An Australian stuntman is urging fellow performers to be wary of individuals claiming to be high-level Hollywood executives after he lost A$11,000 (NZ$11,564) in a sophisticated scam. The performer, who did not wish to be named, was originally emailed by someone purporting to be American producer Jon Jashni. Over subsequent days, the scammer managed to convince the stuntman that he was wanted for a role in a fifth Indiana Jones film through a series of fake contracts and a non-disclosure agreement. "He had me hook, line and sinker right then and there," the stuntman said. "Signatures matched … it all checked out." The scammer told the stuntman he should fly to Indonesia for a casting call. However, because the film was supposedly in its early stages, the Australian was told he would need to book his own flights and then be reimbursed. READ MORE: * 'Burn the place down': Christchurch man threatened with violence by phone scammers * We'll come to 'your place', tech support scammer tells Hamilton woman * South Canterbury woman gives IRD scammer a serve "It's not uncommon to sign reimbursement contracts," the stuntman said. "I have been reimbursed by producers before for expenses. They [the contracts] were professionally done with lawyers and everything like that. The details were spot on. I was at ease." Once in Indonesia, the stuntman paid for his hotel accommodation as well as drivers. He even had teleconferences with a woman claiming to be Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy. He now believes the hotel staff and drivers were not only aware of the scam, but directly benefiting from it. He suspects the scammers made their money by working with the drivers to inflate their fares by huge margins. For example, many of the car trips organised by the man claiming to be Jashni cost hundreds of dollars to travel to the outskirts of Jakarta. However, towards the end of the trip, when the stuntman organised his own ride, it cost less than $20. There is no suggestion that the real Jashni is in any way involved in the scam. "Don't accept anything until you get a video call with them," the stuntman said. "Get a face-to-face meeting. If they don't [show their faces], it's bull.... These people are professionals – they suck you in. My bank will not help me out. I've been getting more help from the FBI." It's not the first time someone in the creative industries has been scammed this way. Last year, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that a freelance documentary photographer had lost US$65,000 (NZ$98,611) after being led to believe he was working for Amy Pascal, the former co-chair of Sony Pictures Entertainment. American travel photographer Carley Rudd has also written about being drawn into a similar scam. She claims that "hundreds of other photographers" have been duped and that authorities are continuing to investigate the elaborate scheme. The film workers' union in Australia – the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance – has told its members to take "extra precau
'Hook, line and sinker': the sophisticated Hollywood scam
An Australian stuntman is urging fellow performers to be wary of individuals claiming to be high-level Hollywood executives after he lost A$11,000 (NZ$11,564) in a sophisticated scam. The performer, who did not wish to be named, was originally emailed by someone purporting to be American producer Jon Jashni. Over subsequent days, the scammer managed to convince the stuntman that he was wanted for a role in a fifth Indiana Jones film through a series of fake contracts and a non-disclosure agreement. "He had me hook, line and sinker right then and there," the stuntman said. "Signatures matched … it all checked out." The scammer told the stuntman he should fly to Indonesia for a casting call. However, because the film was supposedly in its early stages, the Australian was told he would need to book his own flights and then be reimbursed. READ MORE: * 'Burn the place down': Christchurch man threatened with violence by phone scammers * We'll come to 'your place', tech support scammer tells Hamilton woman * South Canterbury woman gives IRD scammer a serve "It's not uncommon to sign reimbursement contracts," the stuntman said. "I have been reimbursed by producers before for expenses. They [the contracts] were professionally done with lawyers and everything like that. The details were spot on. I was at ease." Once in Indonesia, the stuntman paid for his hotel accommodation as well as drivers. He even had teleconferences with a woman claiming to be Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy. He now believes the hotel staff and drivers were not only aware of the scam, but directly benefiting from it. He suspects the scammers made their money by working with the drivers to inflate their fares by huge margins. For example, many of the car trips organised by the man claiming to be Jashni cost hundreds of dollars to travel to the outskirts of Jakarta. However, towards the end of the trip, when the stuntman organised his own ride, it cost less than $20. There is no suggestion that the real Jashni is in any way involved in the scam. "Don't accept anything until you get a video call with them," the stuntman said. "Get a face-to-face meeting. If they don't [show their faces], it's bull.... These people are professionals – they suck you in. My bank will not help me out. I've been getting more help from the FBI." It's not the first time someone in the creative industries has been scammed this way. Last year, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that a freelance documentary photographer had lost US$65,000 (NZ$98,611) after being led to believe he was working for Amy Pascal, the former co-chair of Sony Pictures Entertainment. American travel photographer Carley Rudd has also written about being drawn into a similar scam. She claims that "hundreds of other photographers" have been duped and that authorities are continuing to investigate the elaborate scheme. The film workers' union in Australia – the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance – has told its members to take "extra precau
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