Today I was reading Company magazine which had a feature on yet another modelling/acting agency scam. What do you do when this happens? You bring in The Clive of course!
But seriously, Company magazine has massive readership
so I am sure many people will read the article and hopefully think twice before handing any money over. So well done to Clive Hurst for giving some sound advice especially around facebook and myspace which seems to be the latest recruiting ground for scam artists. Power to the people.
We should petition...scams are very 'now' ; ) having listened to a programme on the radio yesterday about people being scammed for IT training and promised jobs at the end of it.
Hayley Mills who was the 'Go Model' featured in 'Company Magazine' did an excellent interview, also on GMTV, click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGLTNa-KOz4
Well following the above advice, I have made contact with some loose woman. I just hope it was the right ones...!
This is what I sent to Equity General Secretary and others, earlier today:
I have just up-loaded two news videos, regarding the governments bogus promises to ban bogus up-front fees - charged by bogus acting & modelling agents, which I thought may be of interest. DIY video editing is not easy...!
I have edited out the government's claim, to the House of Commons in 2006, to have taken 18-20 prosecutions 'in this way' because that claim also, was bogus! No prosecutions, no fines, no teeth; nothing!
You will notice in the first one, that Equity's Martin Brown has a 'featured' walk-on part. So too does Mark Prisk MP and Henry Bellingham MP...
Click:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaAvywRTQW8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIH1qbItOKQ
Titles: BBC & ITV - Bogus promises to Models & Actors & BBC Breakfast TV Up-Front Jan-Feb07
We do not have any existing or proposed regulations, governing the taking of up-front fees, under false pretences. No proposed licensing (just in our industry) either (funny that up-front fees, are legal just in our industry). Great for Employment Agency Standards, since they can continue their claim, that such and such a scam does not come within the scope of EAS Regulations. A policy - to do nothing!
And... All the government 'agencies' including the Office of Fair Trading etc, play pass the parcel, to the detriment of our members; and the public - especially youngsters (and their parents); the most vulnerable in our society!
Perhaps we should call Minister Pat McFadden's government department, the untouchables? Can he walk on water, he seems to be able to!
Some things never change...
**;^))
P.S. I have passed on a complaint by a member who got caught out by Zebra Connection, to Equity's legal department. Even trained professional actors - can be tricked!
Watch out for something in the Daily Mirror on Thursday...
Some of you may know that a website was set up against me 4 years ago, called www.notanactor.net
Well it is no more!!!
Bectu General Secretary Gerry Morrissy saw to that. Bectu engaged a barrister, by the name of David Hurst (no relation), this is what was sent last week to those behind the scam agency, who set up the website:
Dear Sirs
Our Client: Mr Clive Hurst -v-
www.notanactor.net - IP address 69.64.156.228
NOTIFICATION OF LEGAL CLAIM - DO NOT IGNORE THIS LETTER
We act for Clive Hurst, a member of Bectu--the UK's trade union representing the interests of actors and other performers. Our client has long campaigned against agency scams against aspiring actors, resulting in a number of rulings against unscrupulous agencies by the UK Advertising Standards Association, the advertising industry watchdog. He is frequently interviewed by the BBC and other UK media about his campaigning.
Enom Inc is the registered webhost for a website with URL www.notanactor.net, registered by a UK company called UK Website Solutions based at 42 Lytton Road, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 5BY, United Kingdom. The ultimate registrant of the website is anonymous.
The website will be subject to legal action in the High Court in the United Kingdom for misuse of private information (a claim for infringement of privacy) and for defamation. English (and European law) prohibits the unwarranted publication of people's domestic address, private telephone numbers and maps and photographs of their property.
The notanactor.net website also includes a variety of defamatory allegations, namely (by innuendo) that Clive Hurst is a suspected peadophile, conducts an illegitimate smear campaign and vexes and harasses people running legitimate business.
The website has been set up with the intention of infringing our client's privacy and harming his reputation. The website is returned as the second search return on Google (UK version) and has been carefully meta-tagged so as to come to the attention of as many internet users as possible, conducting relevant searches.
UK law (and most international common law jurisdictions) determines that a webhosting company publishes internationally via the internet with the intention of reaching a global readership. To the extent that a website is accessed and read within the UK jurisdiction, it is "published" here and a webhost (as well as the author of the material) is answerable to a legitimate legal complaint in the UK domestic courts which will accept jurisdiction for the tort. The claim proceeds by service on the webhost, i.e. Enom Inc, out of the jurisdiction as in any litigation with an international element. It is evident from the Google UK search results that the material is being readily accessed in the UK.
UK law addresses the position of a webhost such as yourself who obviously cannot know that it is hosting unlawful material. For a webhost liability in relation to the material identified as the subject of a claim starts to run from the date of notification of the claim (i.e. receipt of this letter) (Godfrey v Demon Internet [1999] EWHC QB 244).
