Non-profit conference scams

If you are in the non-profit world, chances are you’ve gotten a letter from the World Youth Organization for Human Welfare inviting you to a conference in California and another location. Due to their generous donor, all your costs will be paid – they say. Except for the hotel costs – that is. And here is where the scam lies. They make you pay in advance for conference hotels – money they pocket, as there is no conference.
Today I got another one of these letters, now purportedly from the Callums Foundation, that probably amounts to the same thing. If you do a search for “Callums Foundation”, you’ll find nothing, and the letter is written in that forced English that characterizes scams. There also doesn’t seem to be a Center for Human Rights Research and Development in Mozambique. I don’t know if this scam works exactly like the other one, but you can be sure that you’ll have to pay for something in advance and there will be no conference.
I’ve gotten a few other versions of this scam: “INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHILD LABOUR, ABUSE AND NEGLECT” , “INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN AND CHILD ABUSE” and others I haven’t saved.
The moral is, if you don’t know who is inviting you and they’re offering you something for free, research them before you do anything else.

Dear Friend,
My name is Jersey Cole, working with (WORLD YOUTH ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN WELFARE) California, U.S.A.
We are organizing a global youths combined conferences taking place from August 23rd-25th 2007 at California in the United States
and in, Dakar Senegal from August 28th-31st 2007 .In our request to invite people from various countries around the world,
If you are interested to participate and want to represent your country, you may contact the secretariat of the organizing committee for details and information.
I believe that we may have the opportunity to meet if you may be willing to participate in this event. You can also inform youths & NGOs in your country about these conferences.
The benevolent donors of the Organizing Committee will provide round trip air tickets and accommodation for the period of participants?
Stay in the U.S., to all registered participants. All Delegates and Participants will be responsible only for their hotel Booking where the second phase of the hotel will be held in Dakar Senegal
If you are a holder of an international passport that may require visa to enter the United States
you may inform the conference secretariat at the time of registration,
as the organizing committee is responsible for all visa arrangements and travel assistances. Below is the contact address of the conference secretariat:
By Tel+1 (978) 216-2653: + or by Fax +1 (714) 844-4985 email:info_hmrconfrnce@mail2washington.com or hmr_secretary@secretary.net
Sincerely,
Jersey Cole.

Hello Delegate,
This is a Call for Participation in an INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
OF NGOs(Non-Governmental Organizations) holding in London, United
Kingdom, on 10th June to 20th June 2009,where as many as 200
participants from across the world including Health
Practitioners, Professionals in relevant fields, Lawyers, Psychologists, Women
and Youth Development Groups, Government Officials, Donor Agencies
and participating NGOs will meet to discuss issues pertaining to the
Welfare of NGOs…and also to meet others like yourself; to learn, teach,
inspire and being inspired.
This event will be exploring the potential of a practical
approach that will unleash and nurture the human capacity to create,
collaborate and change positively, the world at large.
What are the objectives of this meeting? The meeting will
provide a medium where participating individuals and NGOs will convene to
address and discuss ways of improving key Humanitarian issues
and topics with much emphasis on Human Rights, Gender Equality,
Peace and Security,Social and Economic Development, Youth and Children,
Health Education,Ethics and Value and Environmental Protection.
Participating NGOs will have direct access to grants by International Donor
Agencies.
· Encouraging countries with a longer experience
in20implementing
strategies .
The opening Lecture will be held by D r.(Mrs.)20Artemisia Fr anco
who is 0 D the President of the Center for Human Rights Research and
Development, Maputo – Mozambique. The program will include:
* Thought-provoking plenary
* In-depth breakout and dinner sessions for strategy-development
* Capacity and skills-building sessions; and
* Debates to stimulate discussion.
In addition to the main program, the meeting will also host book
launches, artistic and cultural activities, exhibitions, plenty
of space and opportunity for informal networking and alliance
building. All plenary and selected breakout sessions will have
interpretation into English,Spanish and French.
Who can participate? What happens if more than 200 participants
apply? Anyone who is a member of an NGO, Professionals in related
fields,Students Unions, Lecturers of Universities and Community based
organizations, the Clergy as well as women and youth development
groups can apply to participate.
If more than 200 people apply (as we anticipate), a global
selection committee will select a representative 200 from among the
applicants.This committee will ensure that the participants at the meeting
are truly international and represent a diverse range of interest s,
issues, and regions. The events will take place at Abba Queens
Gate Hotel London.
I can’t afford the cost – Can you help? CALLUMS Foundation has
set up an Access Fund to support th e travel costs for all
qualified participants. How do I apply, and when is the deadline? All
Interested organizations should send an email to the Local Organizing
Committee.Participants MUST be a group of 1-3 persons to qualify for
registration.
Contact Person:
Rev.(Dr.) George Solomon
Email: callums@live.com
Regards,
Local Organizing Committee
Callums Foundation