Wanted to pass out a warning to all speakers, sales trainers and coaches. Seems as if this scam is being proposed to women only right now but who knows guys…you maybe next. Trouble with this one is it really does seem legit. The websites are pretty good and the organization and Pastor will take your calls. To be fair, I don;t really think he is a Pastor, just pretending to be one. The email, you will receive is as follows:
*****************************
Dear Colleen Francis,
My Name is Pastor William Smith from the London Youth Community Here in London UK. We want you to be our guest speaker at this Year LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE which will take place here in UK.We are writing to invite and confirm your booking to be our Speaker at these year LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE.
The Venue as follows:
VENUE: Holy Apostles Church Hall,
47 Cumberland Street,
Pimlico London, SW1V 4LY
Website.www.londonyc.org
Email: info@londonyc.org or w.smith@londonyc.org Expected audience: 2500 people Duration of speech per speaker: 1 Hour Name of Church/Organization: LONDON YOUTH COMMUNITY Tel Phone: + 44 7077-087-949
Topic: LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP
Date:19th of August 2009-23rd of August 2009 Website:www.londonyc.org
We came across your profile on
http:canadianspeakers.org and we say it’s up to standard and we will be very glad to have such an outstanding personality in our mist for these overwhelming gathering. With your multi talented speech more lives will come close to GOD, Sorry about our late invitation it is due to the fact that our Speaker had back out because of her sudden illness.
Arrangements to welcome you here will be discussed as soon as you honor our invitation. If you have any more publicity material, please do not hesitate to contact me. A formal Letter of invitation would be sent to you as soon as you honor our invitation. We are taking care of your traveling and Hotel Accommodation expenses including your Speaker fees.
Stay Blessed
Williams Smith
w.smith@londonyc.org
LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE
**************************************
Just delete it. If you do call they will ask for your credit card number to secure a UK visa (which if you are Canadian you don’t need for this type of work) and travel arrangements. They will send you a contract if you ask for one. It is signed, but its not on any letter head. At least 10 speakers I know in Canada have all received this and we have done a bunch of research and work sussing it out…so you don’t have to. Best to trust me, delete it an move on.
Time to put my energy to good use now….(but sad I don’t get to go to the UK)
Colleen
Professional speakers who are members of Sources – http://www.sources.com have also been targetted. Sources has posted a news release warning about the scam.
I received this letter as well. My red flags were, the website, his name, where he said he found me (not listed there), and the elementary invitation filled with errors. Looks like London will have to wait for another time.
I received the letter and investigated everything the website, host, and speakers from last year. Everything looked ok, than I did a search of the phone number and got your site on the scam. Well they got me for the work permit fees $310. My letter is like the ones above. Thanks for you and your website.
So Sorry Arnessa! They have done such a good job looking legit….
Yep, they contacted me also, they listed a website, that I am not on, as the place they found me, which was a red flag. I just spoke to “Pastor Williams Smith” 44-704-570-6531 who said he would send a letter confirming the event and wanted to check to see if I was married and if I was a minister. I started to feel uncomfortable then, that’s when I googled “london speaker work permit” and this site came up. So far, I’m only out the price of the call to the UK to talk to Pastor Smith, but I think we, as the “speaker community” we should do something so no one else is taken advantage of at all. Suggestions? Rather than just blocking this email, I would like to be proactive.
Hi Diane,
Both the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and the Sources website put out a release to all their members warning of the scam. 2 of our members have also been in touch with the UK and Canadian authorities. Hopefully we can make sure people find out and protect themselves. If anyone has suggestions I would love to hear about them!
Thanks so much for the warning. I just received a nearly identical invitation only to speak at the London Barclays Women’s Conference for some church, but the names and email address were the same. The poor grammar set me to wondering, but they accessed my through our missions’ websites as a Christian public speaker.
Richard
Thanks so much for the warning. I just received a nearly identical invitation only to speak at the London Barclays Women’s Conference for some church, but the names and email address were the same. They found me on believers bay. As citizen of Europe (the Netherlands) I do not need a work permit… they also speak about more many any one would see normal for a speaking at a conference all these things together made me wonder.
