MUMBAI: Looks like television too is not safe from the grip of clever con artistes! Actress Alison Heruth has appeared in court in the US charged with lying to the FBI over an alleged scam to take $5.5 million from investors for a fake TV show.

Media reports indicate that the scam revolved around getting investors to bankroll a nonexistent television series about the Department of Homeland Security.

Heruth was arrested on suspicion of lying to authorities about her knowledge of the scam run by her longtime associate, Joseph Medawar. Heruth pretended to investors that she was the lead actress in the show DHS.

If convicted, she faces up to 11 years in prison. Medawar allegedly claimed that 26 episodes of the series were in post-production and that overseas agreements had been finalized in more than 137 territories.

Instead he spent the money on cars, homes, jewellery and child care. Medawar is said to have got at least 70 investors to buy stock in his company, Steeple Entertainment, by claiming that it was worth more than $200 million and would soon be conducting an initial public offering.