Complaint Review: M

I went in to this "agency"--now calling itself simply "M"--after replying to a Craigslist ad seeking extras for Law and Order: SVU and a Men In Black sequel.

I arrived at the appointed time. The agency's office was cramped and filthy dirty. I was brought into the agent's office. He called himself "Max Holden" and showed me an obviously photoshopped picture of himself standing behind the actress Molly Sims on the set of the television show Vegas.

I told him that I was interested in working as an extra and tried to tell him about the other (unpaid) extra work I'd done in the past. He cut me off and proceeded to launch into a rapid-fire spiel about how I could do print work. I assured him that I was not interested as I am not a model and don't particularly like posing for photographs. Once again, he cut me off, telling me that he could photograph me right on the spot for a fee of $139. I was well dressed and well groomed but not at all camera ready.

Once again, he hit me up for money. I pled poverty. He then stated that he would be willing to take whatever it was that I currently had on me and promised to set up an installment plan. Sensing that he was scamming me, I stated that I didn't get paid until the next week and promised to come back next week. (I have no intention on returning, incidentally.)

"Max" then quickly hustled me out the back door of the suite away from the front lobby--probably to prevent me from warning the six other people who were still waiting for him. He did hand me a business card. No name of the company. No URL. And the telephone number had a 516 area code.

When I got home, I checked him out with the Better Business Bureau. His business, in its previous incarnation "World Model Talent", had received a rating of "F" as he had failed to respond to a complaint lodged by a previous customer. The BBB had him listed at a Queens address.

I already contacted the BBB as well as several other organizations but I'd thought I'd give everyone a head's up about the new twist to this guy's scam.