An upcoming Marathi television actress lodged a police complaint for being cheated of Rs. 10.30 lakh by a ‘casting director’ from South India and his associate. After receiving a call in June from the casting director for a role in a film, she sent him an introductory video clip of herself, on WhatsApp.
She was informed that she had been selected and that the shooting schedule would last for 45 days. She was also told that her remuneration would be Rs. 70,000 per day. The casting director then sent her a QR code and asked her to pay a nominal amount for preparing a project card. After she paid up, a person posing as the director’s associate asked her for copies of vital documents to get her passport processed as the shooting would be held in Australia. He also informed her that she would have to pay for the air tickets for her mother who was to accompany her.
The actress paid the director’s associate and casting director money under various pretexts.
An FIR was registered by the police.