Casting Dynamics LLC
Complaint 132318 Details

I signed up for casting calls on a website called casting360.com. This Gregory Barker character responded to my profile and offered me a modeling job that pays for my travel expenses and said they would pay me $100 an hour to do the job. They also said I would be working with famous makeup artist Jessica DeBen. They were sending me a check for $2,850 for my travel expenses and the travel expenses for Jessica's "assistant" and I was to take $200 of the money for my travel costs and Western Union the rest of the money to the so called assistant. This sounded strange to me so I contacted the makeup artist myself: 310-923-6688 and she said she had gotten eleven other phone calls about this and confirmed it was a scam. My fear now is that they will take my information and use it as a part of their scam. What can I do to protect myself? Below is a copy of my email exchanges with this scam artist:

from: Gregory Barker [email protected]
sender-time: Sent at 12:53 AM (GMT-07:00). Current time there: 8:52 AM. ?
reply-to: Gregory Barker <[email protected]>
to: Media One <(Personal Information Removed)>
date: Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 12:53 AM

Hello Mellissia,
I am happy to inform you that after all verification and screening, you have being enlisted for the project, out of several talent that applied for this role you are one of the few that made it. The photo shoot will be coming up between 11th to 18th July 2012, the shoot will only last a day, so you are to pick a date convenient for you between that range. The make-up contract is been given to Jessica DeBen, the famous New Orleans born make-up artist. Well, you will have the opportunity to meet her and not only meeting her, she will make you up for the photo shoot. I will be contacting you very soon as regards the sending to you the cost of transportation to the location of the shoot. I also will let you know the project location as soon I have something from the director on it, as she will have to consider the location of other talents and the project crew. I will be waiting to read from you as regards your chosen date.
Best regards,
Greg.

from: Media One (Personal Information Removed)
sender-time: Sent at 1:13 AM (GMT-04:00). Current time there: 11:53 AM. ?
to: Gregory Barker <[email protected]>,
Steven Coleman <(Personal Information Removed)>
date: Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 1:13 AM

OMG, I am sooooo excited! Thank you all so much for giving me this opportunity! I just Googled Jessica DeBen and her work is amazing. Could you let me know what I will be advertising and promoting so I can do some research and get a feel for what the company is all about so I can represent them in the best light possible? Also, is there anything special that I should or should not do to my nails (acrylic, gel, natural, etc...) and hair or should I come as I am and let the professionals work their magic? Please send me whatever information you can so that I can prepare myself to be the best woman for the job. Thanks again for choosing me.

Mellissia Giles
Mediaone Consulting LLC Executive Administrator

Hello Gregory,

Will I be responsible for travel expenses as well?


Greg Barker ? [email protected]
Jun 28 (8 days ago)

to me
No Mellissia, we will be responsible for your travel expenses.

Sent from my iPad

Okay, thanks! Please put me down for July 7th.



Media One ?
Jun 28 (8 days ago)

to Greg, Media
Hello Greg,

I just realized I said the 7th, but I meant the 11th. Sorry.

Mellissia

Hello Mellissia,
How are you and how was your day? I have tried to reach you through your phone number, but had no luck, here is the information I was going to pass across to you over the phone. The organizing committee of the project has reached a conclusion that you will be given ($200) as your transport fare to the shoot location. The shoot will be in Baltimore MD. You have been paired with the make-up artist as regards the pay check, it will either be sent to you or to her. If it is sent to her, she will send you your part ($200) after she cash it or if it is sent to you, you will cash it, take out your $200 and send the rest to the make-up artist. I hope you understand all this, I will write or call you when I have more information for you. If you have questions you can either write me or give me a call at 559-554-3700, if I am not there to answer kindly leave a message and I will call you right back. This $200 is only for your transport to shoot location.
Best regards
Greg.

Media One ?
Jul 2 (4 days ago)

to Gregory
No problem Greg. I have been waiting for your call. I ask, not sure why you could, not get through, but my numbers are: (Personal Information Removed). If the check comes to me, it should go to: (Personal Information Removed). Thanks.

