How to spot potential scams and protect yourself.
We are increasingly receiving complaints from Equity members who have fallen victim to voiceover work related scams. Find out how to spot potential scams, how to protect yourself and some real examples of scams that members have flagged with us.
Equity member A was asked to record a full audiobook for a fee of $2000. All agreed by email, nothing unusual about the communication. The member submitted the full recording to the company. The company then requested that the member pay them a sum of $400 as a transaction fee before they paid them the full $2000. The payment was never forthcoming, and the member never heard back from the company.
How to spot a potential scam
Upfront Payment Requests
- Asking you to pay for “equipment verification,” “agency fees,” or “software setup.”
- Also be wary of companies who mention sending you a cheque or money order for you to “buy equipment”.
Too-Good-To-Be-True Rates
- Offers that promise unusually high fees for minimal work.
- Unrealistic pay for short turnaround.
Vague or Generic Project Details
- No scripts, no project context, no direction.
- Scammers can use vague terms like “for an upcoming campaign” or “corporate narration” without specifics.
Unprofessional Communication
- Poor grammar, strange phrasing, or overly formal/robotic emails.
- Scammers can pretend to be producers or agencies but use free email domains (e.g Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo).
Requests for Personal or Financial Info
- Reputable clients should pay through reputable, well known platforms, or directly via invoicing after work is delivered.
Illegitimate Companies
- Scammers may impersonate real companies or create fake websites.
- Always verify by contacting the official company site if you are unsure.
Cheque or Overpayment Scam
- Scam companies send a cheque for too much money and ask you to “refund the difference.”
- The cheque later bounces, you lose your money.
No Contract or NDA
- Legitimate clients should offer a written contract, usage terms, and payment details before work begins. (Or at least confirm this all in an email).
Equity member B secured an audiobook via their agent. They completed the audiobook and sent it to the company. Her agent then contacted them to say they'd been the victim of scam artists who had put money into the agency account and then taken it out promptly again. They asked the agent to pay twice to release the funds, which they did. This money was lost and the member was never paid.
How You Can Protect Yourself
Research Every Client
- Look up the client or company name + “scam” or “reviews.”
- Check for an online presence, website, or verified casting profile.
Use Trusted Casting Platforms
- Find work through reputable platforms that vet their clients.
Request a Signed Contract
- Always confirm: project scope, usage rights, payment amount, and due date. If you can't get a contract, ensure this is agreed over email (this is common for VO work!)
Watermark or Compress Auditions
- Protect your audio samples by watermarking or sending low-resolution versions for auditions.
Don’t Share Sensitive/Personal Information
- Keep your address, ID documents, and full legal name private until necessary.
Don’t send the full recording straight away
- Send part and then the rest when payment is received, or consider requesting 50% of the fee up front before sending the recording.
Equity member C recorded a voiceover for a conference. An email confirmed the terms, buyout, AI protections etc. The payment due was $2000. The member submitted the work and received complimentary feedback from the client. They were then asked to create an entirely new bank account to receive a secure payment. The client insisted this was their ‘official partner bank’ and all international payments had to be paid through that.
If you have fallen victim to a scam, there is little the union can do to intervene as this is a criminal matter and should be reported to the police.
Please do, however, let us know so we have an idea of the names of the scam companies should other Equity members ask, and we can get an idea of the common scams and common themes to look out for.