Recently we discovered a scammer who claimed to be from an agency called the 29th Ave W Group. He said that he was recruiting models for an upcoming modeling competition. When we used Google to research the modeling competition and the agency, there were no websites to confirm the legitimacy of the agency or the competition. When we called the phone number he provided, it was an answering service that doubled as a fax, and made no mention of the agency or the competition. Lastly, while the scammer claimed to be from Washington D.C., we later learned that he was actually in Nigeria based on his IP address. While we often use the Internet or other sources to investigate possible scams, sometimes we’re simply able to detect a scam based on our instincts. Perhaps the wording in the email seems suspicious. Or maybe the tone causes us to question the validity of the offer. But for many of us, our instincts can be our best defense in protecting us from both online and offline scams. That being said, it’s very important that we trust them. Last year, the Better Business Bureau received 46 complaints from aspiring models and their parents who had been targeted by A New Concept Modeling and Acting Centre. While many of the victims later said that their instincts told them not to sign with the agency, they still allowed themselves to be pressured into the scam. Some of the allegations against the agency included: Charging models more than $2000 for headshots they never receivedHigh-pressure sales tacticsAsking models to sign contracts and not providing them with copies of what they had signedThough the agency promised them work, the models didn’t receive any calls, auditions or jobs after investing thousands of dollars in the scam. If you come across an email, newspaper ad, or even a talent scout in the mall and you get a “funny feeling” that something’s not right – don’t be so quick to dismiss it. Had many of the aspiring models targeted by A New Concept Modeling and Acting Centre relied on their instincts, they would have saved themselves a lot of money and a lot of heartache. For more information about the latest scams and how to avoid them, log in to http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com today and check out our Scam Watch.

The year is off to an exciting start at Elite Casting Network and we're excited to see how all of our members progress as they pursue their dreams of working in the entertainment industry. We're always exceedingly proud when we hear of the great opportunities that our members seizing in order to make their dreams come true. One Elite Casting Network member is really taking the industry by storm. Lianne Lin is a multi-talented actress, model, writer and makeup artist. While she has a number of interests, she has managed to juggle them all and successfully land opportunities in all of her fields of interest. Lianne has appeared on a number of popular television shows including How I Met Your Mother, Ugly Betty, Entourage and CSI Miami. What great exposure! These are some of the most highly rated shows on television! Additionally, Lianne has appeared in several films including Super Sweet 16: The Movie and Norbit. Like many models, Lianne has completely immersed herself in her craft and in addition to a long list of print modeling jobs, modeling competitions and promo modeling opportunities, Lianne has also become an experienced photographer and makeup artist as well. It sounds like there's nothing that Lianne can't do! We'd like to congratulate Lianne on all of her success. It's always inspiring to hear how Elite Casting Network members are taking Hollywood by storm and doing what they love best. If you ever get discouraged, remember that if other ECN members are paving their way toward stardom – there's no reason that you can't too! For more information on Elite Casting Network members or to learn more about other members' experiences in the entertainment industry, visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com today. Good luck to all of you!