Mellissia

Hello Mellisia,
I have been notified that the transport payment has been mailed out to you today through UPS courier service with tracking number 1ZF476T80191173106. Please we expect you to bring out the Best in you at the shoot. I want to inform you that the check sent to you is of an amount of $2,850, as I earlier told you in my previous mail, you are paired with the Makeup Artist, as soon as the check arrive at your address, I want you to proceed to cash the check at any Check-Cashing ATM around you or your bank as soon as possible. The amount allocated for your transport to the shoot location is $200 so you should deduct it from the $2,850 it leaves $2,650 this amount is for Cosmetics with other equipments needed at the shoot location and the transport fare of the make-up artist. You will have to send the $2,650 through Western Union Money Transfer to the Make-Up Artist's assistant who will book for her flight and get the cosmetics needed at the location as the make-up artist is busy at the moment with another project.
Below is the information you will need at western union to send the money to the make-up artist's assistant.
---------Name...... Maria Albino
---------Address.... Laurel Fork, VA. 24352
Moreover, at Western Union you will be charged for using the Western Union Money Transfer services, you should have the sending fee for transfer services deducted from the $2,650, I think it will cost about $150 or thereabout to send, just be sure to send the money to her electronically (money in minutes). As soon as you get this done, I want you to get back to me with the details below
---------Senders Name....
---------Senders Address....
---------MTCN Number(10 Digits Number)....
---------Exact Amount Sent......
---------Western Union Charges.....(Amount used for sending the fund)
Once the shoot commence you will be paid $100 per hour of your service in cash immediately after the shoot. I hope you understand this messages and kindly get back to me to let me know you understand the content of the message. It is advisable to take the check to an ATM as it is faster and it verifies the check.
I await to hear back from you.

P.S
Everything you will be using for the shoot will be provided by the company, so kindly fill the below information to help us get the sizes of cloths and shoes you will be using for the shot.
---------Measurements:
---------Height:
---------Weight:
---------Hip:
---------Waist:
---------Bust:
---------Shoe size:
---------Dress size:
I await to hear from you in good time.
Best Regards,
Greg.

Hello Greg,

Before I cash this check, I need to know the name of the clothing designer, location and time of the shoot, and you're credentials. I would not feel comfortable proceeding otherwise.



Media One ?
9:35 PM (14 hours ago)

to Gregory
Also, this is not the same makeup artist I was told I would be working with. This is all very suspect.



Greg Barker ? [email protected]
1:21 AM (10 hours ago)

to me
Oh sorry Mellisia, I thought I have given you those information earlier, the name of the clothing store is Crew Clothing, website: www.crewclothing.co.uk I do not have the actual address of the location in Baltimore because we have about 4 locations to chose from, I will definitely let you have the address as soon as the best choice is made next week. I hope you are comfortable with that. About the shoot time, we are looking at starting by 12noon and it's going to last 4 to 5 hours give or take.
Greg

Sent from my iPad


Greg Barker ? [email protected]
1:24 AM (10 hours ago)

to me
Ms. Jessica Deben is the one handling the makeup, Maria Albino is only her assistant. Jessica will sure be there for the shoot. Is that ok?

Sent from my iPad

I just have a few more questions Greg. I looked over the Crew website and I did not see one African-American model, so I don't seem to fit their profile. Also, why would the make-up artist not travel with her assistant? In addition, you said the check would be sent to me instead of one for me and one for the makeup artist to save money, but it seems like it is costing more money to do it this way.

I mean, to send one check to me and one check to her is the matter of the cost of postage, but to do it via Western Union for one hundred odd dollars costs more. Where is the logic in that? This is just not adding up. I do hope this is a real opportunity because I could really use the money and I am good at what I do; however, times are hard and I cannot afford to be mixed up in some scam. Pleas forgive me if I am wrong, but I really need you to make this all make sense to me before we go any further. I am sure you can understand where I am coming from.