A similar thing actually happened to me, by a friend of a friend (although we lived in different countries). He was making an adult film that was supposed to be

A similar thing actually happened to me, by a friend of a friend (although we lived in different countries). He was making an adult film that was supposed to be for a big platform. Hired everyone (including some big names), rented condos, film equipment, paid for flights (convinced a producer to front the money for some of it). At the end of the week long shoot he tried disappearing without paying for anything or anyone. And there was no platform involved, it was all made up. And my life was threatened by a few of the people he had "hired" because they thought I knew the guy (although I really didn't and he ripped me off too). This guy Ali sounds like the same kinda psychopath.