Talent Agencies Accused of Misleading Parents

The city attorney’s office targeted two San Fernando Valley talent companies Tuesday that allegedly took advantage of parents trying to break their children into show business, Deputy City Atty. Mark Lambert said.

In the first of two separate complaints filed in Superior Court, Flashcast Companies of Universal City is charged with 14 misdemeanor counts, including making misleading statements on its Web site, failure to provide a refund, and operating an unlawful job listing service, Lambert said.

In a separate complaint, six people affiliated with Burbank company Malibu Talent are charged with conspiracy to defraud.

Both companies tout their ability to kick-start the entertainment careers of unknowns on their Web sites. Officials of neither were available for comment.