Authors Beware..

There is a scam going on that uses "legitimate conferences" and the offer of paid travel, lodging and a generous speaking fees to lure authors. For about 24 hours I was going to the UK in August, even though I was surprised that a Catholic organization would reach out to me -- a non-practicing Catholic. I ignored the very first gut feeling (is this for real?) I experienced when I first read the email. Luckily though I did some research and saved myself the humiliation and anger of being scammed.

Here is the email I received:

Dear Bernice McFadden,
>
> MAY THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE WITH YOU.
>
>
> I am REV. FR Thompson Smith from the Catholic Truth Society .We want
> you to be our guest speaker in this year THIRD EVANGELIUM CONFERENCE
> 2010,which will take place here in UNITED KINGDOM. We went through your
> remarkable profile on /www.bernicemcfadden.com and we must say
> its up to standard and we will be very ecstatic to have such
> connessiur charisma and outstanding personality in our mist for these
> wonderful gathering. We want to officially inform you that the date of
> the event is schedule for 6TH - 8TH of August 2010.
>
>
> ADDRESS:
> The Oratory School
> Woodcote Reading
> Berkshire RG8 0PJ
>
> TOPIC: BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIP
>
> DURATION OF SPEECH: 1 HOUR FOR 3DAY SESSION
>
> AUDIENCE:2500
>
> AGE LIMIT:18/35
>
> TELEPHONE:(+44 702 402 4745)
>
> FAX: (07526 908741)
>
> WEBSITE:evangelium.co.uk
>
> We want you to confirm your booking, so we can commence on sending you
> a formal letter of invitation and contract agreement,We will be
> responsible for your hotel accomodation, airline ticket and feeding
> including speaking fee. Feel free to call or email me or write us
> directly (Evangelium, PO Box 28, Tenby SA69 9ZB) for more update.You
> can browse through our website site link on
> (http://evangelium.co.uk/conference.php) for broad information and
> some other confirmed scheduled speakers for the event.
>
> We strongly believe we serve the lord of possibilities and we hope
> with your multi talented speech more life will come close to our LORD.
>
> REV.FR Thompson Smith
> THIRD EVANGELIUM CONFERENCE 2010
> Sharing the riches of our Catholic Faith


I researched the conference and it was legit. So I emailed back and said "Sure I would love to come."


I then received an "Official Letter of Invitation" as well as a "Contract"








LETTER OF INVITATION

The Catholic Truth Society officially invites Bernice McFadden to be our Guest Speaker at the THIRD EVANGELIUM CONFERENCE coming up here in London United Kingdom.


Location Address
The Oratory School
Woodcote Reading
Berkshire RG8 0PJ
Date: 6th – 8th August 2010

For: CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY
TAX ID NO: _ 25048
Name: REV. FR THOMPSON SMITH
Contact Person

Date: 10 of June 2010
SIGNATURE






CONTRACT AGREEMENT

This letter of Agreement is made and entered into between Bernice McFadden (hereinafter referred to as the” Speaker”) (Herein referred to as the “Presenter”) REV. FR THOMPSON SMITH organization whose name is CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY, LONDON UNITED KINGDOM.

The contact person for matters of this agreement is REV. FR THOMPSON SMITH who will act as agent for the presenter

ENGAGEMENT: Guest Speaker for EVANGELIUM CONFERENCE 2010
CONFERENCE THEME: “WE HAVE SET OUR HOPE ON THE LIVING GOD”
Host: CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY
Contact: REV. FR THOMPSON SMITH
Speaker: Bernice McFadden
Function: EVANGELIUM CONFERENCE 2010
Appearance Date(s): 08/06/2010 to 08/08/2010

Location: The Oratory School
Woodcote Reading
Berkshire RG8 0PJ
On-Site Contact: REV. FR THOMPSON SMITH
Audience Size / Demographics: 2500 /
Title of Presentation: BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
Time Table / Duration:
August 6th, 2010 – approximately ____________8:30pm / 9:30pm
August 7th, 2010 – approximately ____________ 8pm / 9pm
August 8th, 2010 – approximately ____________ 7pm / 8 pm

Any additions or revisions to the timetable must be requested and approved in writing.

