"Lori Williams" viacom voice casting ripoff casting voice work for weekends rip off New York New York

I just fell for it too. Walking to work on 68th street about to cross 1st avenue, and this guy asks me where Cornell Medical College is, as if he KNEW I was a student on my way there. I gave him directions, kept walking, and he started telling me what a great voice I have, have I ever done voice work? I was flattered and said no. He started the scam, telling me I could be making $190/hr on the weekends.

We went to sit in a park across the street for a few minutes, where he took calls (probably fake) talking quickly about flying to LAX and taking meetings at FOX. He showed me a few tattered business cards and referred to the MTV building in Times Square, did I know it? Told me he was once an extra on the Cosbys.

He seemed so legit, until he asked for money. He said that I'd need to make a voice tape, which costs $390, but if I put up half now, he'll cover the rest, and I can pay him back. I started to hesitate when money got involved, because it's a little sketchy, too good to be true, for a stranger to find me on the street, offer me a job, and then ask for money. He told me I could pay him back the part he covered, that the job was guaranteed and they'd send me a presskit in 2-3 weeks. 

I gave him the $25 I had in my wallet, so I guess I should consider myself lucky that we didn't make it to the bank. I should have known better.