Season 1 Episode 248
If you’ve ever gotten an email offering $850 for 45 minutes of voice work and thought, huh, that sounds… generous—you’re not alone.
Today I’m walking you through one of the most common and dangerous traps voice actors fall into: the voiceover scam.
Let’s talk about how to recognize one, why we fall for them, and how to protect yourself.
These Scams Are Getting SmarterI’ve seen so many of these land in my inbox or get forwarded from friends and students. And honestly, they’re getting better. Better design. Better phrasing. More personal.
But when you know what to look for, the patterns start to repeat.
Here’s the kind of language I often see:
“We came across your demo…”
“We’re excited to offer $850 for a quick project…”
“A studio will be rented near your location…”
They sound legit. But when you look closer, there’s no company name, no usage terms, no specifics—and that’s your first red flag.
Why It’s Easy to Fall ForLet me be clear: falling for one of these doesn’t make you gullible. It makes you human.
We’re trained to get excited when someone wants to hire us. So when you get a message that sounds like your SEO efforts are working or your voice finally got discovered, your brain lights up.
But scammers know that. They prey on that excitement, that desire to get booked, and that dream of breaking through.
And because so many actors are navigating financial stress, looking for validation, or craving that first big break, the offer feels like a miracle. That’s by design.
Real vs. Scam: What to Look ForLet me give you a side-by-side.
Here’s a real email I received:
“Hi Mandy, we’re currently casting a series of short-form e-learning modules for a corporate client in the healthcare space. We heard your narration demo and would love to invite you to audition. If selected, the rate is $450 per finished hour for internal usage. Remote recording is preferred.”
Notice the difference?
There’s a category (e-learning).
A rate and usage clause.
A clear, grounded tone.
Now contrast that with a scam version that said:
“We have a voice-over assignment with a copyrighted script to be recorded at a studio near your location. Your emotional readiness is crucial.”
Um… what?
Common Red Flags I See Over and OverI’ve seen these pop up again and again. Here are the top ones:
Published on 1 month ago
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