BOTHELL, Wash. - While Sunday night's Oscar winners glory in their newly burnished fame, thousands of Hollywood hopefuls dream of one day walking the red carpet.

But those hopefuls' big dreams can make them vulnerable prey to scam artists who lure them with promises.

Bothell's Katie Johnson is one of those who was almost taken in.

Last month Katie saw an ad on Craig's List for movie extras. She thought it might be her big opening.

"You never know which one is gonna be your big break," she says.

An e-mail from the casting director named 'Sara' guaranteed Katie at least one day's work. She said it would be shot in Seattle and was supposedly a James Bond flick.

"It was for $500! I thought for non-union pay, I thought it was a pretty sweet deal," Katie says.

But it soured when she realized she had to pay to play. The casting director wanted $50 for a background check.

Longtime Seattle casting directors Jodi Rothfield and Heidi Glasgow were stunned that Katie was told to cough up cash for a background check.

"They're not trying to get into the FBI or CIA, they're trying to be an extra!" quipped Heidi Glasgow of Big Pants Casting.

Rothfield is just as blunt.

"We don't want anyone to be taken advantage of, this is our community!" said Jodi Rothfield of Jodi Rothfield Casting, C.S.A. "It's a great scam! A great scam," said Rothfield.

Katie wasn't as certain.

"You always have that thought - is this that time? Or that movie? Is this the time I'm gonna be seen," said Katie.

Katie thought landing the extra job could help fulfill her dream of one day dancing in a music video.

Still hopeful, she met with the casting director. To her surprise the meeting was at a fast food restaurant.

"She was just really nervous and concerned about the money - that was my main red flag. Why was 50 bucks so important to a big executive?"

Katie took her mom for support.

Katie's mom Linda said the hard sell was on. "We had talked to her so long I said, 'Let's just give her the $50 and go home."

They didn't. Instead Katie called the KOMO 4 Problem Solvers and Crime Stoppers.

Myrle Carner works for Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound - part of a worldwide organization has solved more than 1 million felony cases with the help of tipsters like Katie.

According to Carner, the Craig's List ad for extras is absolutely a scam.

"Hello!" he says.

"There may be thousands of people out there who have been bilked out of their money through this type of scam," says Carner.

He insists if you suspect a scam, call him.

"Let us be the judge on whether this person is legitimate."

Craig's List later gave the ad the boot.

"There's a part of me that says, "Stupid, stupid, stupid, don't be stupid," says Rothfield.

But young Hollywood hopefuls may not know what's legit and what's not.

It's a Monday morning and Rothfield and Glasgow's shared studio is buzzing. Actors of all ages and sizes are on the edge of their seats, waiting for their turn to audition. They've staged this casting call so we can see what a typical audition looks and feels like.

"I need pictures and resumes! Ready? Yes?" Glasgow calls out to a waiting room full of actors.

Actors come prepared - they bring at least one head shot, a list of their work. Each actor immediately fills out a profile sheet describing their physical characteristics and their skills.

Most have had training or experience in the industry.

Their auditions are usually videotaped. "I do a lot of musical theater," says one actor as she belts out a song from a popular children's production.

One by one the actors go behind a closed door and either sing, run through a monologue or answer questions off the cuff.

One thing is certain in this industry: there are no guaranteed jobs and no one pays to play.

"You should never ever put out money," said Glasgow.

Another red flag - extras are paid $75 a day, not the $500 a day Katie was promised.

"They just use people's emotions to get money, I don't think it's right," says Glasgow.

Two other KOMO 4 viewers contacted the Problem Solvers about the same bogus ad. They thought it was hinky and didn't bite.

Before working with an agency contact the state to make sure they're licensed.

You can also contact the Screen Actors Guild for guidance or call Glasgow or Rothfield.

"We don't want anybody to be taken advantage of," says Rothfield.

Washington Film Works has a complete list of guidelines and tips at www.washingtonfilmworks.org/news.html