringement and more about attacking Shore Thang. Also sabotaging its business. As well as applying pressure on a competitor.

In a recent email from the McCandless group, dated September 23, 2026, from new McCandless CEO Pammenter which addresses the dispute between Shore Thang and model Ellie-Jean Coffey, with regards to contracts and content rights, is important. This communication demonstrates how this dispute is attempted to be framed by the McCandless Group.

The document aims to lay out McCandless legal position, allegations etc., in order to protect his position.

With regards to Ellie Jean Coffey’s contract, McCandless stipulates “This is what we believe the contract means”. Arguing that Ellie Jean’s contract remains in effect and has been renewed through out 2029, despite Pammenter not having paid Ellie-Jean Coffey since January 2026. No comment on the other Coffey sisters are still being paid, but at the time of this writing, their McCandless websites are still on the internet and appear to be functioning normally.

The Pammenter letter even goes as far as accusing Ellie-Jean Coffey of not fulfilling her obligations, as “these are the breaches we believe occurred,” such as creating content outside of the contract. Then it goes on to threaten to bring claims against Ellie Jean and possibly Zachary Elliot.

Going into detail about “the consequences we may pursue,” such as damages, even sanctions as well enforcement of judgment. In subsequent letters, Pammenter asserts that there are orders and court judgements out against Shore Thang.

In the “demand letter,” Pammenter had obtained a writ in July 2024 showing sanctions including outstanding interest, which he says are unpaid and McCandless will enforce. The claims which Steve Pammenter makes against Ellie Jean Coffey are significant. Ellie-Jean Coffey first asserted claims of her own, roughly two months prior to the Pammenter demand letter.

He alleges a breach of contract that could total “six or seven figures” in losses.

McCandless qualified this as an assessment of preliminary damages and not established. The letter is framed in such a way as he intends to pursue “every supported claim and available remedy,” and “we will not limit our response to defending against your demand.”

Even setting a seven calendar day deadline to respond in the letter. The sarcastic response from Shore Thang’s customer service rep,

“Oh, super sorry for the bother… You totally must’ve suddenly started paying your models again.”

The response goes on to say that Shore Thang will support the models that were stolen from by Steve’s “rug-pull and run”. Though these communications from Pammenter are demand letters, they were not sent by an attorney and appear to be generated by AI.

“I’m not worried about Steve Pammenter,” said Zachary Elliot, when asked for comment about this article, “The only people he can harm are the models he’s stealing from.”

At the time of this writing, most of the McCandless Group modeling sites are still operating and continue to collection unearned revenue from CCBill.

According to Shore Thang, these letters are essentially just online threats by Steve Pammenter, who is now the confirmed CEO of the McCandless Group. This is an example of the underhanded way that Steve Pammenter handles his “business” and the people he hurts along the way.

Neither Steve Pammenter nor Nick McCandless responded to requests for comment on this article. At the time of this writing, it is unknown to what extent Nick McCandless was aware of the rug-pull orchestrated by Pammenter.