[Molli]

I didn't write this but I found it so I thought people would be interested:

I contacted http://www.fabulousflashcast.com after I saw their casting call posted on another site. Then I started doing some digging and found a lot of bad information about them. They used to have a website called http://www.flashcastkids.com but scammed a lot of people so they changed their site to http://www.fabulousflashcast.com. Flashcast still post fake Auditions all over the web on places like craigslist. The Better Business Bureau gives them an 'F' rating which is the lowest possible score. This is what the BBB said about Flashcast:

'On December 18, 2001, we were advised by the company that they would no longer respond to the complaints presented by the Bureau.

On July 24, 2001, the Los Angeles City Attorney filed a 14 count misdemeanor action against the company and its principal, Carl Carranza. The complaint alleged in part, that the defendants made misleading statements in print ads, verbally, and on their website.

On May 17, 2002, Flashcast, and its principal, Carl Carranza, were convicted of 10 counts of using false and misleading advertising in violation of the California Business & Professions code. The company and Mr. Carranza were placed on probation for 36 months and ordered to pay a fine of $4,050.00. They were also ordered to include a statement listing any fees charged, including monthly fees, in all of their advertisements. Anyone seeing an ad that does not contain the fee information is asked to contact Mark Lambert, Deputy Los Angeles City Attorney at (213) 978-8070.

This is their address:
Fabulous Flashcast
3575 Cahuenga Blvd West, Suite 120
Universal City, CA 90068
(323) 969-9006

Has anyone else dealt with this company?

Here are some things I found in google:

1. Business Owner Carl Ken Carranza and his Universal City-based company Flashcast were convicted last week on 10 counts of false advertising and could face a total of $60,000 in fees and up to five years of jail time. Sentencing will take place on June 19. To read more go here: http://www.allbusine.../4380114-1.html

2. I worked for Flashcast almost ten years ago and I'm shocked by the fact that they are still in business. We were told to lie to potential clients and when they were called back because their child was 'cute' (ALL WERE CALLED BACK!), the head 'Casting Director' would tell the parents that they were auditioning for Huggies, Pampers, and other well-known companies even though they were not. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...3945.htm#126469

3. Carl Carranza, Flashcast Kids and Flashcast Companies, Inc. has stooped to fraud and deception again. One would have thought Carranza learned his lesson after being convicted on May 17, 2002 of 10 counts of fraud and false and misleading advertising, and was forced to pay thousands in fines (he was also sentenced to three years probation). to read more go to: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0105343.htm

4. They advertise what looks like an audition in the industry and then they sell what they call their 'computerized casting service.' So you go there, you audition, they don't tell you about a fee. Then if you're called back (everyone gets called back if Carl Carranza thinks he can get money out of them), they tell you at that point that you have to make your decision right then. There's an initial fee of around $495, and you're obligated for the next two years to send them 20 photos, plus a $50-a-month fee. That's $1,200 over two years, plus the initial $500 registration, plus the cost of 20 photos per month. to read more go here: http://www.allbusine.../4380693-1.html

5. The case against Flashcast Entertainment is based on a 14-count complaint against owner Carl Ken Carranza and Deborah Elton Haugen charging them of being an unlawful job-listing service as well as falsely advertising in the LA Weekly and on the company's own website, www.flashcastkids.com & www.FabulousFlashcast.com. To read more go here: http://www.easybackg...om/news/10.html

6. I recently signed with Flashcast and parted with $1500 in order to do so. These fraudsters need to be stopped! To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0232900.htm

7. They kept her mighty busy with more compliments and questions and fake interest, to keep her from reading all of their safety net legal stuff and small print. After signing away her life, she was asked for her identification and credit card for "verification purposes". These people will tell you anything to get your money. To read more go here: http://www.pissedcon...7040897697.html

8. On top of paying $1500 and still no modeling jobs not even one, my daughter has worked with other companies and clothing lines where they have never asked for a dime. Carl Carranza and Fabolous Flashcast are total scammers. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0260231.htm

9. Company works from a very official looking office in LA in not a bad area and goes to every length to convince clients that everything is legit. Suspicion is raised by the mountain of very similar looking referral letters printed in the same font almost and the robotic but convincing sales pitch of two employees. Carl Carranza posts fake success stories all over the web trying to build credibility for himself. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0032559.htm

10. Hard to believe that Carl Carranza and Fabolous Flashcast / Flashcast Kids are still in business, despite the numerous warnings on the Internet and the convictions for FRAUD. Carl Carranza has mastered the art of lying to your face to get your money. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0090062.htm

