In this industry there are agencies for everything and everyone. There are acting agencies, modeling agencies, singing and dancing agencies, radio agencies, animation agencies, writers and director's agencies. There is practically an agency for every person in the cast and crew. Which one do you fit into? Many people think that being involved with or hiring agencies is the only way to get legitimate work, but this is truly not the case.
Not to put agencies down at all, they serve their purpose, and they have helped many people get their positions in the world of stardom and entertainment and that is why we know them today. However, there are some agencies who have just taken people's money after giving them the hard sell and convincing them that they have to part with their cash to get good work and that this is how all agencies work.
So if you can accept that there are good agencies and bad agencies, then you can begin to sort them out and get to the bottom of it. Don't get involved with agencies that ask you for money up front or ask you to take your clothes off the first day you come to the office, unless this is somehow in line with your ultimate career goal. Make sure to research any agencies you are intending to get involved with. Make sure that they will look out for your best interests, and take their pay after you have gotten a nice paying gig through their services.