I was so excited after getting a phone call from the US. It is about an inclusion into a Society called below. Before this, I never knew the society or what they did? But after performing an interview than a google search I came across the website with the thesis below.
I didn't like it when at first they said we do not have to pay anything and after that they insist on us calling our friends with international cards to make payment for our membership fee which is like USD$800 (Regular) and USD$900 (Premium). Duuh!!!
INTERNATIONAL WHO'S WHO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
From: Name hidden
Subject: Appointment Reminder
This is a reminder of your appointment with the director, Interviewer who will be contacting you (your local time) for your 20 to 25 minute teleconference.
This appointment is the final step in our membership selection process and will determine your eligibility for inclusion into this year's edition of the International Who's Who of Professionals.
If for any reason you will not be available at your scheduled appointment time, please contact me as soon as possible at phone number or via email
For more information regarding the Society, you can visit our website at www.internationalwhoswho.com. We look forward to speaking with you.
Executive Assistant
International Who's Who Headquarters
Phone Number
Friday, 16 May 2008
Scam Warning - Whos Who of Professionals
I've had quite a few responses recently to this post on the WHO'S WHO of Professionals recently, so obviously our friends are at it again...just wanted to to draw your attention to some of the comments I've received - tells it all really:
Comment 1
Good work, Nicole (ok, so they got my name wrong, hey ho). I wish I could say that I hadn't fallen for it in 2004, but I did. At that time they claimed more than fifty thousand members world-wide, but the invitation letter was about the same. I joined and became active. IN FACT I ended up running a club free of charge and of benefit to these people while paying a huge sum of money to them for the honours.Of course, at the time, the supposed book in which entries would appear was constantly "fastly approaching the editorial deadline",... year after year. I never received it and after showing patience began to speak legalese, after which part of my money was promptly refunded. The book still had not come out when I checked in 2006.After visiting the website:http://www.internationalwhoswho.de/and getting a strong "deja vu" feeling, I looked these people up in the Better Business Bureau databases and lo and behold I found a wealth of info on Gibralter Publishing (at the time, the core persona) and the about fifteen other names these people use.Not long after quiting IWWHS, I was approached by a new "networking" society (apparently they had shared my details) and when I asked who their executives in charge were I found several of the same North Carolina-based names from IWWHS!Unfortunately, those vane enough to list this "merit" not only advertise a questionable enterprise, but many times will have their OWN integrity questioned by those in the know! Beware!
Comment 2
Hi all,I (in France) received this e-mail a couple of weeks. And last tuesday, a woman who claimed to be in Washington proposed to me an interview with her "director" for "the final step of selection".The day after, "the director" called me and our "interview" was interesting ... he sounds actualy like a professional interviewer, but he ended the call when I choose a $800 registration option but never give him may credit card details.I hope it's for free!!!Thank you all for your information.
Comment 3
WARNING: “WHO IS WHO”/ internationalwhoswho IS quite probably SCAM !!!I have exactly the same experience: "deadline was "fastly approaching" - this time in March 2008, and one day, when I was busy ,I gave them my information and my credit card number (we ARE busy, and this is what they take advantage of). They immediately withdrew $800 for a book and some pins & stuff I had orally been coaxed into saying "yes" to. I understood the same afternoon that this might be scam and cancelled the 'order'. Got a letter back from them, which said "We will be more than happy to assist you with your membership cancellation as soon as the proper information is pulled. An Account Manager will get back to you as soon as possible and thank you in advance for your patience." Signed Sabrina Fuentes. Many days later the letter from the "account manager", Sandy Garcia, came. According to Sandy Garcia, who would from now on be my contact, the "cancellation policy" of "whoswho" was to retain 358$. I protested immediately in an e-mail to Sandy Garcia, only to receive a bounce-back e-mail that I was "not authorized to contact" Ms (Mr?) Garcia. This is no doubt SCAM, and probably
plain fraud. The method is: 1. Appeal to /boost people's vanity, or other things which may make them feel good (for some time). Promise people something good and cheap (here: for free).2. Give the poor fool an opportunity to buy something expensive, but valuable, in addition to the free stuff.3. Be sure you have a huge "cancellation fee" - more or less hidden underneath the offer.4. Ask for the credit card numberof the stupid fool you are fooling5. Withdraw the money immediately6. When the stupid/ victim realizes that he is about to be fooled, promise your "account manager" will contact you "soon": However, that will take so many days, that the fool/ victim will give up, or the deadline of complaint is running out.
