Swindlers Use TV Show to Dupe Students, Reiner Says

A poster offering teen-agers a chance to appear on the popular television show “Beverly Hills, 90210” is an “out-and-out swindle,” Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner said Monday.

Teen-agers who call the phone number listed on the poster are asked to send a $12 “processing fee” along with a picture to a Beverly Hills post office box, Reiner said.

But authorities said Casting House--the company mentioned on the recorded phone message--has no connection with Aaron Spelling Productions, which produces the drama about students at a fictitious Beverly Hills High School. There is “zero chance” that callers will land even a bit part on the show, the district attorney said.

“It’s just an out-and-out swindle by people trying to cash in on a very successful show,” Reiner said. “There will be a lot of upset, angry and disappointed kids.”

Reiner said his office is investigating whether the three people who rented the post office box at a mail pick-up business on Rodeo Drive have broken any laws.

One poster was discovered last week at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. Principal David Doyle said he does not know if any students responded.

Posters may have been put up at other schools, said Tony Shepherd, vice president of talent for Spelling Productions.

Shepherd said the show’s producers are particularly incensed because the scam is aimed at its young fans.

The poster reads: “Beverly Hills 90210,”and says that 100 people “union/non-union/no exp. nec.” are needed by Dec. 15 for “student casting.”

Without mentioning the show by name, the recording implies that the caller will have a chance “to be on TV . . . (and) meet and work with the stars.”

“Beverly Hills, 90210” has about 10 million viewers, more than half of whom are teen-agers, said David Bloomfield, in-house counsel for Spelling Productions.

Efforts to reach Casting House were unsuccessful.