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Heads Up: Old Scam, New Approach

 
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Mike Harrison
M&M


Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 2029
Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore

PostPosted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 4:28 pm    Post subject: Heads Up: Old Scam, New Approach Reply with quote

An old VO scam is going around again/still, this time using a new approach.

I don't know whether it has anything to do with the fact that I'm a subscriber, but I received an email from the account donotreply (at) mandydotcom. It looked like a Mandy.com email, and it said there was a message waiting for me on the site. I clicked the button and was brought to what appeared to be a page on Mandy.com, and it was an invitation to submit an audition for a "game show commercial." The contact email address was marc_guss (at) outlookdotcom.

Marc Guss runs a talent management firm, but I should've seen the email address' domain name as a red flag.

I couldn't figure out how to submit from that page, so I copied the email address, and responded using my regular email application.

The reply came a little while ago:

Quote:
It is a $850 voice over (Assignment) for you. A new corporate client of mine wants to create their online website.This assignment is a copyrighted script that will be provided. We have specialists,and Contract Studio Engineer who will bring the real perfection to the job. It's a two days project and wouldn't take more than 45 minutes to record for each of days.

Job Location:

The job and the recording will be held at a rented studio close to your location, so you don't have to worry about traveling, the name and address of the studio will be forwarded to you before the date of the recording.

Job Description:

We are creating a marketing video to be distributed through web and social media. The overall video is approximately 30 minutes in length with the game show host part being about 10 Minutes also. The voice must be Smooth, Friendly fun and entertaining.

Sample Script: (This is an idea of what to be expected)

(VO) Uh, I'm no rocket scientist but I'd say…traffic congestion.

(VO) Well, I'm no rocket scientist but that's a no brainier. Mass Transit is the better option.

Expectations: You need to be in a good mental and emotional state of mind. Basically this is all that is required of you, Kindly, get in touch with me as soon as possible if you will take the job. More details will be provided to you and we can continue from there. Please, no time wasting.
Let me know if you will take the job to commence with next arrangement. Please I'd like you to check your email on a regular basis, I might have updates for you.

Many of us have seen this come-on before. If I was not a Mandydotcom subscriber, I never would have clicked the button in the initial email. And I should've looked at the URL that appears when we mouse-over a link/button (in this case, it was blue-compassdotcom, followed by a long string of characters). Had I seen that URL, I would've been tipped off right away that this was a scam. So shame on me.

So, if you receive what looks like a legitimate message from a website you subscribe to, and the message contains a link, mouse over it and make sure the URL is for the site you know before clicking on it. This VO scam aside, because I not only clicked the button but also responded, my hard drive is being scanned right now for malware. We can't be too careful these days.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

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Bruce
Boardmeister


Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7924
Location: Portland, OR

PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 8:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What goes around comes around again? Sheesh.


B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .
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Gregory Best
The Gates of Troy


Joined: 04 Aug 2005
Posts: 1853
Location: San Diego area (east of Connie and south and east of Bailey)

PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If they hooked some fish with the bait, why not try again?
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Gregory Best

greg@gregorybest.com
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kevinpowe
Contributor


Joined: 24 May 2010
Posts: 47
Location: Melbourne, Australia

PostPosted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 3:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the heads-up, Mike!

Side note - do you get much work out of Mandydotcom? I was subscribed to VoicesPro's Australian arm before they got bought by Mandy, but never saw much in the way of gigs being posted there...
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http://kevinpowe.com
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