We must warn the world against these crooks ... I was one of the fools. I have learnt, and will do what I can to warn others. I will also try to sue them (very unpleasant, but - if necessary -I will grin and bear it).ViVaComment 4
hello, just had an interesting interview with these people too - you can learn a lot from their interviewing style and the gaps in their so called research - the fact that my business is not yet registered or trading, and that the relevant website is not yet active, did not seem to deter them. They also suggested that I would be able to make use of the informal social networking down the road at a local pub (450 miles away in London) and never once gave any indication of understanding what sector I might actually be in. VERY smooth interview style, very much about stroking the old ego. I swear I heard the file being deleted when I said I'd be in touch as soon as I thought such a membership
would be appropriate (ie, no thanks) - in fact I thought I was very pleasant given that someone had just asked me for $950 for what we all do through Facebook anyway.cheers (see you down the pub!), Sarah, Edinburgh
So, learning from these experience, don't even bother to speak to these people (unless you want your ego massaged for free, then tell them you're not interested :-)
Posted by Helen Nicol at 16:05
4 comments:
Subhankar said...
I too received the same kind of "deadline is quickly approaching" message from the organization. Thanks for posting the above comments because they helped me not to give away my personal details.
Best regards,
Subhankar Tue Aug 11, 11:59:00 AM GMT
Gautam said...
Few months back I got the same posting about membership and deadline closing on.. I somehow posted my credentials.. Few days back I got a call from USA[probably.. since my caller identification can't be detected on my phone due to some reason]. So the lady briefed me about an interview with director which she scheduled for next day.. I was somehow excited thinking the name will be selected for free and than membership if I wish.. I couldn't find any details about the membership from site..
Very next day at exact time I got a call from a guy and he asked me about my profession and company..After which he asked a final question how I think I justify my talent in this industry..
So after this suddenly he started to describe about WHO'S WHO and such a honor being part of such an organization..Than membership fees 600$ and 800$ and there on every year 220$..
I am not sure how I was pretty convinced by his professional approach and he suddenly started asking all my credit card credential along with CVV no. in back side..
To my astonishment I gave all this information with a little hesitation thinking I am going to be part of a really big thing..
Than he transferred the call to quality department where a lady started verifying credit card information ..
Than all of a sudden it seems the transaction didn't occur successfully for some reason and she was asking for other card.. At that time I somehow said I don't have other card and next day I will approach the bank to credit it..
I also asked why there is no online payment from site to which she said this is the only mode of payment..
After this I found this blog and came to know truth.. But they never called me back surprisingly..
Later on I found that due to insufficient fund in my credit card the transaction became unsuccessful.. Also these days there is a master card secure code which needs to be provided before transaction..
There are the two reasons why I turned out to be a lucky guy.. I immediately called my bank and blocked my card...
I am not sure what kind of organization is this and they are running a proper website..
How to take action against this organization.. Mon Oct 12, 08:24:00 AM GMT
Anonymous said...
Wow ! I am really thankful to this Blog..I would have been one of the vicims if i wouldn't have been a recruiter ( Headhunter ) myself..I am thankful to one of my friend who sent me this link. Wed Oct 21, 02:31:00 PM GMT
Anonymous said...
Thanks for the blog. While I trying to fill the registration form for 'International Who's who', I have noticed your blog by browsing. The information in your blog really helped me to open my eyes and not being a victim of this scam. Wed Jul 28, 04:57:00 AM GMT
Scam Warning - Whos Who of Professionals
I've had quite a few responses recently to this post on the WHO'S WHO of Professionals recently, so obviously our friends are at it again...just wanted to to draw your attention to some of the comments I've received - tells it all really:
Comment 1
Good work, Nicole (ok, so they got my name wrong, hey ho). I wish I could say that I hadn't fallen for it in 2004, but I did. At that time they claimed more than fifty thousand members world-wide, but the invitation letter was about the same. I joined and became active. IN FACT I ended up running a club free of charge and of benefit to these people while paying a huge sum of money to them for the honours.Of course, at the time, the supposed book in which entries would appear was constantly "fastly approaching the editorial deadline",... year after year. I never received it and after showing patience began to speak legalese, after which part of my money was promptly refunded. The book still had not come out when I checked in 2006.After visiting the website:http://www.internationalwhoswho.de/and getting a strong "deja vu" feeling, I looked these people up in the Better Business Bureau databases and lo and behold I found a wealth of info on Gibralter Publishing (at the time, the core persona) and the about fifteen other names these people use.Not long after quiting IWWHS, I was approached by a new "networking" society (apparently they had shared my details) and when I asked who their executives in charge were I found several of the same North Carolina-based names from IWWHS!Unfortunately, those vane enough to list this "merit" not only advertise a questionable enterprise, but many times will have their OWN integrity questioned by those in the know! Beware!