Recommended Attire: Business / Business Casual

Travel Expense: Presenter will provide business class airfare

UK Work Permit: to be taken care of by Speaker


Presenter will provide ground transportation to and from the airport in London.

Hotel: King-size bed, non-smoking room with late arrival guaranteed PLUS meals
.
Accommodations: LONDON HILTON HOTEL for 4nights – 08/05/2010 to
08/09/2010 inclusive

PAYMENT TERMS:

Payable to: speaker

Speaking Fee: 8,500.00 (USD) – plus expenses as outlined above
Deposit Amount: $ 5,250.00 (USD) Deposit due upon Procurement of UK Work Permit and other relevant travel documents.

Balance Amount: $ 3,250.00 (USD)
Fee Notes: Funds will be paid via Money Gram wire transfer upon conclusion of contract.

PLEASE NOTE: The first part payment of your speaking fee will be wired to you as soon as you obtain your relevant travel documents and work permit.

This is to ensure readiness on your part. The management doesn’t want to undergo any loss for paying speakers travel documents due to act of insubordination from previous speakers.

The management has hereby laid down strict rules and regulations for speakers to abide by in order to ensure an uninterrupted cordial preparation for this event.
Any speakers who refuse to abide by these principles will forfeit his/her deposit and be terminated from contract.

We promise to reimburse what ever expenses our Speaker spends for the issuance of travel documents.

IN WITNESS THEREOF the Speaker and the Presenter have examined the forgoing provisions and have executed this agreement as of the dates shown below

Speaker Name: Bernice McFadden

Speaker Signature__________________

Presenter: REV. FR THOMPSON SMITH

Date: 10th of June 2010
Signature


Now here is where they screw up:

You are advised by the Event Organizing committee to immediately
contact the BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION to procure your UK Work Permit as
soon as possible.

This will enable us to proceed with all arrangements to welcome you
here in London. Contact the British High Commission officer
information below.

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION OFFICIAL

Name: Dr Wilshire Brooklyn

Email: Wilshirebrooklynbhcofficial@gmail.com


Yeah OK - The BHCO's name is Brooklyn Wilshire and he has a Gmail account? This information can be easily confirmed with a Google search or a simple phone call to Washington,DC where the BHC is located!

I thought, okay -- lemme play along so I sent an email to Brooklyn Wilshire and this was the response:

ATTENTION CLIENT,

I Acknowledged the receipt of your mail. I understood all the
content. Without any waste of time and due to short time you have left
to proceed with the issuance of these important documents.I will
therefore embark upon you obtaining a second tier UK WORK PERMIT.
These class of work permit is for employee who falls under the
category of religious activities and intends to impact knowledge and
technical know-how to the citizens of Great Britain. Pertaining to the
urgency and speedy alacrity of these project at hand,i will proceed to
the UK BORDER AGENCY to get you all necessary documents.

You are advised to immediately Provide me with the listed requirements.

1. Letter of Invitation
2. One passport photograph
3. UK Work Permit fees 290pounds (424.56 USD)
4. Issued Date and Expiry date of International Passport.
5. Date of Birth (D.O.B)

I await the listed information to proceed to get you the documents as
soon as possible. Note without you providing these requirements I
cannot proceed to get you these documents. If i receive all
information today i will proceed to the UK Border Agency to get you
your documents . Note you can send all documents through email
attachment. You can send Permit fees through Western Union or Money Gram to my
name DR Wilshire Brooklyn, LONDON UNITED KINGDOM. POSTCODE W1P 9RE
Make sure you attach the payment slip for record purposes.

In your service
DR Wilshire Brooklyn
British High Commission official


Apparently these criminals have been running this game for quite sometime here is the link to an entire chat board devoted to the problem.


Please pass this information along to a writer you love...

Bernice L. McFadden