Scammers Trying to Book Videographers

OKCPicker

OKCPicker

Active member
I'm not sure why anyone would even do this but I've been contacted by a company out of Florida that has booked me for an upcoming 10 hour shoot this week. They asked for references, made sure I was available and will not give me any details about the shoot in a town 100 miles away. Their website looks completely bogus, emails look generic and sketchy and I'm beginning to think someone is going to meet me behind a barn in this little podunk town and steal all my gear at gunpoint. It looks that bad.

I specified a cashier's check or money order be on location as well as format I'm shooting on (AF100) . They have not mentioned my conditions or any details about the shoot. I gave them till 3pm today to come clean. Now, I'm dyin to tell everyone to stay away from this outfit. I'm giving them 4 more hours.

Yeeesh!
 
Yeah, sounds fishy. Most of the scams I see are for bogus companies that want you to pay $50 to apply for a contract or background/reference check with the promise of work.

What's their website?
 
US Media Television is the name of the so-called, production company.
http://usmediatelevision.net/

If you get an email from them or phone call, just hang up. Emails are from whoever@studiostaff.tv

I walked right into that one. I spent about $150 bulking up on SD cards and a battery for the shoot. They have my physical address now. This business has changed dramatically in the last 7 or 8 years. Sadly, not for the better.
 
Haha, their website looks like SEO bait to me - there's no real content and just a bunch of keyword-optimized phrases masquerading as articles.
 
i was contacted by studiostaff.tv about a shoot in DC last Thursday, but never responded because I was booked.
 
WhoIs:
Registrant:
George Magalios Studios
321 Palmetto St
West Palm Beach, Florida 33405
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, LLC (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: USMEDIATELEVISION.NET
Created on: 23-Dec-10
Expires on: 23-Dec-12
Last Updated on: 24-Dec-11

Administrative Contact:
Magalios, George george@mediasophia.com
George Magalios Studios
321 Palmetto St
West Palm Beach, Florida 33405
United States
+1.5615234888


George Magalios, the President of the company, founded Mediasophia based on his vision of an ethical multidisciplinary approach to long-term sustainable success. With his background as a visual artist, philosopher, and cultural analyst, Mr. Magalios has established a media and consulting firm whose international scope, intimately personal service, and highly detailed knowledge of search engine algorithims and tendencies have produced an immensely succesful body of work in SEO, Online Reputation Management, Branding, Consulting, and Design.
Mr. Magalios integrates his creative vision, knowledge of trends, and ethical approach to success into the development of mutually beneficial partnerships with clients.
Mr. Magalios graduated with a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from San Francisco State University and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Carnegie Mellon University. He speaks three languages and travels extensively in his research as a theorist and entrepreneur.​
 
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US Media is a blog devoted to United States Media Television published by Mediasophia Internet Marketing.

Mediasophia, INC
417 6th Avenue North, Lake Worth, FL 33460 - (561) 523-4888 | mediasophia.com


​
So are studiostaff.tv are just using that site as a front and have no connection to the site?


Registrant:
Domain Discreet Privacy Service
ATTN: studiostaff.tv
12808 Gran Bay Pkwy, West
Jacksonville, FL 32258
US
Phone: 1-902-7492701
Email: f3b065030a1612335d688dcf8786b823@domaindiscreet.com
Registrar Name....: Register.com
Registrar Whois...: whois.register.com
Registrar Homepage: www.register.com

Domain Name: studiostaff.tv
Created on..............: 2010-02-09
Expires on..............: 2013-02-09



​
You might file a police complaint if you are harmed, they can trace back to the owner of the site.

Here's a business phone line connected with other scams that includes studiostaff.tv:



954-379-4870

Gentleman called from this number asking for the Owner/CEO's name. I asked what it was regarding and he siad he was with "Today In America" and our company might be chosen for a story regarding manufacturing businesses in America? I don't know if it is legit or just looking to get names?

we received a call from Bill Bunn same thing....wanted 20K to be on his show.

Guy calls here at least 3x a month...pay money to be on their show which is played on business channels in hotel rooms...just a marketing scam

They first contacted me that their producer was considering us for a business program on Fox News.

The Show is called Business Day with Terry Bradshaw (http://businessdaytv.com/) formerly know as "Today in America".

After a call with the producer it turns out they expect $19,000 for a 5 minute video on our company, which will be aired on the Saturday on Fox News and regional stations. It is just a paid TV advertorial.

Their website doesn't have any information on it: studiostaff.tv

the website to the today in america with terry bradshaw scam is www.todayinamericatv.com amd www.usmediatelevision.com

real name is platinum television group. Google that name andyou will find out all about them and the florida attorney general case

​
 
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Florida Attorney General Info



Platinum Television Group, Inc., and New Line Media Solutions, Inc. produced infomercial-style television shows which were aired on national and regional television networks. Potential clients nationwide were solicited by “creative directors,” who were actually salespeople that persuaded businesses to sign contracts with the companies. For a licensing fee of approximately $20,000, the businesses were told that a short five-to-seven minute advertisement featuring the business would be produced and inserted into Platinum’s programming. The businesses were usually told that the show would air on both national and regional broadcast networks.



Paul Douglas Scott​
​
and Walter Burton, hereinafter referred to as Respondents.​
 
Thanks People.

Just stay away from these entities. Fortunately B&H will refund my order for supplies to cover the "shoot"
 
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