In this article
- Red flags of a fake casting call
- They charge you to sign up or to audition
- They force you to pay for headshots, a class or a workshop
- They ask for intimate photos or videos
- The location or the time doesn’t add up
- They pressure you to sign or to decide right now
- The production company doesn’t exist or gives false information
- How to verify who is casting
- Auditions for minors: always with a responsible adult
- What to do if you’ve already paid or you feel at risk
- If you’ve already paid or sent your information
- If you feel at risk
- Frequently asked questions
Quick answer: a fake casting call charges you to audition, makes you pay for headshots or classes, asks for intimate photos or rushes you to sign. A legitimate casting call never charges you to take part, so before you go, check who is behind it.
Wanting to act is a powerful drive, and some people exploit it to get money, personal information or photos from those just starting out. The good news is that fake casting calls tend to repeat the same patterns, and knowing them lets you apply with peace of mind.
If you’re under 18, read this with your mom, your dad or the responsible adult who goes with you.
Red flags of a fake casting call
Even one of these signs is reason enough to stop and find out more.
They charge you to sign up or to audition
This is the clearest sign. Applying to a legitimate casting call costs nothing: the production pays for the search for actors. Be wary of any charge, whether it’s called a registration fee, an enrollment fee, a spot reservation, administrative costs or a “casting fee.”
The same goes for so-called agents who charge a monthly fee: normally an agent takes a percentage of the jobs they get you. A legitimate casting agency also won’t charge you to join its database or to call you in for an audition, because the production company pays for it.
A subscription to a casting website is a different thing: that means paying a platform for a service, not paying whoever is casting. It’s fine as long as it’s clear what you pay for, how it renews and how to cancel.
They force you to pay for headshots, a class or a workshop
Another version: they tell you that you passed the first round, but to move forward you have to get your photos taken by “their” photographer or pay for a class or workshop. Training or getting headshots done is perfectly fine when you choose it; the red flag is when it becomes a condition for moving forward. You can put together good headshots on a small budget: see how to take headshots at home.
They ask for intimate photos or videos
Photos in underwear or without clothes, videos “to see your body better” or one-on-one video calls are a major red flag. A legitimate call asks for acting materials (close-up and full-body photos, a scene) and asks for them through formal channels.
If a role includes nudity or intimate scenes, a responsible production says so upfront and talks it through with you. If they ask for that material in a private chat in the first stage, cut off contact. If the person receiving the request is a minor, it also has to be reported.
The location or the time doesn’t add up
Auditions take place at production companies, agencies, studios, theaters, rented rooms or by video. Be suspicious if you’re asked to come to a private apartment, a hotel room, a car or an address that reaches you at the last minute.
The same goes for timing: a late-night appointment or a “come now, a spot just opened up” deserves questions. It’s also a red flag if they ask you to come alone because “the space is small.” Bringing someone who waits outside the room is normal.
They pressure you to sign or to decide right now
“If you don’t sign today, you lose the role.” Urgency is meant to make you decide before you think. Be wary of contracts you can’t take home, with blank spaces, with clauses that make you pay or with long exclusivity terms in exchange for nothing concrete.
A real contract can be read calmly and checked with someone you trust. Before signing, review what a deal memo is and what to look at. If you’re a minor, any paperwork is read and signed by your responsible adult.
The production company doesn’t exist or gives false information
Fake calls often use names that imitate real production companies, newly created profiles with few posts, photos taken from other sites and big promises, like “it’s for a streaming series.” Sometimes the address doesn’t exist or is somewhere else entirely, and the only contact is a WhatsApp or text-message number. That’s why it’s best to look for calls on casting websites that show who is casting and have a channel to report suspicious listings.
Also be wary if, before any hiring, they ask for a photo of your ID, your card details or the verification code that arrives by SMS or WhatsApp: that code is used to take over your account.
Well-known brand names are used as bait too. In this video from our channel (in Spanish), we show fake castings that used Disney’s name on Facebook: the conversations, what they asked for and how to tell.
How to verify who is casting
Before you send any material or go to an audition, check these points:
- Search for the exact name of whoever is casting along with “scam” or “fake casting call.”
- Look at their website and social media: past work you can verify, how old the posts are and comments from other actors.
- Write to them through the channels on their official website, instead of the contact in the listing, and ask whether that call exists.
- Ask for specifics: the project, the production company, who is running the casting, the address and the time. Anyone working legitimately gives them without a problem.
- Look up the address on a map and see whether it’s an office, a studio or a private home.
- Check with your teachers, with more experienced fellow actors or with your country’s actors’ union (in the US, SAG-AFTRA).
If you’re interested in Disney productions, we talk about a possible casting for a new series in this other video from our channel (in Spanish).
Auditions for minors: always with a responsible adult
When the person applying is a minor, the responsible adult is involved at every stage: they receive the contact, read the conditions, go with the minor to the audition and sign any paperwork. If they have to wait outside the room, they stay on the premises and know who is inside.
These signs are reason enough to cut off contact and tell someone:
- They message the child or teen on social media or WhatsApp without going through an adult.
- They ask them to keep the conversation secret.
- They ask for photos in underwear or a swimsuit, or for video calls alone.
- They suggest meeting somewhere else, traveling or picking the minor up.
- They offer gifts, money or promises of fame in exchange for something.
Asking a minor for intimate images is a crime. If it happened, the first thing is for the child or teen to know they did the right thing by telling someone. After that, save the evidence and report it to the police. If you’re just starting to look for auditions, check out this guide to auditions for kids and teens.
What to do if you’ve already paid or you feel at risk
If you’ve already paid or sent your information
- Stop any new payment, even if they tell you it’s to release your spot or to refund what you paid.
- Save everything before you block them: chats, receipts, profile links, numbers and the names they used.
- Contact your bank or your digital wallet as soon as possible.
- If you shared a password or a code, change your passwords and turn on two-step verification.
- File a report with the police and, if they presented themselves as a company, with your country’s consumer protection agency. Report the profile on the social network too.
- Tell your school or your acting group so others don’t fall for it.
If you feel at risk
During an audition you can leave at any time, without giving an explanation. If something makes you uncomfortable, walk out, find a place with people and call someone you trust or the emergency number (911 in the US).
If someone threatens to publish photos or videos of you to demand money or more images, avoid paying and stop sending material: giving in usually brings more demands. Save the evidence, report the profile, file a police report and talk to someone you trust. The responsibility lies with the person making the threat, never with you.
When you’re ready to apply, check the active castings and run these same checks on every call, including the ones you see on social media.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if a casting call is real?
A real casting call says who is casting and for what project, gives details you can verify and asks for acting materials. Applying also costs nothing, and nobody rushes you to sign.
Is it normal for a casting call to charge a fee to apply?
It’s a sign of a scam. The production pays for the search for actors, so be wary of any charge to register, take the audition or move to the next stage. A subscription to a casting website is a separate matter: that fee goes to the platform, not to whoever is casting.
Can a minor go to an audition alone?
It’s best for a minor to always go with a responsible adult, who also handles the contact with the production. If they ask the minor to come unaccompanied, that is reason enough not to show up.
Where do I report a fake casting call?
You can file a report with the police and, if they presented themselves as a company, with your country’s consumer protection agency. It’s also worth reporting the post on the platform where you saw it and letting your country’s actors’ union know.
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