Hicrobe review: FRAUD 12

Hello,
I've had the exact same experiences with this company (whatever it is called - STAR Recruitment, Westgate Recruitment, etc). I paid for photos to be taken about 2 years ago, and never hear back from them. I received the exact same text message that Natalie (and others) have received, as in the above posts. None of their phone numbers are even contactable (the calls no longer go through) - I tried the numbers again today.

This company does not even have a website (under ANY of its listed names).

Has anyone reported this company/companies to ASIC? Or taken any further action?

Michael Thompson (if that is his real name) writes above: "If you have any more questions, please do call us at the number provided. ... Kindly email me directly ... "
WHICH number do we call you on, Michael? No one ever answers, and calls don't even go through to your listed numbers? HOW do we email you directly?

Hello, this is Michael Thompson. I'm glad to tell you, all these claims are unsubstantiated. We have hired extras for numerous productions, and I have the lists of people that have worked on them, including national TV shows and Hollywood Feature Films. I can prove it.

As you may or may not know, not everyone gets hired immediately, so your mileage may vary. These productions require only the best, and I am really disappointed people could really damage their reputation and ours by posting unsubstantiated claims and unwarranted complaints. We offer a service to be seen by the Industry, and we have NO joining fees, and NO recurring fees, unlike some other agencies out there.

We work very hard to get people into the Industry to obtain regular work, so of course it is necessary to look your best. There are NUMEROUS productions coming out, and it would be a shame to miss out by being so short-sighted!

Also, is there anything untrue as far the upcoming productions and work? I would like to know, personally. Do we inform and caution entrants into the field, and explain a few things to them about how things really work? We groom clients and explain a few things about how things really work in the film/TV Industry!

The more professional your appearance, the more likely Industry clients will want to work with you. This is quite straightforward in the Visual Arts, I can't impress that fact any more. If you were a musician, people would want a sample of your music, yes?

Thank you. I sympathise with the frustrated posters here, but your look will be seen and the ultimate decision to hiring is really up the Industry client. If you have any more questions, please do call us at the number provided. If anyone is making false claims, our reputation is important to me. Kindly email me directly and if you can provide any proof, thank you.

Hey everyone, I too spent $500 on a photo shoot with Andy (who was a great guy and tried helping me out and everything, and was saying westgate doesn't do modelling, they only do cheap extra jobs) and after that I tried contacting the person who contacted me from the start, he said his name was "Mark" from westgate and he never replied back. And after reading this, I called Mark on a private number and it went straight to voice mail which said "Hey you have reached TOM RYAN, please leave a detail messaged after the beep" So he gave me a false name!

I just got the exact same message from a Michael Thompson on mobile number [protected]. I've not given my details to them before, total scam!
"Hello Natalie!
This is Michael Thompson with Westgate Recruitment. We seek TALENT and EXTRAS for film and TV, and also staff for modeling/promotions paying up to $500-$1000-$2000 PER DAY! After looking at the information you provided earlier, Natalie, I feel you are be suitable for the many extras roles we need to fill. All looks are important in film/TV for contrast, realism, and effect - we often need unique, diverse, plain, or dangerous as well as fit and beautiful, so TELL A FRIEND to send in photos, too, we can get you all looked at, then hired! If you are very attractive, we can get you promotional work as well! Recently Australia hosted major productions casting hundreds of extras for: Disney's PIRATES 5 with Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, earlier for Angelina Jolie's WWII directorial UNBROKEN, Ewan McGregor in the sci-fi thriller PREDESTINATION at Docklands Studios, Russell Crowe in THE WATER DIVINER in Adelaide and Ethan Hawke in A SON OF A GUN in Perth, and EACH cast hundreds of extras! Rest assured only the most organised and professional are selected, Natalie! If interested and KEEN, Natalie, kindly send in 1-3 recent PHOTOS to extras@westgaterecruitment.com.au, be sure to write in the SUBJECT LINE: YOUR NAME, STATE, and MOBILE for a quick response, mention job code #1998 then NEATLY on one line, include your age, height and weight, and the times you are available to talk. Right afterwards, kindly give our Westgate Talent Recruiters a ring from 11AM – 7PM EST: Brendan Gallagher at [protected], Richard Marks at [protected], or Mark Eastty at [protected], and kindly tell us you sent in photos and tell us your name and email address so we can look up your photos, Natalie! If you have trouble getting through, no worries, just send in an email to the above address with your number and a good TIME to call you, Natalie, but also try to call back later as well! We can get quite busy at times but freer later, so please do keep on trying, we have MANY major productions coming up that we need to staff with keen extras with many good looks! PERSISTENCE PAYS in this Industry, Natalie! If you are not interested in this opportunity, kindly text REMOVE. This is an unmonitored SMS broadcast number, so kindly call or email as above. Speak soon, Natalie!
Kind regards,
Michael Thompson
michael@westgaterecruitment.com.au
Westgate Recruitment Team”

This is a fraud. I have not had a seek profile for the last two years & when I did contact these people it was not professional at all.
Marks signed off his email with no company logo or number to contact him on.
If it was a proper agency they would ask for a resume and have a landline number not a bunch of different guy’s mobile numbers.
When I spoke to them over the phone they just over talked like they were ###ting and they did explain any processes about interviews, coming in etc
I unfortunately made the mistake of sending some photos through but will not be proceeding on.

I have also been scammed by these people $500 photos after I paid I never heard another word from him prior to this I heard from him daily I have sent "micheal Thompson nurmerous emails to contact me and just yesterday I received an email stating there was extras work, so I called the number and spoke to a guy who had no idea about the email and his job was to recruit people to photo stage which I already had and I needed to contact micheal directly I had my photos taken by andy traveras, who westgate had adivised me too he was there photographer, andy was lovley but seemed to avoid talking about westgate how doi get my money back and what are they doing with my photos

I have had the same experience, is this a scam or is this real?

Wow I just got a text message today about a available positions from Michael Thompson under the number [protected] and he told me to contact him on [protected] or contact Richard Marks on [protected]. They said they were from Westgate Recruitment and I couldn't remember applying for anything from there so luckily I searched it up and found this complaint so thank you! I do have a profile on seek and star recruitment though. Does anyone know of there being anything wrong with Star Recruitment?

Here is some more numbers for your list. Just got a random text from a "Michael Thompson" (+[protected]) from Westgate recruitment .. a Google search of another attached phone number takes me to Star recruitment. Some more names and numbers in this message are Richard Marks at [protected] and Mark Eastty at [protected] (I found this complaint through this number). I have a seek profile and was most likely found through that. I unfortunately about a year ago googled some talent agents and found Star recruitment and filed out a basic profile, then when they wanted $2000 for a pro photo shoot I removed my profile but they may have saved my details (seeing as Westgate and star have the same phone numbers) :( - the text addressed me by first name so they know some stuff about me already.

Hope these numbers and names help you with your list and fraud hunt

I applied for one of these jobs posted on seek under the name of 'westgate recruitment', but was suspicious that it was a scam when I could not find a justifiable website with the number [protected] attached. I was hesitant to call so I did a bit of searching and found your post. Thank you for the heads up! Unfortunately I have already sent my photos and details at their request and do not know what will be done with my personal information.

Does anyone have any more information about these guys?

What makes you think these guys are a FRAUD? Have they asked for your personal details?