My office received a call from Roxanne Phoenix who said she worked for "Eye on America, " a television show that was interested in having me on as a guest. Every time we tried to reach her she was "away from her desk" or "in a meeting." She always had to call us back.
I tried looking up the show on the internet and couldn't find anything. I thought that was strange.
After finally speaking with her she informed me that I was perfect for a segment they were working on. However, the show's producer, Michael Carrus would have to interview me. I asked what station the show aired on she said, "in syndication."
Well, since I actually worked in television it sounded very fishy. Shows in "syndication" still appear on particular stations in various markets.
She told me the segment was on Natural Products. I asked if it was herbs or cosmetics. She said "yes." She quickly said I had to talk with the producer. We scheduled a time for him to call me the next day at 11AM.
Meanwhile she had given me a web address: http://www.eoatv.com/
I went to the address and was surprised to see Greg Gumbel. The site looked rather simplistic for a television show. The contact link was really telling, there were no names and no email address. There was only a phone number, address, and fax number. The "editorial calendar" had a list of so many topics it was ridiculous - in other words no matter what kind of company you had they had a segment your company would be perfect for.
After serious searching I found a YouTube
It was really weird. All the segments looked like they had been shot in what we call an "insert" studio - very low budget place you can rent for small shoots and demo tapes. And NO Greg Gumbel pieces - just some guy in made up segments with poor business owners who paid for this.
Somehow I found a link that led to complaint and bingo. The report on Platinum Television Group detailed the exact set up!!! The address to the company is EXACTLY the same. (Not a really business address at all!)
We tried to call them back and of course could NEVER get them directly. We finally had to leave a message that the interview was cancelled. And the "producer" still called me at 11AM. Of course I wasn't going to waste my time with them much less entertain the thought of paying to be on any tv segment much less a non-existent one.
"Eye On America" is a CBS news segment but it is not produced by these fakers. If they paid Greg Gumbel to shoot the little intro for them, that was brilliant! But, hopefully business owners will check them out before giving them a dime.
Thank you rip off report!
Angela
Culver City, California
U.S.A.
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