Our client does not want to initiate proceedings dragging yourselves into the UK courts but requires the following action within 10 days (and fully reserves his right to apply to the High Court in London for service on yourselves outside the jurisdiction):
1. Deactivation of the URL http://www.notanactor.net (IP address 69.64.156.228) from your server.
2. Written confirmation to this office that the said URL has been deactivated and taken down from the internet.
We are dealing separately with the original registered owner of notanactor.net who is resident in the UK but this does not impinge upon our client's legal rights against a webhost.
There is no substance in the allegations disseminated against Clive Hurst and no legitimate legal defence to them. The purpose of publishing his residential address and photographs of his house is to allow him to become the victim of harassment by those he has campaigned against and is entirely without justification. The defamatory allegations are wholly untrue: Mr Hurst has not been investigated or convicted for any offence relating to pornography or the abuse of children and has conducted a campaign against unscrupulous scams in a lawful and legitimate manner--as any investigation of this matter using publicly-available resources online will reveal.
In addition, the disclosure of personal data without any justification contravenes the UK's legislation on Data Protection.
We look forward to hearing from you as a matter of urgency.
Excellent work Clive. I once went "undercover" to one of these sessions at a hotel in Coventry, just to observe (I didn't fill in any forms!). It was heartbreaking to see some of these poor-looking families impressed by the hotel ("oh they must be legit then") and so willing to part with their money. You could see the dollar signs in the organiser's eyes. These people are disgusting but let's not forget gullibility is a two-way street. The sooner we educate people about this reprehensible scam the better.
Next weekend these tricksters are going to be in Sheffield!!!
"MODELS & EXTRAS
DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY QUALITIES TO BE A MODEL OR EXTRA ? IF SO COME ALONG TO THE MOSBOROUGH HALL HOTEL SHEFIELD HIGH STREET MOSBOROUGH SHEFIELD S20 5EA ON SAT 6th & SUN 7th MARCH 2010 FOR A FREE PHOTOTEST SHOT & PHOTOGRAPH WE ARE LOOKING FOR CHILDREN 1-12 YEARS FOR CATALOGUE, PHOTOGRAPHIC & FILM/T.V. EXTRA WORK TEENAGERS 13-17 YEARS FOR CATALOGUE, PHOTOGRAPHIC, FILM/T.V. EXTRA WORK, FASHION & CATWALK ADULTS 18-75 YEARS FOR CATALOGUE, PHOTOGRAPHIC, FILM/T.V. EXTRA WORK, FASHION & PROMOTIONAL WORK NO EXPERIENCE NEC / NO HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS & DRESS TO IMPRESS ARRIVE ANYTIME BETWEEN 10.00AM - 5.00PM ARRIVE EARLY TO AVOID DISSAPOINTMENT. UNDER 18?S MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN
As Seen on TV (No joining or reg fees )"
As to educating would be performers, I am all for that. Local BBC broadcasts are just not enough, we should have a national documentary at prime time TV, showing that anyone can call themselves an 'Entertainments Agency' and promise anything and everything. Yet will never face prosecution.
I think what shocks would be performers the most, is that there are no laws to protect them. This is an absurd situation!
I don't believe there will be an up-front fee ban - in Octber...
I went to one of those sessions in my local hotel in the glamorous Swindon when I was fifteen. I believed everything they told me! Luckily mum was a bit more savvy and put a stop to me giving them all my dough.
Well I think we need Alan's services again - on BBC Look North, as these tricksters are in Sheffield this weekend...
Here is this mornings BBC Radio Sheffield interview, click: http://www.anactor.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/bbcradiosheffield05mar10.mp3
BBC TV Look North did do something on 30 October 2007 on those behind this agency and Equity local member Alan Brent 'Yorkshire Chairman' was 'acting' as Equity spokesman, click: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=21568828
Next weekend these tricksters are due to be at Lancaster's Cumbria University, on 13/14 March, trying to trick hard up students into paying £325 each...
Hi Clive
Have you heard about Angel Stages? Are they okay? I know you'll have to pm me but it might be that others have heard of them as well and maybe can tell me a bit about them.
Cheers
"Up-front fees campaigners fear that proposed legislation aimed at cracking down on rogue agents could be scrapped, after it emerged that draft regulations were not debated by MPs prior to parliament being dissolved on April 12."
...I've got a TV trailer for a series that was shot 2 weeks ago by Robin Vidgeon BSC. It features a serial celebrity killer called 'James Pike' who is an agent fed up with vacuous,talentless celebs & he decides to...er ....kill them!! We could include bogus talent agents in a future episode! Pilot is in Pre-Production.
Have a look on www.youtube.com searching under 'Serial Celebrity Killer' & any feedback most welcome.
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