Beware of Scams
The entertainment industry is full of exciting opportunities. However, unfortunately, there are also scam artists eager to swindle money from talent.
Here are some tips for spotting pay scams:
– Stay away from projects that require depositing money or those involving Money Gram, Western Union, a cashier’s check or a money order.
– Asking for personal information, and refusal or inability to meet face-to-face before transactions, is a red flag.
– Beware of typos, grammatical errors, foreign addresses and telephone numbers.
– Scammers will create a sense of urgency by asking that you deposit or wire money immediately, or “without delay”, and will even threaten to take legal action if you don’t comply. These are idle threats. Never accept advanced payments, and those transactions involving “trusting you with the funds” and paying a representative back a portion of the money received.
Follow these general guidelines to avoid being scammed:
– Question any opportunity that claims to have received your information even though you did not submit, and cannot verify or is vague about where they got your information.
– Deal only with individuals you can meet with in person. This alone will help you to avoid most scam attempts!
– Never engage in complicated money transactions, especially those involving Money Gram, Western Union or any other wiring service.
– Never give out your banking information, PayPal details, your social security number, etc., over email or text.
– If your bank flags a check as fraudulent believe it is fraudulent. If you have deposited funds into your account and suspect you have been scammed and/or money has been withdrawn from your account without your consent, contact your banking institution immediately.
Above all, be cautious of any opportunity that sounds too good to be true!
Here is a sample scam email for your reference. Suspect wording is in red:
Hello,
Please follow the instructions below so that the travel agent can make all the necessary transport/accommodation arrangement prior to the event.
You are to keep $5000 out of the total amount for your personal expenses which leaves you with $1480. I would need you to locate the nearest Money Gram outlet to transfer.
AMOUNT: $1300
JOHN SMITH
Add: Company name
City: Marina
State: Dubai
Country: UAE
All you need to do is locate a MoneyGram outlet near you and tell them you wish to send $1300 to the recipient above. Please note that Money Gram usually charges around $120 as a sending fee.
*Once the funds have been sent, please email me with the reference numbers from each transaction and I will forward it to the travel agent who will contact you with all the required travel itinerary you will need.
Please note that this has to be done this morning in order to allow the travel agent enough time in making all of the necessary bookings and arrangements.
