Bollywood Job Scams Job: The New Job Scam In India

As the name suggests,  the Bollywood job scam targets people who look for jobs in Bollywood. The Mumbai film industry has always been alluring to the ordinary person, and countless scams occur because people want to get into Bollywood quickly. Of course, by now, we know how people exploit men and women after promising plum roles.

However, those crimes are still on a personal level, where one person meets another, and the wheels of the scam begin to rotate. Today, we will discuss a scam that mixes two aspects – the dream of making it big in Bollywood and wholesale crime. Some might even regard this as the Bollywood fake audition scam.

Bollywood Job Scams Modus Operandi

The crime begins with the future victim reading an ad posted across the suburbs and contacting the number given. Every other day, you will find another advertisement referring to film auditions all over Mumbai and other metro cities. The victim is then called to an office, where they see several other individuals coming for the audition. In some cases, the ads aren’t even about acting in the film industry. Many of these ads offer jobs in the film industry, like lightmen, spotboys, make-up men, etc.

The very idea that so many people are coming for the audition makes the person feel that they are in the right place, and that is exactly what the scammer wants. One can never be sure whether the people present are hangers-on who just called in to create an impression or people who genuinely read the same ad and turned up for the ‘audition’.

Once the person finally talks to the person in charge, the final step of the Bollywood job scam is in place. The audition happens in a rush, and within ten minutes or so, the person in charge tells the victim that they have talent, but it needs to be honed, and for that, the person will need to pay some money and be groomed.

Of course, some people who attend the audition actually do not have the money to pay for whatever these grooming classes are. Some do, and you would be surprised by what hardsell they go through once the person understands that they really do have the moolah.

This is the Bollywood version of the advance fee fraud—pay money now, and there will be money at the end of the day—a fraud that comprises a major chunk of the scams people see on an everyday basis. In a unique twist, this fee fraud scam is also a typical job scam.

How to Stay Away from the Bollywood Job Scam

Staying away from such Bollywood job scams is simple; you need to be aware of who you are speaking to. Most of these individuals who promise auditions are fly-by-night operators and will disappear within a month. So, always give it a month to know more. Next, the demeanour of the people you meet will also give you an idea of whether they are genuine. A genuine casting or hiring agency.

Keep in mind, this is a bit different from the typical Bollywood casting couch, where a particular person asks another for sexual favours in lieu of a film role. In these cases, all the scammer is looking to make is a quick buck, but obviously, they won’t be averse to asking sexual favours.

Also, companies that promise to deliver the world but advertise themselves on lampposts are not the best of companies. Yes, lampost advertising is used by several genuine companies, primarily to promote beginner-level jobs. But someone promising Bollywood riches should definitely have the budgets to have full-fledged advertising campaigns and offices in high places.

The Vigilant Blog

Covers the crime beat, spreading awareness about crimes, scams and everything dastardly.

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