11. When Brad was about 6 months old, we got suckered into a uniquely Los Angeles scam by 'Fabolous Flashcast', where we paid $500 for nothing. To read more go here: http://parentingfron...ch-madness.html

12. We are recent victims of his fraudulent practice and are filing a case against him. Mr. Carranza's scams include illegal advance fee requests, pretense for being a legitimate practice, and use of hardball sales and emotional tactics to acquire money from intelligent and innocent parents. Carl Carranza and needs to be shut down for good. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0132815.htm

13. Then, we were asked to meet with the CEO and he was very positive about the kids. He then goes through what the company does and talks quickly about a fee of $1500. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...2815.htm#156769

14. Flashcast kids company is a total rip off... they will fool you to pay money and then they never respond to you ever again... it happened to me and my family. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...93344.htm#58066

15.Can you believe this company still going on and on? Ripping off parents like us and using our child as a way of getting their money. Flashcast will steal your money and you get nothing for it. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0093344.htm

16. Don't pay Fabulous Flashcast - http://www.fabulousflashcast.com anything! They are a complete scam company who posts fake modeling jobs for kids in order to get your money! Just do a check on craigs list and you will find they post the same fake auditions over and over. The owner of Flashcast is Carl Ken Carranza who is a convicted criminal. To read more go here: http://www.complaint...ast-c76710.html

17. One look at their terrible website and you can tell they are a scam: http://www.fabulousf...om/welcome.html

18.my complaint is against flashcast which is a fraud and scam, this company when you first arrive have you sit in a playroom, where there are pictures of kids that so called modeled for carl caranza. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0260231.htm

19. Because of the nature of their business, they can say anything they want, and blame their lack of performance and unfulfilled promises on the industry, your child, etc., and hide behind their small print. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0242913.htm

20. The Fabulous Flashcast scam continues even after CEO Carl Carranza is convicted of fraud. To read more go here: http://www.starsearc...howtopic=137820

21. Flashcast cunningly fools eager parents into believing that their kids might be future stars and commands a large fee upfront. Company is allegedly trying to find modeling work for clients babies and commands a large fee up front. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0032559.htm

22. I was also scammed. I paid $1500.00 almost a year ago and have only had one casting call that wasn't even for babies! To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...1927.htm#208336

23. This company is a total rip-off. Yes, something has to be done, to keep other parents from being deceived. They pretend to be a legitimate company but they are far from being a true casting company. I too have been riped off. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0093945.htm

24. I have been working for Carl Carranza for many years. It is very difficult when we were ordered to give the customer misleading information just to get them to sign the contract. Of course to keep our job we had to do what we had to do. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...93945.htm#58065

25. I hope you can contact me regarding the jerk Carl Carranza. I will be taking him to small claims court and was wondering if you could be of any assistance to me. Carl has ripped off one too many parents. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...93945.htm#59860

26. Convicted criminal and CEO of Fabulous Flashcast ( http://www.FabulousFlashcast.com ) Carl Carranza is still scamming hopeful parents who want to get their kids into modeling. To read more go here: http://www.elitecast...showtopic=99805

27. Carl Carranza and Debra were very nice in all of the pre-contract meetings (even though Carl reminded me of a smarmy car salesman), but once I signed the paper I was like the invisible woman and they would never return my calls. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...05343.htm#69300

28. Carl Carranza is a crook. He's been convicted of fraud and false advertising, he's violated court orders by weaseling around his responsibility to advertise his prices by using third-party websites to sell his services. He's lied as to how long Flashcast has been in business. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...05343.htm#69801

29. Flashcast kids company is a total rip off... they will fool you to pay money and then they never respond to you ever again... it happened to me and my family.. and many more parent that still keep going there... so somebody please HELP ME!!! LET'S TAKE ACTION against this company to prevent it from happening to many other parent. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...93344.htm#58066

30. Late last month, he filed complaints against two Los Angeles County companies, claiming they were illegally doing business in the entertainment industry. One, Flashcast Companies Inc. To read more go here: http://findarticles...._23/ai_77757924

31. Be careful, they are a serious scam. They have you pay, then stick your kid's file in a drawer doing nothing for the child until you complain. To read more go here: http://en.allexperts...9/f_4696878.htm

32.Half of their site is dedicated to telling you that everyone from the Better Business Bureau to Rip-off Report is also a scam. Fabulous Flashcast attacks anyone who reveals their scam. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0346190.htm

33.Beware of Mr. Carl Carranza's child modeling scam. We are recent victims of his fraudulent practice and are filing a case against him. Mr. Carranza's scams include illegal advance fee requests, pretense for being a legitimate practice, and use of hardball sales and emotional tactics to acquire money from intelligent and innocent parents. To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0132815.htm

