Beware of Scams

I thought it might be useful to pass on a bit of information and make the website is bit more useful.

Occasionally, like many people I get emails from other companies. Just beware. I have not been caught yet. It is not just the money it is the time wasting that goes on with some of these jokers. Read the stuff on redcardinal of people's experiences.

Over the last couple of years I have had several emails from these people. There is a lot about this scam on:

http://www.redcardinal.ie/general/10-11-2006/euro-business-guide-spam-and-scam/

http://www.dhbolton.com/articles/euro-business-guide-scam.html

This is how the email looks:

Ladies and Gentleman.

In order to have your company inserted into the registry of World Businesses for 2009/2010,
please print, complete and return the enclosed form (PDF file) to the following address:

WORLD BUSINESS GUIDE
P.O. Box 2021
3500 GA Utrecht
The Netherlands

email: register@worldbusinessguidenow.biz
FAX: ++31 20 524 8107

Updating is free of charge

If you feel that you have received this email in error, please send an email to unsubscribe@worldbusinessguidenow.biz
Removal requests can be sent to this address and will be honored and respected.

It is very clear in emphasising 'updating' if free but the charge to register is hidden away on the pdf registration form that you need to complete, sign and physically post.

The key statement in the pdf file has been underlined, ie. you sign up for 3 years at Euro 995! It is a work of art to separate the EURO and 995 across two lines.:

THE SIGNING OF THIS DOCUMENT REPRESENTS THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS AND THE CONDITIONS STATED IN “THE TERMS AND

CONDITIONS FOR INSERTION” ON WEBPAGE: WWW.WORLD-BUSINESSGUIDE.COM. THE SIGNING IS LEGALLY BINDING AND GIVES YOU THE RIGHT OF AN INSERTION

IN THE ONLINE DATA BASE OF THE WORLD BUSINESS GUIDE, WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED VIA THE INTERNET. A CD ROM WITH WORLDWIDE BUSINESSES IS

GRANTED, ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTRACT CONDITIONS STATED IN “THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR INSERTION” ON WEBPAGE: WWW.WORLDBUSINESSGUIDE.

COM. 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

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORIES LTD “WORLD BUSINESS GUIDE”. I WILL HAVE AN INSERTION INTO ITS DATA BASE FOR THREE YEARS. THE PRICE PER YEAR IS EURO

995. 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 WEBPAGE: WWW.WORLD-BUSINESSGUIDE.COM

Remember, you can register your company on-line for free directories and almost anything else you pay for is likely to be on a secure site where you pay by credit card and see the amount clearly, so anytime someone asks you to physically sign something and put it in the post it is likely to be dodgy!