A text message just landed from a talent scout who found you - somehow - ahead of a casting call for a role in a new blockbuster film. You’re stunned and excited. And, most likely, you’re being scammed.
The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Advice division is warning consumers against scam texts that offer opportunities for fake casting calls. The ruse is one of several that the commission has recently issued alerts about as scams increase during the holiday season.
“We’ve heard from people who’ve gotten text messages from a ‘talent scout’ offering auditions for a well-known movie like ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ or a show like ‘Ted Lasso,’” the commission wrote in a recent bulletin.
“The unexpected text message might ask if you’re still available tomorrow for a virtual open call (you never were).”
Other trending scams, the commission said, include a military bank swindle that takes place outside of a physical bank location.
Hollywood hit job
Once consumers get the text that says they’re invited to a virtual Hollywood casting call for, say, Ted Lasso, the deception kicks into high gear. When you join the virtual call, you get a persistent sales pitch for fake services such as “bogus photo shoots or fake acting classes,” the commission noted.
But before that happens, the scammers will ask you to give them your bank info, which is a classic red flag.
“But first, the plot twist: There’s always a reason you have to pay or hand over bank information before you participate in the casting,” the consumer advisory noted. “Paying to get a job is always a sign of a scam.”
The FTC’s advice for consumers in these matters is pretty straightforward:
- If the text message is something you didn’t expect, don’t respond.
- If you’re suspicious of a text, do a quick search for the name of the company or person that contacted you to verify its legitimacy. Also, search the phone number the text came from.
- Do not pay to get a job; scammers dangle a sought-after job in front of you so you’ll take your eyes off your wallet, so to speak.
Military maneuver
Another scam that’s surging right now is where real people post up outside military-focused banks and credit unions like USAA and Navy Federal. They’ll offer a sad story and ask for financial help via bank transfer.
“Someone stops them and says they’re in a tough situation, can’t access their bank accounts, and need money for groceries,” an FTC consumer advisory said. “Sometimes they even have a crying child with them. They’ll ask you to send them a few bucks using the bank’s mobile app.”
You pull out your phone, open the banking app, and set up a transfer. The scammers take your phone to presumably enter their account info to receive the transfer, but they end up pulling money from your other accounts, too.
“Some reports say the scammer distracts you with questions about your travel plans…while they apply for instant bank loans in your name and use other payment apps to transfer your money to their accounts,” the advisory said.
To avoid this, don’t give your phone to strangers, especially after you’ve logged into your bank or peer-to-peer payment app, and always slow down the situation so you can think clearly, the advisory recommended.
False urgency is one of the classic tactics scammers use to get you to do what they want.
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