How to spot a fake casting call

The one rule: you should never pay to be considered

A real production pays for its own casting. If anyone asks you for money to apply, to audition, to be seen, to be shortlisted or to be cast, walk away. That includes a "registration fee", an "admin fee", a compulsory headshot package or a paid workshop that turns out to be the audition.

Get Casted doesn't allow it either: an ad that asks applicants for money breaks our terms, and you can report it from the ad.

Warning signs in the ad itself

• No production name, no dates and no location, just a role and a promise.
• Pay that's far above what similar roles offer, for very little work.
• "No experience needed" for a lead role in a big production.
• Pressure to reply immediately, or a role that's "only open for the next hour".
• A request for your passport, bank details or home address before anything is confirmed.

Warning signs once you're talking

• They want to move the conversation to a personal messaging app straight away.
• They ask for revealing photos, or say nudity is involved when the ad didn't.
• The audition is at a private home, a hotel room or a car rather than a studio or office.
• They can't or won't tell you who the director or producer is.
• They ask you to keep the role secret from friends, family or your agent.

How to check a production is real

• Search the production and the people behind it. A real company has a trail: past work, a website, credits on IMDb or a theatre's listings.
• Ask for the script or sides, the shoot dates and where it will be filmed. Genuine productions have these answers.
• Look for the verified tick on Get Casted profiles. It means the person passed a live face check against their photo. It doesn't vouch for the production, so still do your own checks.
• If you have an agent, run it past them.

Staying safe at auditions

• Meet in a studio, office or other public place, not someone's home.
• Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back, or bring someone with you.
• You can say no to anything you're not comfortable with, and leave.
• Keep messages on Get Casted where you can, so there's a record and you can report them.

If something feels wrong

Trust that feeling. Stop replying, keep the messages, and use Report on the ad, profile or message so we can look at it. If you're in danger or something criminal has happened, contact the police. Equity, the performers' union, also publishes advice on casting scams.