Don’t get scammed: How to set yourself up for success and avoid predators in Hollywood
LA TimesKnow how to spot offers that are too good to be true and other warning signs. “And if you’re not prepared for something like that, then you are easier prey for those people who are attempting to separate you from your money.” Here’s what he recommends having in place, at a minimum, prior to a move: $5,000 to $7,000 in the bank Access to a car A living arrangement A part-time job These initial building blocks “will overall ease the pressure on you when you’re approached by people where your intuition would say, ‘This is a bad thing,’” he said. Here are a few ways to spot them: Upfront fees: “Don’t pay a business upfront fees for services,” Rafael Carbajal, director of the L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, said in a statement to The Times. “It’s very sad because actors are very hopeful, and obviously you have to be optimistic and hopeful to be an actor in the first place,” Graham Shiels of Graham Shiels Studios said. It’s not just money; it’s also sex and power.” Report scams Since 2012, the L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs has received 82 complaints against talent service companies and talent agencies.
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