Been offered a job

[Braineack]

correct.

 

[Steve5D]

Hey Steve, I did check out these people, they have no Industry contacts and are simply taking advantage of these kids, charging them for head shots, taking there money with nothing to offer in return.

What can you offer to substantiate your claim?

I worked in/made a career of the motion picture industry, had to retire after 25 years because 4 herniated disc.

That's unfortunate, but it has exactly nothing to do with the topic of discussion...

These folks are telling kids living on the streets, fresh into the LA area, we can get you work in film when in fact they can not, it's a scam. That's why I think the best option is to go to their office and talk them out of continuing this scam.

Well, considering that you're thinking about alerting the authorities, your best option is to damn well make sure what they're doing is illegal. I'd bet my last dollar you've yet to do that. Because, if you have, you should've alerted the authorities already...

Inciting kids into prostitution or whatever they can do for money, because they believe it will lead to a better future is wrong on every level.

Prostitution?? Where the Hell did that come from? Who said anything about prostitution? I thought you were talking about scammers not providing pictures to someone who's paid for them...

Sorry, take advantage of adults who just never learned, but when it come to kids... I have no forgiveness. I've done many questionable things in my life, never to children. Have you ever seen a teen or preteen starving on the streets of Hollywood, willing to do anything for a better life, I've seen more than I care to recall, NEVER asked anything from them, just bought them food.

If someone bails and heads to Hollywood, who bears the responsibility for that decision? Certainly someone only a few years out of diapers should be helped, but I'm gonna' guess they didn't make the decision to live on the streets of Hollywood on their own. Kids who are in their mid to late teens?

Yeah, not much sympathy for them...

Sorry but this is a point for me I just can't get past.

What you need to "get past" is this: If what they're doing is not illegal, reporting them to the police is foolhardy...

 

[Newtricks]

I collected gambling debts before getting work in the studios, I know the scams and the scammers, not proud of my past but it is what it is.

 

[astroNikon]

Every so often a rolling circus comes into town and advertises for potential models, actors, etc for creating a photograph portfolio.
They charge bookoo bucks for several pictures in a binder, of which they do not go any further. They just take a few snapshots, put them in a nice binder for you to say that you have a "portfolio" and they're on their way .. no contacts to any industry what-so-ever.

Kinda sound like the same thing.


makes you want to throw enchilada sauce covered burritos at them

 

[Derrel]

I'm interested in WHY these enchilada sauce-covered burritos keep coming up here in various TPF threads? Are enchilada sauced-covered burritos trending on Twitter? I know that enchilada sauce-covered burritos are a big,big hit in the TPF Cafeteria during the All You Can East Burrito Bar on Tuesdays from noon to 3PM, but why are people talking about enchilada sauced-covered burritos so much these days? Were they profiled on TMZ? Was there an incident at the Grammy Awards? Has Taylor Swift started a trend of serving enchilada sauced-covered burritos at her parties?

 

[Braineack]

I prefer enchilada sauce dipped enchiladas.

 

[Newtricks]

Every so often a rolling circus comes into town and advertises for potential models, actors, etc for creating a photograph portfolio.
They charge bookoo bucks for several pictures in a binder, of which they do not go any further. They just take a few snapshots, put them in a nice binder for you to say that you have a "portfolio" and they're on their way .. no contacts to any industry what-so-ever.

Kinda sound like the same thing.


makes you want to throw enchilada sauce covered burritos at them

It's exactly the same thing, makes my want to...

 

[Derrel]

Most people around the USA have a pretty low opinion of the scammer culture that exists....from the "driveway sealer" people who spray oil on driveways, to the guys who sell "$2,000 audio speakers" for $300 out of trucks parked in shopping mall lots, down to the bingo parlors that fleece hundreds of old and feeble-minded compulsive gamblers out of $32.50 (or more) every night while paying out $1,000 in prizes on "takes" in the tens of thousands of dollars...

But please, keep the 870 Wingmaster in the corner...

 

[Braineack]

sounds like a bunch of Snake Oil...

 

[Newtricks]

There are so many things I want to post here... but for the most part they are thing you genital folk do not need to read.

 

[Newtricks]

But please, keep the 870 Wingmaster in the corner...

My 870 isn't going anywhere, I've got 800 rounds of 12ga. double ot buck and slugs, the wife and I will keep them out for a while.

 

[Derrel]

There are so many things I want to post here... but for the most part they are thing you genital folk do not need to read.

Umm, maybe strike that "t"....

I feel your anguish, Newtricks. It DOES suck that these charlatans are taking advantage of kids who are in dire straits.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I'm thinking maybe it isn't illegal for a business (even a less than reputable one) to contact prospective customers, that if/when a product or service isn't provided as expected is when something illegal may have occurred and the police could act. Which of course is too late if someone already falls for their pitch and gets taken.

What about contacting a local visitors bureau, or chamber of commerce? How are these disreputable companies contacting prospective customers? Seems like getting some accurate info. out there somewhere somehow could help get people informed so they don't fall for these disreputable types.

The latest scam in my area has been a company going door to door to try to get people to switch utilities to them and they try to get people to show them their electric bill, give out their credit card info. etc. The best thing that's been done has been to get word around on local news, our town's FB page, etc.

 

[robbins.photo]

I'm interested in WHY these enchilada sauce-covered burritos keep coming up here in various TPF threads? Are enchilada sauced-covered burritos trending on Twitter? I know that enchilada sauce-covered burritos are a big,big hit in the TPF Cafeteria during the All You Can East Burrito Bar on Tuesdays from noon to 3PM, but why are people talking about enchilada sauced-covered burritos so much these days? Were they profiled on TMZ? Was there an incident at the Grammy Awards? Has Taylor Swift started a trend of serving enchilada sauced-covered burritos at her parties?

Rough guess here but maybe the enchilada sauce is needed as a lubricant when firing the burritos out of the TPF Burrito Cannon (Patent Pending)?

 

[robbins.photo]

I'm thinking maybe it isn't illegal for a business (even a less than reputable one) to contact prospective customers, that if/when a product or service isn't provided as expected is when something illegal may have occurred and the police could act. Which of course is too late if someone already falls for their pitch and gets taken.

What about contacting a local visitors bureau, or chamber of commerce? How are these disreputable companies contacting prospective customers? Seems like getting some accurate info. out there somewhere somehow could help get people informed so they don't fall for these disreputable types.

The latest scam in my area has been a company going door to door to try to get people to switch utilities to them and they try to get people to show them their electric bill, give out their credit card info. etc. The best thing that's been done has been to get word around on local news, our town's FB page, etc.

Ok, keep in mind I'm giving legal advice solely from my vast expertise of being some faceless guy on the internet here, so obviously this is super high quality legalise and you should pay very close attention.. lol.

A lot depends here on how the service is represented. The people involved would have to be making an intentional misrepsentation, basically promising something they have no intention of delivering, in order for this to be considered fraud. Normally this misrepresentation has to be pretty overt in order for it to constitute a criminal case of fraud, and it generally has to be a pretty big deal before the police are going to get involved because it is very difficult to prove in court and there are generally civil remedies involved. At worst I think you might be able to put together a charge or two of misdemeanor fraud, which is about as scary as staring down the barrel of a jaywalking offense.

A smart defense attorney comes in and argues that you did what you promised, that you showed the headshots to people "in the movie industry" and you walk. Granted, people in the movie industry could mean the ushers at your local movie theater, but still getting out of an offense like this would be pretty easy assuming that the police wanted to take the time to even try to make an arrest and the DA could actually be troubled to try and prosecute a case like this rather than just pleaing it out for probation or just dropping the charges outright.

You have to remember that the police have a lot to deal with already, what with people calling 911 because Mcdonalds got their order got screwed up.

I do feel sorry for these kids, don't get me wrong - but if there is one hard learned lesson that I've discovered over the years, it's that you can't save people who don't want to be saved. It sucks, but there it is