I challenged them with a reply e-mail including the warnings (without names) from this site and this e-mail…. maybe they respond.
Dear people,
First of all as a citizen of Europe I do not any work permit. Secondly the amounts of ,money you want to pay are far above normal.
Thirdly…. well the text below says enough.
If you conference is real and if you want me as speaker, just send me a plain ticket, prove of hotel arrangements and the money I mentioned as speaking fee.
In this way we can go on if you can you not agree, well we leave it by this.
Sincerely Marc
I pride myself in never falling for scams, yet I paid $300 to arrange a Britrish temporary work visa. BUT the fraudster went too far and I did not go to my consulate fingerprinting session. Now, please if you know how
it’s done, I’d like to get my money back from the British Embassy since I won’t need the visa. If you can tell me how, write me at chamishba@gmail.com
Meanwhile, I have contacted Interpol and London Police. Barry Chamish
[…] Warning: Speak Scam on the loose! July 13th, 2009 […]
Thank you for the heads up. I’ve posted it at Scam –
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=120555
I received this letter too—-thanks so much for letting me know it’s a scam. How can people be so cruel? And why would they waste our time.
I received this letter from pastor williams smith too. What a shame—they have nothing better to do? Thanks for the alert—Have a blessed day
[…] leave a comment » They ask for a credit card number and send a bogus contract Colleen Francis has more info https://www.engageselling.com/?p=1137 […]
Thank you all for your posts! Always good to have validation! There were WAY too many red flags…
YES, Thank God I received your email. I, too, received this email and responded to it. The Pastor’s name is Edward Smith from Sidcup, England. He wanted me to speak at a “Let Your Light Shine” Conference Dec. 11-14. I sent Davies Brooklyn, who is the High Commission of Britian (sooo funny) $310 for my work permit and later found out ministers coming to the UK do not need a work permit. I called both on the carpet (which I really think they are the same people, l can tell by the email fonts, they talk the same language). Boy, boy people will do anything in the name of the Lord! I have learned my lesson. Thank you for opening my eyes.
Your site confirmed my suspicions. Thanks. Below is the letter I received…
CHRIST CHURCH SIDCUP
Main Road, Sidcup,
Sidcup,UK
WEBSITE:www.christchurchsidcup.org.uk
TELEPHONE:+44 702 402 4745
REQUEST FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT
Beloved Prophetess Faizah Imani,
I am Pastor Edward Smith from the above mentioned organisation, we
write you to seek your engagement in our upcoming annual
conference tagged SIDCUP DIVINE CONFERENCE 2010″ coming up 19th -23rd
February 2010.The purpose of these conference is to re brand the
heart,mind,body and soul of Christians who have gone astray and are
diverting their whole attention into mundane affairs instead of
seeking eternal life.
With all these at hand,we deemed it necessary to invite you to come
and minister in this years conference after browsing through your
lovely profile on http://www.thereisasound.com, we are optimistic
you will indeed be a center of attraction for the audience to look up
to as a role model through your inspirational and emotional speech.
Confirm to us via e-mail or direct mobile on this letter head if you
would be available for these engagement or further questions about
event so we can forward to you necessary binding documents.your
hotel accommodation, feeding, and airline ticket will be taken care of
by the E.O.C(Event Organizing Committee).
More Info
AUDIENCE:1500
AGE:18-55
REFERENCE:EVENT BROCHURE
SIGNING AUTOGRAPH:ALLOWED
SELLING OF CD’S:ALLOWED.
SPEAKING TOPIC:HONESTY AND SELF DISCIPLINE
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BELOW IS THE SECOND EMAIL I RECEIVED
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Beloved Prophetess Faizah Imani,
We very much appreciate you for confirming to be our guest speaker
for these wonderful event without any further delay the event
organizing committee have earmarked preparations on how to summon your
arrive her as swift as possible.Preparations are stated below.
1) Find attached is a LETTER OF INVITATION AND CONTRACT AGREEMENT
which you are to sign and forward back to us via E-MAIL at your
convenience for proper documentation.
