EXCLUSIVE: United AgentsThe London store that stocks Kate Winslet and Ricky Gervais has issued a scam warning amid fears its agents may be victims.
Talk of scammers posing as agents or their clients and contacting talent has been rife in the UK agency space lately as it becomes increasingly common across the industry.
The warning, which can be read on all agent web pages, states that United “has been aware that scammers may impersonate United agents and/or our customers in an attempt to defraud individuals.” Deadline understands that United are not trying to stop a specific scam, but are aware that fraud are happening and he is trying to get ahead of the problem.
“Please be careful and vigilant—United agents will never demand payment for access to meetings, auditions, or introductions to our clients, and our clients will never solicit funds or solicit money from their fans,” the warning reads. “If you receive any suspicious message purporting to be from United Agents or one of our clients, we strongly encourage you not to make contact and report it immediately.”
United represents the likes of Winslet, Gervais, Olivia Colman and Kit Harington. Senior agents include Duncan Hayes, Dallas Smith and Maureen Vincent.
Companies including USA Talent Solutions, music agency Solo Agency and Marshall Arts have issued similar warnings in recent months. In the USA Casting Society recently sent out an alert due to a surge in online scammers posing as casting directors.
Deadline has also written extensively about fraudulent agents such as UK talent Bodhiwhich was accused of sending fake auditions to clients and delaying payments to actors, as well as being a fraudster. posing as television executives and asked the writers for money, which was reported to the FBI.
If you have been a victim of a scam and would like to contact the author of this article to provide additional information or share your experience, please send an email to: [email protected]
