Folks, recently I’ve been alerted to a scam going around involving a group that calls itself “Sci-Fi Productions.” The implication is that they are with the Sci-Fi Channel — they are not. My friend Brendan Skeen, who runs Ghost-Mart (Ghostvillage.com is a partner site to Ghost-Mart) has been receiving calls from people who want to place some very big orders for various investigation equipment. While we’re grateful for the orders, we don’t want to see anybody get ripped off.
Here’s how the scam works: Your ghost investigation group receives an email from someone claiming they’re with Sci-Fi Productions. The email says they are casting for a new ghost show and they’re interested in you. They may ask you for some headshots of yourself, or they may be looking for some more information about your group.
Next, they offer you a phone number based out of California. You call the number and they answer it, “Sci-Fi Productions.” They will tell you they work in a cut-throat business and tell you that you can’t tell anyone you’re talking to them or it might jeopardize your chances at starring in their new show. Then they’ll ask you what kind of investigation equipment you have. They may ask you to get some more if you’re serious and want to be on the show. The scam ends when they ask you to ship your investigation equipment to them so they can check it out before they schedule the filming of the pilot. (In some cases people are shipping them thousands of dollars worth of equipment.) Once you send in your stuff, the contact stops and you don’t hear back. The number (which is likely a pay-as-you-go cell phone) gets disconnected, and you’re out all of your equipment. Our best guess is that the scammer then sells your stuff on eBay for hundreds of dollars.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with a few television production companies on various projects and I can tell you, they would never ask you to ship them your equipment for any reason. They may ask for headshots, they may ask for sample video of you in action, but they simply won’t have any interest in your EMF meters. If they are for real, and do have a budget for a show, they’ll buy you all the necessary equipment when they start filming.
This group is preying on people who want to be famous and have their own ghost show. Television is still hungry for the paranormal, but please think before you send all of your equipment away to some stranger.
Warn others!
jeff,
thanks for the heads up, unfortunetly these things happen, there is a con for everything that could be profitable. i would never give anyone information thats private, and damn sure wouldnt send them my equipment. and i have to say this, to hell with all these paranormal shows, give me one thats educational, not “fake” or for entertainment. if your in this to be famous, good luck, but i dont agree with that motive, but different strokes for different folks i guess.
james w. davis
davis paranormal
Wow it has actually come to this now. Some great people out there. Well I hope nobody has fallen victim to this as of yet.
Paul O
BPG
Thank you for passing this along. I will repost it on other sites I maintain pages on also, and ask others to pass the word around.
Kim
(GhostBreakers.Com)
Good job and thanks for the info…But what i would like to know is who on gods green earth is stupid to allow their equipment to be shipped without verifying the so called “production”… If i was to have done something like that then i am not to be called a paranormal investigator due to making a very dumb and stupid decision like that.
Watch out people remember these 3 little letters TAL which means “They All Lie”. Don’t fall for anything that sounds to good to be true.
Thanks Jeff,
This is a big scam, because of the shows now on all major networks, everyone wants to get on tv, and these jerks are
praying on the groups who want to get their name out there.
Bill Petersen
North Shore Paranormal
Thank you for the heads up Jeff. What a crazy world we live in huh? Well, I am glad there are people like you looking out for us! Thanks again!
Marcia Miller
Wow it has come to this. A fake group in the Sci-Fi Productions taking advantage of us like this. Tahnks for giving out this warning..
You guys are the best. I think I speak for eveyone (except those ripping people off) when I say thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Keep up the great things you do. We are behind you 1000%
Thanks Again, Norm
I may not be the brainiest person in the world,But even I couldn’t be swayed by these fool’s.If instinctively you think there might be a tad bit of deceit,Follow your instinct’s.Were not all going to be on television,Just enjoy the thrill’s of ghosthunting and go on with your live’s.Thanks for the heads up.
I certainly hope nobody was that gullible to follow through and send their equipments.
who in there right mind that is in this field would be stupid enough to send in thousands of dollars of equpiment?
but thats for the heads up
Thanks Jeff,
I’mm gonna be sure and pass this on! Blessings!
Hey Jeff,
Thanks for the information. Good grief. what next.
Wow. I’m surprised someone would be stupid enough to fall for that.
Thanks for the info. I will be happy to pass it around.
Why would anyone send their equipment? In a field where people are already skeptical, you would think the skepticism would carry over. Lets hope everybody gets the word! Thanks
I find this a little amusing. “IF” there is an “Investigator” foolish enough to fall for some Bozo scam like this, they have no business being in the business. Period end of story.