SAN DIEGO -- College student Ethan Gentzsch dreams of making it in Hollywood as a screenwriter. He's written four screenplays and after copyrighting two, he started getting offers in the mail.

"I thought maybe my work was making the rounds up in L.A.," said Gentzsch.

The offers, from Hilltop Records and Amerecord, both headquartered in Los Angeles, asked Gentzsch to submit his song lyrics. He did, and a short time later he received contracts from both record companies.

"They promised all sorts of royalties and even a bonus once the CD sold a number of albums," Gentzsch said noting the companies told him he'd have to pay about $400 to have his songs considered for publication.

Hilltop records charges songwriters $425. They have an "F" rating with the Los Angeles Better Business Bureau, hitting a sour note for 23 aspiring song writers who complained about Hilltop's unkept promises.

Hilltop's headquarters are on the world famous Sunset Boulevard. The I-Team stopped by the office and learned they only collect mail here.

"I've had a lot of talent come here," said a worker, who distributes the mail to various companies with the same Sunset address. She said the I-Team isn't the only one hunting for hilltop. "People have come from Texas," she said.

Amerecord is located at another famous address: Hollywood Boulevard. The company's owner Ted Shreffler said songwriter clients pay him $392 to produce a record.

"You can't guarantee sales and of course it's highly competitive," said Shreffler.

The Los Angeles Better Business Bureau gives Amerecord, a 16-year old company a "B" rating. Shreffler guarantees a CD with no promises of circulation.

When asked by the I-Team whether he's taking advantage of songwriters, Shreffler responded: "I don't feel that! We're giving them an opportunity and a chance."

"You can certainly be taken advantage of," said San Diegan musician Rob Thorsen who is a 25-year veteran of the music industry. "I don't think there are any shortcuts."

Gentzsch still dreams of making it in Hollywood, but after learning more about these companies, he says he's not interested.

Offers to publish songs are so prevalent that there's actually an industry slang for it: song sharking. How do they get their customers? The I-Team suspects the names come right from the public copyright office.