2) Your speaking fee is amounted to $8500.00 us dollars to be paid on
installment first part payment of $5250.00 us dollars and second
payment of $3250.00 us dollars that will be issued to you as soon as
you procure your work permit.
3) With reference to figure (2) of these letter concerning work permit
the E.O.C (Event Organizing Committee) wants to notify you that due to
new British rules a work permit is necessary if you want to be
bonafide for these speaking engagement and has decided to connect you
with the BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION OFFICIAL with the address below.
Name: DR FESTUS TAYLOR
ADDRESS: festustaylorbhcofficial@gmail.com
4) Confirm to us the closest airport to your residence for airline
ticket bookings,and as stated in our previous mail,your hotel
accommodation,feeding including tangible unforeseen expenses of you will be
taken care of by the E.O.C (Event Organizing Committee)
5) You need not to worry about speaking equipments like
microphone,megaphone,transfix board,cables and projectors as all these
items will be provided by the E.O.C (Event Organizing Committee).And
you can take back copies and tapes of your recorded activities as
well.
6) The theme of these year’s conference is tagged “SHOW THE LIGHT AND
THE PEOPLE WILL FIND THE WAY” While the topic you are to give a
speech upon is tagged “BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD”.We hope you should
be able to enlighten the audience more about being honest and to be
very well discipline so they can inherit the eternal kingdom.
7) You shall receive your event brochure as soon as you get to the
event venue on the day of your arrival.A cab is to pick you up from
the airport and drive you straight to your hotel rook thereafter a
welcome dinner party would be held.
NOTE:You are to arrive a day before the event commencement.
We urge you to go through the contract agreement and event
preparation very carefully to the best of your knowledge for any
further inquiries you can contact us via – EMAIL or Direct Mobile.
PEACE BE UNTO YOU.
Pastor Edward Smith
Senior Pastor
CHRIST CHURCH, SIDCUP
I received this letter yesterday inviting me to a Sidcup Divine Conference and the quest musical artist. I declined because our quartet is no longer together, so Pastor Edward Smtih invited me to come as a solo artist. Being skeptical, I researched a little about this church. they are legite in that they are a church and they do have a poweful website with some great sermons on line. However, I still was skeptical, so I researched the conference itself and came accross your letter and comment.
Thanks for the warning!!!!!!
Thank you for saving me a phone call to check out the validity of this! I also received the email from Pastor Edward Smith regarding the supposed Sidcup Divine Conference. It all sounded so fishy to me and the poor grammar and spelling also made me suspicious…and of course the huge payment they were offering a soloist…
FYI: This is another one…
Respected Prophetess Faizah Imani,
My Name is Professor Colin Jones from the QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY
YOUTH Community
Here in London UK. We want you to be our guest Speak at this
Year YOUTH EVENT 2010 which will take place here in
UK.We are writing to invite and confirm your booking to be our guest speaker at
these year.We want all LONDON YOUTH to come close to GOD and realize
the future is in their hands. That is why we intend to use these
conference to turn them away from the illicit behavior.
QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY YOUTH EVENT.
The Venue as follows:
VENUE: Skeel Lecture Theater,
Queen Mary, University of London,People’s Palace Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
Website.http://www.qmul.ac.uk/events
Expected audience: 3500 people
Duration of speech per speaker: 1 Hour
Organization: QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY,
Topic:LIFE AND FUTURE
Date:10 February 2010.
Time:6.30pm
Tel: +447024094607
We came across your profile on
http://www.ministrywomen.net
and we say it’s up
to standard and we will be very glad to have such an outstanding
personality in our mist for these overwhelming gathering. With your
multi talented speech more lives will come close to GOD, Sorry about
our late invitation it is due to the fact that our Speaker had back
out because of her sudden illness.
Arrangements to welcome you here will be discussed as soon as you
honor our invitation. If you have any more publicity material, please
do not hesitate to contact
me. A formal Letter of invitation and contract agreement would be sent
to you as soon as you honor our invitation. We are taking care of your
traveling and Hotel Accommodation expenses including your Speaking
fee.
Stay Blessed
Professor Colin Jones
QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY