Online casting scam is increasing by each passing day: Peninsula's Casting Directors

Casting is an important sector of every production house but off lately this sector is being exploited by scammers...

Team India Forums

Team India Forums

View Profile

Peninsula Pictures' few shows like Aladdin - Naam toh Suna Hoga and Paramavatar Shri Krishna have constantly been a victim of online casting scam. We got into a tete-tete with the casting directors of the production house, Taranvir Singh and Asad Shaikh who explain that the universe of this scam is huge and innocent actors who auditions fall prey to these scammers.

Casting is a very important sector of every production house be it films or television but off lately this sector is being exploited by scammers who in order to make some quick buck, fraud innocent actors who come for auditions.

"At Peninsula Pictures we have atleast 15-20 actors coming every day for auditions to explore an opportunity to work with us. Past few months we have been receiving calls and people have been turning up at our office demanding role or to return their money back. After investigating we came to know that there are online bogus scammers who operate as online casting heads' and promise meaty and good roles to freshers in our shows against a certain amount of fees which ranges from two thousand to a Lakh as well. Online casting scam is increasing by each passing day", says Asad Shaikh, one of the Casting heads at Peninsula Pictures.

Throwing light to it adds Taranvir Singh, "Two of our shows, Aladdin and Paramavatar Shri Krishna have been soft targets to these scammers where innocent were duped of their monies. Off course they didn't get any role as well. As a precautionary measure we have put a sign board outside our casting room and reception area, saying that we entertain artistes purely on the basis of talent and nothing else. There are no fees or any kind of compensation asked  by us. Further to this, we have also given our HR's email id that if any actor is being asked to pay against a role promised, he or she should immediately write to us. We hope these scammers get busted soon".

The incident came to light when an aspiring actor got in touch with Peninsula cross checking the opportunity he got to be casted in Aladdin. When probed further he said he was approached by a person operating a Whatsapp group named filmy nagri' where he asked for audition video and then asked for 8000 to be given. The actor was further asked for another 4000 for a so-called artist card' to be made and gave him a contact of a girl who will help him make the card against the cash. 

This so-called card was told to him will be his entry pass for the shows he gets. The aspiring actor crossed checked with Peninsula Pictures' representative on social media ad was informed that it was a bogus scam and there is never any monetary amount charged against a role promised. The actor who hailed from Goa thanked the company for saving his time and money both.  

Your reaction

Nice
Awesome
Loved
LOL
OMG
Cry
Fail
Paramavatar Shri Krishna poster

Paramavatar Shri Krishna

Aladdin: Naam Toh Suna Hoga. poster

Aladdin: Naam Toh Suna Hoga.

Comments (0)

Latest Stories