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How Not to Get Scammed by Con Artists Posing as Trade Show Operatives
Posted 3/ 5 10 at 2:01 PM |
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A A AThis weekend, from March 5 to March 7, 6,000 people who were going to be at a bridal show -- won't be. Thousands of people who bought $15 tickets to attend a bridal show at the John B. Hynes Convention Center recently learned they had been scammed. There is no show. And while losing $15 isn't fun, it's nothing compared to the small business owners who had bought booth space for the bridal show. According to the Associated Press, some vendors lost up to $4,000.
It was called "The Boston 411 Bridal & Home Show 2010," but instead of calling 411, many entrepreneurs were more likely to call 911.
It was called "The Boston 411 Bridal & Home Show 2010," but instead of calling 411, many entrepreneurs were more likely to call 911.
The FBI and the Boston Police Department are on the case (in fact, if you're a victim and haven't spoken to them, you should email victims.bpd@cityofboston.gov). The criminals who masterminded the fraudulent trade show still haven't been caught. These con artists, fronted by a woman who called herself Jamie Edwards, are also $150,000 richer, although some reports put the final tally at closer to $300,000.
How can you make sure this doesn't happen to you?
After all, the Boston 411 Bridal & Home Show 2010 appeared to be real. They had a Web site, which is no longer up, and promoted their show through Facebook and Twitter. They also sold fake hotel room reservations, accepting payments through PayPal, and send out fake conference passes. Victims of the scam report that the staff they came in contact with -- mostly the alleged Jamie Edwards -- were as professional as could be.
Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but we spoke to a couple experienced pros who offered the following suggestions for determining whether a trade show is the real deal.
Don't attend the show if it's the organization's very first trade show. That advice comes from Matt Meyerson, based out of Beverly Hills, California, who runs a small fashion trade event in New York City called Expose. "I hate saying not to attend someone's first show," admits Meyerson, whose trade show is in its fourth year.
Yet this makes sense, especially if it's a bit of an impulsive move on your part. If a trade show has a track record, it's a given that they're a legitimate outfit. It's not a guarantee it'll be a good trade show -- "some people think you can just throw out a table and chairs and invite people, and that's enough," laments Meyerson -- but you probably won't get ripped off.
Find out who the sponsors are. "If the key sponsors are new products or business startups, the event most likely doesn't have the history with major vendors or players. Make sure you are investing in well known events that welcome well known players," says Billy Lowe, a celebrity hairstylist with 20 years' experience in the beauty industry as a national trade show spokesman for numerous beauty brands.
He's absolutely right. Coca-Cola, for instance, isn't going to be sponsoring some two-bit outfit plotting to rip you and your wallet off. On the other hand, anyone can say their sponsor is a major soft drink or company, so don't just take the organizer's word for it -- find out yourself.
Do a background check. Meyerson says, "Do your due diligence and Google who is running the show, and see what their history is, what they've done before. That should be enough to help you make an informed decision on whether this is a show you want to be involved with."
One can hope.
How can you make sure this doesn't happen to you?
After all, the Boston 411 Bridal & Home Show 2010 appeared to be real. They had a Web site, which is no longer up, and promoted their show through Facebook and Twitter. They also sold fake hotel room reservations, accepting payments through PayPal, and send out fake conference passes. Victims of the scam report that the staff they came in contact with -- mostly the alleged Jamie Edwards -- were as professional as could be.
Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but we spoke to a couple experienced pros who offered the following suggestions for determining whether a trade show is the real deal.
Don't attend the show if it's the organization's very first trade show. That advice comes from Matt Meyerson, based out of Beverly Hills, California, who runs a small fashion trade event in New York City called Expose. "I hate saying not to attend someone's first show," admits Meyerson, whose trade show is in its fourth year.
Yet this makes sense, especially if it's a bit of an impulsive move on your part. If a trade show has a track record, it's a given that they're a legitimate outfit. It's not a guarantee it'll be a good trade show -- "some people think you can just throw out a table and chairs and invite people, and that's enough," laments Meyerson -- but you probably won't get ripped off.
Find out who the sponsors are. "If the key sponsors are new products or business startups, the event most likely doesn't have the history with major vendors or players. Make sure you are investing in well known events that welcome well known players," says Billy Lowe, a celebrity hairstylist with 20 years' experience in the beauty industry as a national trade show spokesman for numerous beauty brands.
He's absolutely right. Coca-Cola, for instance, isn't going to be sponsoring some two-bit outfit plotting to rip you and your wallet off. On the other hand, anyone can say their sponsor is a major soft drink or company, so don't just take the organizer's word for it -- find out yourself.
Do a background check. Meyerson says, "Do your due diligence and Google who is running the show, and see what their history is, what they've done before. That should be enough to help you make an informed decision on whether this is a show you want to be involved with."
One can hope.
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