Comment 2
Hi all,I (in France) received this e-mail a couple of weeks. And last tuesday, a woman who claimed to be in Washington proposed to me an interview with her "director" for "the final step of selection".The day after, "the director" called me and our "interview" was interesting ... he sounds actualy like a professional interviewer, but he ended the call when I choose a $800 registration option but never give him may credit card details.I hope it's for free!!!Thank you all for your information.
Comment 3
WARNING: “WHO IS WHO”/ internationalwhoswho IS quite probably SCAM !!!I have exactly the same experience: "deadline was "fastly approaching" - this time in March 2008, and one day, when I was busy ,I gave them my information and my credit card number (we ARE busy, and this is what they take advantage of). They immediately withdrew $800 for a book and some pins & stuff I had orally been coaxed into saying "yes" to. I understood the same afternoon that this might be scam and cancelled the 'order'. Got a letter back from them, which said "We will be more than happy to assist you with your membership cancellation as soon as the proper information is pulled. An Account Manager will get back to you as soon as possible and thank you in advance for your patience." Signed Sabrina Fuentes. Many days later the letter from the "account manager", Sandy Garcia, came. According to Sandy Garcia, who would from now on be my contact, the "cancellation policy" of "whoswho" was to retain 358$. I protested immediately in an e-mail to Sandy Garcia, only to receive a bounce-back e-mail that I was "not authorized to contact" Ms (Mr?) Garcia. This is no doubt SCAM, and probably
plain fraud. The method is: 1. Appeal to /boost people's vanity, or other things which may make them feel good (for some time). Promise people something good and cheap (here: for free).2. Give the poor fool an opportunity to buy something expensive, but valuable, in addition to the free stuff.3. Be sure you have a huge "cancellation fee" - more or less hidden underneath the offer.4. Ask for the credit card numberof the stupid fool you are fooling5. Withdraw the money immediately6. When the stupid/ victim realizes that he is about to be fooled, promise your "account manager" will contact you "soon": However, that will take so many days, that the fool/ victim will give up, or the deadline of complaint is running out.
We must warn the world against these crooks ... I was one of the fools. I have learnt, and will do what I can to warn others. I will also try to sue them (very unpleasant, but - if necessary -I will grin and bear it).ViVaComment 4
hello, just had an interesting interview with these people too - you can learn a lot from their interviewing style and the gaps in their so called research - the fact that my business is not yet registered or trading, and that the relevant website is not yet active, did not seem to deter them. They also suggested that I would be able to make use of the informal social networking down the road at a local pub (450 miles away in London) and never once gave any indication of understanding what sector I might actually be in. VERY smooth interview style, very much about stroking the old ego. I swear I heard the file being deleted when I said I'd be in touch as soon as I thought such a membership
would be appropriate (ie, no thanks) - in fact I thought I was very pleasant given that someone had just asked me for $950 for what we all do through Facebook anyway.cheers (see you down the pub!), Sarah, Edinburgh
So, learning from these experience, don't even bother to speak to these people (unless you want your ego massaged for free, then tell them you're not interested :-)
Posted by Helen Nicol at 16:05
4 comments:
Subhankar said...
I too received the same kind of "deadline is quickly approaching" message from the organization. Thanks for posting the above comments because they helped me not to give away my personal details.
Best regards,
Subhankar Tue Aug 11, 11:59:00 AM GMT
Gautam said...
Few months back I got the same posting about membership and deadline closing on.. I somehow posted my credentials.. Few days back I got a call from USA[probably.. since my caller identification can't be detected on my phone due to some reason]. So the lady briefed me about an interview with director which she scheduled for next day.. I was somehow excited thinking the name will be selected for free and than membership if I wish.. I couldn't find any details about the membership from site..
Very next day at exact time I got a call from a guy and he asked me about my profession and company..After which he asked a final question how I think I justify my talent in this industry..
So after this suddenly he started to describe about WHO'S WHO and such a honor being part of such an organization..Than membership fees 600$ and 800$ and there on every year 220$..
I am not sure how I was pretty convinced by his professional approach and he suddenly started asking all my credit card credential along with CVV no. in back side..
