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Nollywood actor and filmmaker Frederick Leonard has issued a strong warning to aspiring actors and members of the public, urging them to ignore fraudsters using his name to organise fake auditions and collect money.
The actor made the clarification after reports surfaced online claiming that his newly launched production company was inviting people to audition for acting roles in exchange for payment.
Reacting to the claims, Leonard described the information as false, explaining that criminals had created fake audition announcements to scam unsuspecting individuals eager to break into Nollywood.
In a video shared on his verified Instagram page, the actor said he has not authorised any audition exercise and warned the public against making payments to anyone claiming to represent him.
“Some lazy Nigerian youths, unscrupulous elements, and fraudsters have decided to use my name to scam people, claiming they are organising auditions and collecting money for them,” he said.
‘Auditions Are Free’
Frederick Leonard stressed that genuine auditions are never paid events, noting that the purpose of auditions is to discover talented individuals rather than exploit hopeful actors financially.
According to him, any legitimate casting call organised by his production company will always be announced through his verified social media accounts.
He advised aspiring actors to verify every opportunity before responding to audition notices circulating online.
“Auditions are free anywhere in the world. They are meant to discover new talents. I have not scheduled any auditions for my production company. The moment I do, I will post it on my verified accounts so that the authorities can take note,” he added.
Official Public Warning
Alongside the video, Leonard shared a written public notice reiterating that no auditions are currently being organised in his name.
He urged fans and aspiring actors to disregard anyone requesting payments or claiming to have exclusive access to casting opportunities linked to his production company.
“PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT! BEWARE OF SCAMMERS! Please read and share! This is to state that I Frederick Leonard IS NOT CONDUCTING AUDITIONS OR ASKING PEOPLE TO PAY FOR AUDITIONS ANYWHERE! IF and when the need for that arises, there will be a proper announcement on my VERIFIED ACCOUNTS. THANK YOU.”
The actor encouraged followers to help spread the warning to prevent others from falling victim to the scam.
Growing Concern Over Celebrity Impersonation
Leonard’s warning comes as online impersonation involving Nigerian celebrities continues to rise.
Fraudsters have increasingly created fake social media accounts, pretending to represent actors, musicians and other public figures while using their identities to deceive fans and collect money.
Many scammers target aspiring entertainers by promising acting opportunities, movie roles or mentorship programmes in exchange for registration fees or audition payments.
Industry professionals have repeatedly advised aspiring actors never to pay for auditions without verifying the organisers through official channels.
Similar Warnings From Other Celebrities
Frederick Leonard is not the only Nigerian celebrity to recently speak out against impersonation and online fraud.
Just last week, actor IK Ogbonna publicly dismissed reports claiming he was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over an alleged romance scam involving an American woman.
Ogbonna described the allegations as false and explained that unknown individuals had been creating fake social media accounts using his identity to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
The actor warned fans to remain vigilant and avoid interacting with unofficial accounts claiming to represent him.
Fans Urged To Stay Vigilant
Frederick Leonard’s latest statement serves as another reminder for aspiring actors and social media users to exercise caution when responding to online opportunities.
He emphasised that any future auditions organised by his production company would be publicly announced through his verified platforms, leaving no room for unofficial agents or payment requests.
With scams involving celebrities becoming increasingly common, Leonard urged Nigerians to verify information before making financial commitments and report suspicious accounts attempting to exploit his name.
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