Photo credit: Raymond Bagatsing

Raymond Bagatsing has issued a stern warning to his fellow actors about a scam circulating in the industry. The actor recently took to Instagram to share his experience with a group of imposters posing as acclaimed directors Lauren Dyogi and Jun Lana. These scammers are reportedly targeting actors via email, Viber, and Telegram, inviting them to audition for a so-called Japanese Festival of Dark and Daring Films. But there's a catch—and it's a disturbing one.

In his Instagram post, Bagatsing detailed the unsettling encounter. "I did a quick audition thinking it was Direk Jun Lana I was speaking to on Telegram. Because I respect Jun Lana, I went along with the process," he wrote. The actor explained that the fake director asked him to perform an intimate scene during the audition. "I took my shirt off upon his request and did an improv pretending to have my wife who is in Tokyo for a sexy anniversary vid call."

The scam artists, posing as Direk Jun Lana, allegedly told Bagatsing that well-known actresses Ivana Alawi and Lovi Poe were already attached to the project, having supposedly agreed to full frontal nudity. But when the fake Jun Lana pushed Bagatsing to take things further by touching himself for the camera, the actor knew something was off.

"At that moment, I put my shirt on and said, ‘Sorry, Direk Jun, this project is not for me.’ He immediately cut the Telegram call and messaged me," Bagatsing revealed.

This harrowing experience serves as a cautionary tale for other actors in the industry. Bagatsing urged his colleagues to be vigilant and to double-check the authenticity of any such offers before proceeding. "Please beware," he warned, highlighting the importance of verifying the identity of anyone claiming to be a well-known director.

The actor’s bravery in sharing his story is a reminder that in an industry where trust and respect are paramount, there will always be those who try to exploit it.