To my astonishment I gave all this information with a little hesitation thinking I am going to be part of a really big thing..
Than he transferred the call to quality department where a lady started verifying credit card information ..
Than all of a sudden it seems the transaction didn't occur successfully for some reason and she was asking for other card.. At that time I somehow said I don't have other card and next day I will approach the bank to credit it..
I also asked why there is no online payment from site to which she said this is the only mode of payment..
After this I found this blog and came to know truth.. But they never called me back surprisingly..
Later on I found that due to insufficient fund in my credit card the transaction became unsuccessful.. Also these days there is a master card secure code which needs to be provided before transaction..
There are the two reasons why I turned out to be a lucky guy.. I immediately called my bank and blocked my card...
I am not sure what kind of organization is this and they are running a proper website..
How to take action against this organization.. Mon Oct 12, 08:24:00 AM GMT
Anonymous said... Wow ! I am really thankful to this Blog..I would have been one of the vicims if i wouldn't have been a recruiter ( Headhunter ) myself..I am thankful to one of my friend who sent me this link. Wed Oct 21, 02:31:00 PM GMT
Anonymous said... Thanks for the blog. While I trying to fill the registration form for 'International Who's who', I have noticed your blog by browsing. The information in your blog really helped me to open my eyes and not being a victim of this scam. Wed Jul 28, 04:57:00 AM GMT
13 comments:
I also attended their call but as soon as they popped the $900 question I diagnosed the disease. Never even give credit card details online and google before taking any leap online!
I was also approached and my joining fee was 970USD wondering it was South Africa which was known for such dirty tricks. How come US people have also started the same practice. Be aware of frauds Vivek Kapoor
I have also recieved the call today asking all the details and finally coming to Credit card...I told them to call tomorrow. Thanks for this Blog that I am saved...
Sameer
I got a call from them 2 years back. They said the listing is free and arranged an interview with their 'director'. The 'director's interview was nice and she said I am qualified for free listing, but I need to pay USD 970 for membership. Then I said "Thank you Madam" and ended the call. Please take care dont be trapped in their net.
just got a call from them, I am supposed to have a conference call tomorrow afternoon. I am so not looking forward to it. I too have been searching the BBB and have been quite amazed with the information found.
Thanks for the alert. I unfortunately fell victim to this couple of weeks ago,mercifully happened to see this post a week ago and alerted my bank and registered a case for fraudulent transaction ... and blocked their payment. Need to alert the larger community so that they don't fall victim to this scam.
I just got today an email from who's who and so that searching on the google and found this blog. Thanks god. I guessed it may be a scam. Thanks all for your sharing.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH :)
Was on the phone with the "interviewer" while reading this blog post. He acutally hung up on me when I said I wasn't interested in paying for membership. Not quite sure what you really got for $970USD
I had the phone call yesterday and checked the internet afterwards - unfortunately! Now I'm trying to get back US $970! So be better prepared than I was!
Thank you very much for telling us and put us on alert for this site that looks professional, but the end is a scavenger unwary easy money on the net.
THEY ARE SIMPLY ROBBERS !!!!!
2015-06-16 16:25 GMT+02:00 Sandy Garcia :
Dear Colette Mourey
I have attempted to contact you on many occasions to receive payment.My emails still go ignored.Apparently, you will like your company to pay your outstanding balance.I'm sure a man of your integrity would not allow this to happen and you will do the right thing. Our international collection department will be in contact with your company for payment if this is not resolve immediately.
--
Regards,
Sandy Garcia
Director of Membership Services
Colette Mourey
17:02 (Il y a 10 minutes)
À Sandy
Dear Sandy,
I HAVE NOTHING TO SEE WITH YOU
I AM NOT WITH YOUR COMPANY
I AM NOT IN YOUR DIRECTORY
I DON'T WANT ANY MORE MESSAGE FROM YOU ALL !
The best
Colette Mourey
Got an email from Sandy Gracia stating:
"We have sent your 2016 typeset proof over to you. Please review it and return it to us. If we do not receive anything from you it will be posted as is.
Thank you
Sandy Garcia"
When I replied back I had cancellation my membership in 2012 and shared the letter of cancellation acknowledged by this very same person, she replied saying
"Our renewals are automatic. The policy is stated on the biography that was located inside your welcome package. Your 2016 package is ready to be shipped. I will document that you will not renew for 2017 but we have already renewed you for 2016. How will you pay today? Or should I contact your company for payment?"
She keeps sending this annoying email periodically. Is there something which can be done for fraudsters like this?
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