Catching Scammers in Action

Scammers are everywhere today, and they are finding creative ways to scam people. Whether through fake emails from "Amazon" to pretending to be famous influencers on social media, they're getting creative on ways to get to your wallet.

I dedicate this blog post to my aspiring actors and models to be aware of scammers in the entertainment industry.

Here's the gist of what happened to me this week.

I got invited to a casting call that I thought was an audition for a recently applied role. However, I did not realize they called it an "open casting call" until I got on zoom.

Not only was the zoom presenter late to the call, but it turned out to be a presentation about their agency and how the agency helps aspiring actors and models submit for work like Netflix and other big-name productions.

In addition, this presenter advertised the amount of money an aspiring actor can make, and all they have to do is pay $99 for the subscription to have the agency submit them to these casting jobs.

• There was no mention of refunds.

• There was no mention of testimonials.

• There was no mention of success stories with that agency.

Being a marketer and a working actor and model, I knew something was fishy the moment the presentation began, and I wanted to watch the entire show unravel in front of my eyes.

I witnessed a handful of people register to the fake agency's website, and unfortunately, I could not do anything about it as the presenter removed the chat and participation function.

I did a simple google search on the company and saw many posts about that company being a scam. Not only that, but many "subscribers" could not get their money refunded because the presenter never mentioned the refund.

Luckily, the presenter did open the Q&A feature within zoom, so I managed to write him a message saying that he was scamming people and included the link to Better Business Bureau. He responded to me privately, saying that "many people want to become famous, and that's what our agency helps with if they attend our workshops."

The response alone was a red flag as he was selling the agency's submission process, not the "workshops."

I couldn't stand being in the same virtual room as the devil, so I had to leave. However, it inspired me to write this post because it breaks my heart to see people being taken advantage of while pursuing their dream of becoming an actor and/or model.

Here are a few ways you can protect yourself as a creative pursuing your dream of acting and modeling.

1. Always do a Google search! If you're unsure about the person or the company, google their name and the name of the company they work at. Then, look at the reviews people are giving them. Do they look "human" to you? Do they feel like an honest, legit company?

Often, a decent entrepreneur will give you a "14-day/30-day money-back" guarantee if they're selling you something. This is to ensure excellent customer satisfaction. However, if a company is not providing you money back, then tread lightly and double-check to ensure you're confident in what you're buying.

2. Talent agents don't have time to go out scouting talent unless you're at the right place at the right time, meeting this agent, which can happen and has happened to one of my contacts.

But online? Be aware and cautious. I'm not saying there aren't new talent agents out there seeking to fill up their talent roster. Still, often, agents want seasoned and experienced actors and models, not aspiring actors and models who have zero experience.

(Zero experience = no professional headshot, no resume, no acting/modeling training).

Anytime an agent asks you to pay for something, that's a suspicious request. Agents and managers get paid when you book work! They'll take a cut because they found you work, this will result in a 10-20% of your booking. Agents may recommend you get headshots and give you a list of local photographers, but they won't ask you for money to represent you.

3. Ensure you have your stuff in order before you sign up for anything. Get a professional headshot taken of you, and make sure you have a resume of your experience, talents, and skills.

Once you have that in order, you can begin signing up to casting websites such as Casting Networks, Backstage, and Actor's Access. These are the three trusted websites that all the creatives use. Even if you're not ready to become a working actor, you can begin getting some experience by being a background extra or participating in student film projects.

This industry is not for the weak, but it is fun to be a part of once you know what you're doing. This industry does not just go by looks, so before you assume that you're not "pretty/skinny/hot" enough, give it a shot, especially if acting or modeling is something you've always wanted to pursue. Casting and film directors are always looking for new, fresh faces, so before you discredit yourself, give your dreams a chance!

If you want to be an actor, you must get training. You must first understand the effort and work that goes into being an actor before you apply to work. Like any job, you need to get some training and understanding of how things work. You need to understand the audition process, scene work, monologue work, and much more.

The great thing is media will always need actors, so investing in training is more important than spending $100 for scamming agencies to "represent" you in hopes you get booked for a job. Don't leave your acting/modeling career up to these scammers. You have to take control of it!

I will say this. If the devil (the scammers) are correct and "ALL" people want is to become famous, then let me suggest this. Go on YouTube and Tiktok and learn from other influencers on how they became famous.

Thanks to technology, you don't need to be an actor or model to be famous anymore. Instead, you can be famous by being an influencer or a public speaker.

However, If you want to act for the sake of acting, then learn the craft of acting first. That begins by getting training.

I'm cheering you on! Don't let the scammers ruin your pursuit of acting and modeling.

I wish you the best because you deserve the best!

~ Aya Hoja

Questions? Concerns? Let me know in the comments or message me directly.