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.
Be vigilant, read the small print, inform your exhibition, marketing and finance teams about the risk of scams and check with your organiser if you receive anything you are not expecting or are unsure of.
In the past, organisations such as Event Fair, FairGuide.com/Construct Data Verlag, Expo Guide (Mexico) and International Fairs Directory (Portugal) have targeted exhibitors with their misleading directory services. Unsuspecting exhibitors who signed and returned the form were then contracted into a three-year, non-retractable agreement, which could cost a significant amount of money.
If you receive requests from or fall victim to scams similar to these:
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.
1) Report it to your local trading standards
2) DO NOT PAY ANYTHING
3) DO NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE SCAMMERS even when they threaten legal action
4) 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.