This has been discussed before- over and over again but obviously not nearly enough. I was doing a ride-along with LAPD last night and while I was in the car, they got a call about a photographer who lured a girl to his place after meeting her online, plied her with drinks and RAPED HER. She was taken to the hospital and I do not know the outcome. I wanted us to answer that call SOOOOOO badly. But since I was with him we could not answer the big calls like this that came through. DO NOT GO MEET MEN BY YOURSELF IN HOUSES OR THE LIKE LADIES!!!!!!! It sounds psycho what I am about to say but assume the worst of every guy until you get to know him properly- and even some girls you meet cannot be trusted!!!!In this day and age we have the crazy swinger type women etc etc. These women will assist a guy in doing- well, lots of disturbing things. The cops I was with told me this happens HUNDREDS of times a week. BE AWARE-your life may depend on it!!!!

It's sad, but this just doesn't surprise me at all. And I think it's great advice to assume the worst until you know what's up for sure.

Being a guy, I have gone to various auditions people houses, and some of them were STILL very creepy! One in particular was being conducted in a run down slum by two guys that looked straight out of deliverance! They were actually legit... but I wouldn't go near that place if I were a woman. As I said, even as a guy I had second thoughts, but it was a callback.

this kind of stuff really gets under my skin. I'm so paranoid now a days and probably for good reason too.

Wow. That's a horrible story. Thanks for posting it.

If you're a female model or actress, there is absolutely no reason to meet ANYONE at their home or any other location that is out of the ordinary. Don't let your desire blind you from a potentially dangerous situation!

Now I dig you SAM and now that I have your attention, you should know this post was ripped down off the Showfax forum AND my account was erased as a result!!!! I sent them a polite and lengthy email but never heard back. Disgusting......We cannot NOT talk about this stuff if it still goes on!!!!

For the record, I and some others posted a long thread with far more specific information on sexual predators on Showfax with no problem. I can't speak to what happened with Miss Stone.

I doubt you would have been banned for stating the dangers of predators. You must have said something to personally offend one of the cult members.

Can you provide the specifics?

No I did not previously offend. It was a first post. Minutes later, it was gone and I could not log in. I emailed them and they did not respond. That's it. No more to tell.

Miss Stone - I don't know much about the people at Showfax. Agents deal with Sides Express. Actually, I'm surprised Showfax is still around.

As for the topic at hand, the real problem is that most actors don't have the courage to speak up. That's one of the real reasons sexual predators get away with this kind of crap. So who's worse? The predator or the victim who refuses to take action?

I think the bottom line here is that we have to be smart with who we deal with in this business. There are way too many nutcases out there, and not just in L.A. They're everywhere. Women, of course, are more vulnerable to this bullshit. Always research who you're auditioning for. Always let people know where you're going. And I highly reccommend you invest in some mace and carry it with you always. Be safe out there!

quote:

Actually, I'm surprised Showfax is still around.

It's a refuge for low end industry "casting" people and people who have one or two line extra parts and wish to brag.

Just got this email:


KNOW *77


I knew about the red light on cars, but not the *77
It was about 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on. Lauren's parents have always told her never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather to wait until they get to a gas station, etc.


Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly called *77 on her cell phone to tell the police dispatcher that she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there were police cars where she was and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back up already on the way.

Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground. The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.

I never knew about the *77 Cell Phone Feature, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a safe & quiet place. You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them (i.e. put on your hazard lights) & call*77 like Lauren did.


Too bad the cell phone companies don't generally give you this little bit of wonderful information.


*Speaking to a service representative at ** Bell ** Mobility confirmed that *77 was a direct link to State trooper info. So, now it's your turn to let your friends know about *7 7.

Send this to every woman (and person) you know; it may save a life. This applies to ALL 50 states.

Just googled 77 to see if, in fact, you do reach the police on your cellphone. What came up was Snopes.com which is a site that tells you about urban legends. This story about Lauren is a urban legend that has been around for quite awhile. Check it out yourself at snopes.com.

But I told my daughter when she got her license never to pull over till she gets to a safe, well lit place with people around and if it meant driving a little longer to get there, to call the police. Still a great idea.

Hi Avidactor,

It is a great concept, but unfortunately, I don't think the *77 is true - Did you try it? I did, and got a "your call can't be completed as dialed." In a google search it shows up as a hoax (see below) too bad, b/c it really would be a great idea.

============================================
Phone #77 Hoax
Type: Urban Legend

Description:


This email hoax informs the user about a supposed #77 feature available in a cellphone, which functions like an emergency number. It advises the user to call #77 whenever faced with an emergency situation like the example in the email.

Original Message:


I never knew about this #77 feature. This actually happened to someone's daughter.

Lauren was 19 years old and in college. It was the Saturday before New Year's, about 1 p. m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on. Lauren's parents have 4 children (high school and college age) and have always told them never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road but rather wait until they get to a gas station, etc. ....

People, PLEASE!!!!!

Don't just post or pass on information from emails without first putting the title or a key phrase in a search engine to see if it's a known hoax.

If it's important enough to pass on, it's important enough to check out, no?

As for dangers to women on their own, yes it's better to stop in a place with lights and other people around. Just bear in mind that some of the scary people are... police (not all of them real). There was one case where a woman was careful to drive to a safe place instead of stopping for a cop - who arrested her. And THEN... turned out to have been accused in at least one other stop.

A call to 911 with your exact location and the fact that you're being followed (even by a cop) is probably a good idea.