The latest scam – Someone Pretending to be from Digital Playground

There really doesn’t seem to be a day where we don’t hear about some new scam. Today is no different.

This scam is someone PRETENDING to be from Digital Playground. Mindgeek who owns Digital Playground obviously has nothing to do with it.

Before we get into what the scam is let me tell you, Digital Playground would never charge an upfront fee of any kind, not $97 not $197, not $2,097, not even for testing fees. Testing for any Digital Playground shoot is done through Talent Testing or CET only. There is a specific test that must be done and it doesn’t cost $97.

Talent Testing calls their “Gold Standard Panel (GSP)” and it cost $155. CET calls theirs the “CET Performer Panel” but I’m not sure what they charge. I think it’s about the same as TTS.

If Digital Playground wants to work with you, they aren’t going to ask you to pay them ANY money up front. No legit producer would.

Beyond that, there is no law that says you can’t be a sex offender and not do porn. Just ask Marsha May about that.

I’ve never heard of any porn company doing any sort of background checks. Trust me, if they did there would be far fewer people in this industry. In fact, I just heard about a guy who was arrested and charged with food stamp fraud and even spent time in prison for it. Know what? He’s still active in the adult industry. Of course that’s not a sex offender crime, but still, it’s fraud and that’s fucked up too.

Hell, look at the queen of fraud, Trinity St. Clair. Her multitude of crimes hasn’t gotten her run out of the industry.

So my point is this, never give anyone money upfront for anything. That should be obvious but people still fall for this shit every damn day.

Today’s little scam basically says they will hire you to work in porn and for Digital Playground no less, but you have to pay $97 up front to cover the cost of your STD test and your criminal background check.

There is no “Alan Lewandowski” who works for Digital Playground, who mind you is owned by MindGeek so why would “Digital Playground” send you a letter about hiring you, when it would in fact be Mindgeek who would hire you if this was legit.

Next, as a performer, you aren’t “HIRED”. You are a contract laborer. A company as big as Mindgeek would know to never ever ever use such a word as hired because they wouldn’t take the risk.

Below is the scam email that has been going out. I’m not sure just how many people have fallen for the scam, but I know of at least two who did. One guys offer was for a free trip to Hollywood (as seen below) and another got an offer to visit their offices in Vancouver.

STOP BEING DUMBASSES PEOPLE!

Like the Prince of Nigeria scam, if anyone ever asks you for money via email, it’s a scam! DUH!

From: “DIGITAL PLAYGROUND” <[email protected]>
Date: Mar 16, 2017 2:28 AM
Subject: Your Application for Employment
To: “z—————[email protected]” <zac—————[email protected]>

Dear Z————,

I wanted to personally thank you for your interest in Digital Playground. We received your application and you’re exactly what we’re looking for. Besides your obvious good looks, you fall squarely into the category of heterosexual men we are currently in demand of. We would like to officially invite you to audition with Digital Playground in Los Angeles, CA. We feel like you would make a great addition to our organization and hope we can have a long and prosperous working relationship together. And oddly enough we have the same birthday. I was born on July 9th as well, just many years before you.

We’ve built a reputation as being the leader in this industry because of our employees. We think you’ll find that out management and supportive staff are here to be of assistance to you and help make your entrance into the Digital Playground a Family as seamless as possible.

Digital Playground and its subsidiaries follow State and Federal guidelines regarding the production and distribution of pornographic material at all times. Three of the most important laws governing our industry are:

Federal Statue 18 U.S.C. 2257, which requires producers of sexually explicit material to obtain proof of age for every model they shoot, and retain those records.

California State Law that requires that all performers are tested for STDs no more than 14 days before intercourse. The test includes screening for HIV, Trichomoniasis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Hepatitis A & B.

California State Law that requires that no performer be listed as a Sex Offender in any State or Federal jurisdiction.

For these reasons, it is necessary that Digital Playground Studios have every prospective actor submit to a comprehensive criminal background check and mandatory 7 panel STD check prior to filming.

The total cost for this is $97 and is reimbursed to you upon completion of your first scene. Besides covering your background check, it lets us know you’re serious about the position and that we can count on your attendance at the audition. Upon completion of the background check, we will provide you with complementary round-trip airfare from Beaumont to Los Angeles and complementary accommodations for 4 nights at:

Hilton Woodland Hills/Los Angeles
6360 Canoga Ave
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Before traveling to Los Angeles, we will schedule and pay for your STD exam at a local testing facility there in Beaumont. This usually takes place 3 to 5 days before your flight here. We currently have your audition listed for April 22nd. You would leave Beaumont on the 21st of April and return on the 25th of April. Please make a note on your New Hire Form if those dates are not convenient for you. Your compensation for the audition and subsequent video production will be $500 per day. You will have the opportunity to discuss and negotiate a long-term contract with our Vice-President upon arrival.

I have attached a copy of the “Digital Playground Actor Employment Agreement”, the “Digital Playground Actor Release Form” and a “2017 W-9 IRS Tax Form”. Please take a moment to read and become familiar with those items.

You DO NOT need to send those back now.

Please bring the documents with you to your audition on April 22nd. Once you have familiarized yourself with the attached paperwork please go to CLICK HERE and fill out the New Hire Form. When asked, your ID number is 49145. Please fill out the form completely confirming your reading and understanding of the supplementary paperwork and authorizing us to perform a sexual offender background check. Upon submission of The New Hire Form, please pay the $97 background check and STD Testing Fee. Our secure payment processor accepts all major credit cards and PayPal. Please print and save your receipt for future reimbursement. Once we receive your New Hire Form we will immediately start the New Hire Process and contact you within 2-4 weeks to confirm your audition.

Please fill out the form completely confirming your reading and understanding of the supplementary paperwork and authorizing us to perform a sexual offender background check. Upon submission of The New Hire Form, please pay the $97 background check and STD Testing Fee. Our secure payment processor accepts all major credit cards and PayPal. Please print and save your receipt for future reimbursement. Once we receive your New Hire Form we will immediately start the New Hire Process and contact you within 2-4 weeks to confirm your audition.

Zachary, from everyone here at Digital Playground I would like to personally welcome you to our family. I look forward to meeting you in person upon your arrival. Please return the New Hire Form & Invoice by March 17th as we are currently coordinating shooting schedules for April.

Warmest Regards,

Alan Lewandowski
Recruitment Director

Digital Playground
888-312-5766
http://www.digitalplayground.com