STAY VIGILIANT!
Exhibitors are being targeted by companies claiming to be, or work with, event organisers. They use existing event branding and may appear genuine. In the past this has included directories and hotel bookings but companies are now also claiming they can sell visitor data from events. This is not the case.
Exhibitors need to be vigilant, read the small print, inform their exhibition, marketing and finance teams about the risk of scams and check with their organiser if they receive anything they are not expecting or are unsure of.
Organisations such as Event Fair, FairGuide.com/Construct Data Verlag, Expo Guide (Mexico) and International Fairs Directory (Portugal) are targeting exhibitors with their misleading directory services. Unsuspecting exhibitors who sign and return the form are then contracted into a three-year, non-retractable agreement, which could cost the exhibitor a significant amount of money.
WHAT TO DO IF TARGETED BY A SCAMMER
If you fall victim to one of these scams:
Our advice is to IGNORE THEM COMPLETELY, and do not communicate with them in any way. Writing letters and responding to emails simply confirms that you exist and are available at the address/email address/number they have for you, and therefore payment can be pursued.
- ALERT the organiser of your event
- Report it to your local trading standards
- DO NOT PAY ANYTHING
- DO NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE SCAMMERS even when they threaten legal action
- Optional: Complain to the receiving bank that their client Expo Guide (or equivalent), is obtaining money by deception.
These organisations have also been known to use debt recovery agencies, the same advice stands for these agencies. Do not engage with them.
If you have any questions about any of the information above, please don’t hesitate to contact us here by email
Or call us on 01425 838393