WARNING – Please be careful

NEW ALERT! DO NOT FALL FOR THIS NEW DIRECTORY SCAM!

It seems that some companies are receiving a new Directory Insertion Scam. Sent by: “World-Business List” in The Netherlands.
The emails state in bold headline: “Updating is free of charge!”, but the very fine print at the bottom of the form says:

“THE SIGNING OF THIS DOCUMENT REPRESENTS THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS AND THE CONDITIONS STATED IN ” THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR INSERTION ” ON WEB PAGE: WWW.WORLD BUSINESSLIST.NET THE SIGNING IS LEGALLY BINDING AND GIVES YOU THE RIGHT OF AN INSERTION IN THE ONLINE DATABASE OF THE WORLD BUSINESS LIST WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED VIA THE INTERNET, ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTRACT CONDITIONS STATED IN ” THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR INSERTION ” ON WEB PAGE: WWW.WORLDBUSINESSLIST.NET. THE VALIDATION TIME OF THE CONTRACT IS THREE YEARS AND STARTS ON THE EIGHTH DAY AFTER SIGNING THE CONTRACT. THE INSERTION IS GRANTED AFTER SIGNING AND RECEIVING THIS DOCUMENT BY THE SERVICE PROVIDER. I HEREBY ORDER A SUBSCRIPTION WITH SERVICE PROVIDER EU BUSINESS SERVICES LTD. ” WORLD BUSINESS LIST”. I WILL HAVE AN INSERTION INTO ITS DATABASE FOR THREE YEARS. THE PRICE PER YEAR IS EURO 9 9 5. THE SUBSCRIPTION WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDED EVERY YEAR FOR ANOTHER YEAR UNLESS SPECIFIC WRITTEN NOTICE IS RECEIVED BY THE SERVICE PROVIDER OR THE SUBSCRIBER TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE SUBSCRIPTION. YOUR DATA WILL BE RECORDED. THE PLACE OF JURISDICTION IN ANY DISPUTE ARISING IS THE SERVICE PROVIDER’S ADDRESS. THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SERVICE PROVIDER AND THE SUBSCRIBER IS GOVERNED BY THE CONDITIONS STATED IN ” THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR INSERTION ” ON WEB PAGE: WWW.WORLDBUSINESSLIST.NET”

The form buries the 995 EURO price in the fine print, and they ask you to FAX in the form, which if you do you have signed a legally binding insertion order committing your company to 3 years of 995 Euros per year!

Please pay attention and don’t let anyone on your staff fall for this new version of the old Trade Show Directory scam.

WARNING! Please be careful of direct mailings from an organization known as Expo-Guide and or Construct Data/Fairguide. Do not be fooled! The “offer”, while factually correct, can be easily misunderstood. These organizations are NOT part of Koelnmesse or any of our worldwide trade shows. (click here for a sample)

We recommend destroying any communication you receive from these companies. Koelnmesse condemns the activities of Expo-Guide and Construct Data/Fairguide and believes it constitutes an infringement and improper intrusion into the business affairs of Koelnmesse and our clients.

For additional information on this issue, please visit the following links provided by industry associations.

Warning from the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)
www.iaee.com/resources/warnings_to_exhibitors

 

Additional SCAM Warning:

World Business Guide

The World Business Guide is a product of International Directories Group, Ltd. of Madrid, Spain. The company invites businesses to list themselves in its database. The form used to gather contact information says in part, “(Updating is Free of Charge)” in boldface type.

However, embedded in a lengthy paragraph labeled “Order” – in very small type – is a binding three-year agreement that automatically renews every year for another year at a cost of € 995 (about $1455 USD). Dating and signing the Data Control form will bind you to the agreement.

The pitch is remarkably similar to the methodology that has been employed by companies like Construct Data/Fairguide and Expoguide Mexico, which have plagued exhibitors and others in the exhibitions and events industry throughout the world.

Sign the World Business Guide Data Control form only if you wish to purchase a database listing that will cost you a minimum of $1455 a year for at least three years.

If you have any questions, please call Koelnmesse at +1 (773) 326-9920.