34. The specific things that they say they will do are:(1) help you get an agent for your child (2) help you post your child on a casting website and (3) 'guide' you as a newcomer to the world of baby/kids modeling. My problem with Flashcast is that they barely do those few things for you, if they do anything at all - and for $1500 I expected a lot more. In fact there are many casting sites I can enroll on myself, I can search for my own agent, and I can read the endless information on the web about how to get into the entertainment business all by myself and save $1500! To read more go here: http://www.ripoffrep...pOff0232900.htm

This is an example of the fake auditions they post all over the web. The first thing that tips you off about this scam is when they say "Stable Parents! Financial stability is a must!". Hmm sounds like they want people who can pay them a lot of money!

Flashcast posts casting calls like this all over the web:

"All Ages, Sizes and Types! w/Fabulous Stable Parents! Financial stability is a must!
Modeling! TV Commercials! Films!
College Tuition!
Established Company, in biz OVER 20 YEARS in Los Angeles w/ impeccable references!
Pls email a regular snapshot ASAP to newfaces@fabulousflashcast.com 24 hours!
For more information on our one of a kind service, please go to www.fabulousflashcast.com
MEETING SELECTED NEW KIDS BY APPT. ONLY!
***FABULOUS FLASHCAST!***
(323) 969-9006...select option 1

Recent Projects the talent agents we work with have submitted on:
OLD NAVY, BABY GAP, OSH KOSH, BABYSTYLE, TARGET, DISNEY, ETC.
Location: Universal City Compensation: $582 (approx.) for SAG work, $125.00 per hour (approx.) for Print Modeling Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster. Please, no phone calls about this job! Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests."

If you have been scammed by Carl Carranza & Fabulous Flashcast you should contact Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Mark Lambert at (213) 978-8070. He is currently building another case against these scam artists!

[Molli]

These are public records of Carl Carranza's bancruptcy in April of 2001. This statement of facts is readily available to the general public through the court system. When I read abour Carl's bancruptcy in another post, I decided to use my Pacer account to do a little investigating.
To all interested parties who might consider utilizing Flashcast Kids, Flashcast Companies or any other business owned and operated by Carl Carranza, I have posted the following in an effort to enlighten you as to the genuine nature of Mr. Carranza and his business.

Note the number of creditors he left hanging for a lot of money. Banks, credit cards, even a flower store and a dry cleaner! How high must those bills have been! And he even stiffed Harte-Hanks, the company which owns the Pennysaver where he did most of his illegal advertising! Looks like he defaulted on the IRS as well.

Is this the kind of man whose company you want to invest in? Is the the kind of management and business sense you want in someone who is advertising your child? Flashcast Kids and Flashcast Companies doesn't seem like a very good investment to me.

Carl Carranza is a crook. He's been convicted of fraud and false advertising, he's violated court orders by weaseling around his responsibility to advertise his prices by using third-party websites to sell his services. He's lied as to how long Flashcast has been in business. And now, as we can see, he's been a bad boy when it comes to managing his money.

Case #: 01-21960

Judge: Ahart AA

Date Filed: 04/18/2001

Chapter 7

Case Type: IndividualVoluntary

Business? No

Assets? No

Paid? Yes

Name and Address of Debtor
CARRANZA, CARL KEN
3575 CAHUENGA BLVD WEST #120
LOS ANGELES, CA 90068

Debtor SSAN: 032-58-6662

Tax ID: 95-4268123

Attorney For Debtor
MARK H FREEMAN
291 S LA CIENEGA BLVD STE 411A
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90211
310-657-0401

Trustee Assigned
ALFRED SIEGEL
SIEGEL GOTTLIEB MANGEL & LEVINE LLP
15233 VENTURA BLVD 9TH FLR
SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91403
818-325-8441

341 Meeting:
05/24/2001 at 11:00 a.m.
221 N. Figueroa St., Ste. 101, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Confirmation Hearing:

Claims Deadline: Originally Filed: 04/18/2001

Discharged: 07/30/2001

Complaints Deadline: 07/23/2001

Original Chapter: 7

Date Closed: 08/17/2001

Creditor Listing for Case 01-21960
CARRANZA, CARL KEN

Creditor No. CreditorAddress

1 CAPITOL ONE P.O. BOX 60000
SEATTLE, WA 98190-6000

2 CAPITOL ONE FSB P.O. BOX 85184
RICHMOND, VA 23285-5184

3 CITICORP VENDOR FIN., INC ONE INTERNATIONAL BLVD, 10TH FL
MAHWAH, NJ 07430-0631

4 CITY CLERK TAX & PERMIT DIV. WATER & POWER DIVISION 111 N. HOPE ST, LOBBY RM L68
LA, CA 90012-5701

5 COMMERCIAL MGMT SVCS, INC EP INVESTMENTS, INC 3575 CAHUENGA BLVD, W. 2ND FLR
LA, CA 90068

6 CONTINENTAL COMMERCIAL GRP 317 SOUTH BRAND BLVD
GLENDALE, CA 91204-1701

7 CROSS COUNTRY P.O. BOX 310711
BOCA RATON, FL 33431-0711

8 FIRST CONSUMERS P.O. BOX 5280
PORTLAND, OR 97208

9 FIRST CONSUMERS P.O. BOX 3910
PORTLAND, OR 97208-3910

10 FIRST PREMIER BANK P.O. BOX 520190
SIOUX FALLS, SD 57117-5147

11 FLOWERFUL DESIGN STUDIO 10933 HUSTON ST #217
TOLUCA LAKE, CA 91601

12 GE CORPORATE PLUS P.O. BOX 520190
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84152-0190

13 HARTE-HANKS, INC DBA: PENNYSAVER 2830 ORBITER ST
BREA, CA 92821-6224

14 JB FRENCH DRY CLEANERS 6040 JEFFERSON BLVD
LA, CA 90016

15 KELLI NORDEN AND ASSOC COURT REPORTERS 11726 SAN VICENTE BLVD, STE 205
LA, CA 90049

16 LAW OFFICES OF GROSSMAN AND MAHAN 7441 TOPANGA CANYON BLVD.
CANOGA PARK, CA 91303-2358

17 LAW OFFICES OF HENRY TOVMASSIAN THE WILSHIRE BRENTWOOD PLAZA 12400 WILSHIRE BLVD, STE 1300
LA, CA 90028-1030

18 LAW OFFICES OF J. JEFFREY LONG 12400 WILSHIRE BLVD, 13TH FLOOR
LA, CA 90025-1030

19 LAYA PRINTING, INC 1651 LA AREA AVE
LA, CA 90028

20 LEROY R. PERRY JR DC INC & ASSOC 3283 MOTOR AVE
WEST L A, CA 90034-3709

21 NEAL HANDEL, MD FACS 1125 S. BEVERLY DRIVE, STE 720
LA, CA 90035

22 NETWORK TEMP. SERVICES, INC 9171 WILSHIRE BLVD, STE B
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210

23 OFFICE DEPOT CREDIT PLAN P.O. BOX 9020
DES MOINES, IA 50368-9020

24 PACIFIC BELL DIRECTORY 3470 WILSHIRE BLVD, STE 313
LA, CA 90010

25 PITNEY BOWES PURCHASE POWER P.O. BOX 856042
LOUISVILLE, KY 40285-6042

26 PROVIDIAN FINANCIAL P.O. BOX 9539
MANCHESTER, NH 03108-9539

27 STAPLES CREDIT PLAN P.O. BOX 9020
DES MOINES, IA 50368-9020

28 TARGET RETAILERS NATIONAL BANK P.O. BOX 59231
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55459-0231

29 THE ASSOCIATES P.O. BOX 9004
DES MOINES, IA 50368-9004

30 TOYOTA LINCOLN MERCURY OF HOLLYWOOD 6000 HOLLYWOOD BLVD
HOLLYWOOD, CA 90028

31 UNITED STATES TRUSTEE 221 N. FIGUEROA ST, SUITE 800
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012-2650

32 LOS ANGELES CITY CLERK P. O. Box 53200
LOS ANGELES, CA 90053-0200

33 FRANCHISE TAX BOARD ATTN: BANKRUPTCY P. O. BOX 2952
SACRAMENTO, CA 95812-2952

34 EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BANKRUPTCY UNIT - MIC 92E P.O. BOX 826880
SACRAMENTO, CA 94208-0001

35 INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE INSOLVENCY I STOP 5022 300 N LOS ANGELES ST, ROOM 4062
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012-9903

36 INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE P. O. BOX 30213
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92607-0213

37 TEXACO PROCESSING CENTER UNKNOWN
DES MOINES, IA 50359-0001

38 PACIFIC BELL INC 1010 WILSHIRE BL 9TH FL
LOS ANGELES, CA 90017

39 PITNEY BOWES CREDIT CORP PO BOX 5151
SHELTON, CT 06484-7151

40 PITNEY WORKS PO BOX 7011
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46207-7011

[shantal]

Has anyone else had experience with this company?