Recently, an email was circulated to many NGOs in Africa by someone claiming to be “Bridge Medical Research Foundation” inviting them to attend “the 4th International Workshop for Development and Finance” “scheduled from 14th to 19th February 2011 in Georgia-Atlanta, United States of America, (U.S.A).” The invitation attached to the email claimed to provide full sponsorship covering air travel and meals to at least 4 participants from each organization. But each participant had to pay US $285 as registration fee!
Some of the NGOs receiving this email cheered at the idea of receiving the sponsorship letter and were willing to pay the above sum immediately to participate in the workshop because they were getting an opportunity to visit the US of A. But one of our valued subscribers, Blair Henry from Botswana pointed out that there was something suspicious in this and alerted us to inform you all that this is nothing but a scam to cheat you! As soon as you transfer the registration fee (hard earned money of yours), the workshop organizers will disappear or may start demanding more money from you. So beware of such email scams.
But what makes one think that this is a scam? See the email below:
The name of the organization is not familiar, at least not in the development sector. So it is something that we need to investigate. On visiting its website, we find lot of information about the organization, but nothing about this so-called “International Workshop for Development and Finance.” This raises our suspicion.
Now we take a look at the invitation attached to the email:
The invitation says “your organization has been selected for sponsorship to the summit.” How come? When you have not sent any application or a request, how can your organization get selected for the sponsorship? Secondly, it is asking for a high registration fee of US $285 but it is offering to cover air travel and meals (not many reputable workshops and conferences do that). Thirdly, it is expecting participants to transfer this fee via Western Union to another country and not to the place where the event has to take place.
It is certain that this is nothing but a scam targeting NGOs to deceive them and take their money away. NGOs receiving such an email should best ignore it and inform other colleagues to not to fall for it.
But this may not be the last email scam. There will be many more coming in using new techniques to deceive you. So how does one protect oneself from it? Here is a guide on how to be alert and avoid falling for them. Click NEXT to read it.
Thanks to Blair for raising this issue.
This is the message they send recently looking for a representation of your foundation in my country . Another scam.
Hinger vous a envoyé un message.
Hinger Norman1 mars 2011, 23:07
44) 704574 7936.
Objet : Offre de representation
BRIDGE MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Londres WIV OAL Phone
Fax : (44) 70493 65 94, 25 Rue Argentina Buenos Aires
Londres Royaumes Unies
Monsieur Bonkian,
Nous recherchons dans votre pays une personne capable d’assurer la noble fonction d’administration de notre Foundation, notre désir est d’implanter une brancher de Bridge Medical Research Foundation dans votre pays et c’est pour cette raison que nous vous avons contacté. Une fois encore merci pour votre accord de principe et c’est un plaisir pour nous de vous voir intégrer nos rangs; dores et déjà nous sommes confiant et croyons fermement à cette jeune collaboration naissante entre nos deux parties.
Par ailleurs, Bridge Medical Research Foundation est fondée 1990. Medical Research Foundation intervient dans des secteurs d’activités diverses, sous le contrôle du Dr. Hinger Norman Jr. (Fondateur et actionnaire majoritaire), il compte trois importantes représentations à Londres, à Montréal (Canada) et à San José.
Il faut noter que le projet d’investissement se compose de trois phases essentielles, et s’étalera sur plusieurs années d’exécution.
En premier volet, nous nous focaliserons sur les secteurs de la construction des Hôpitaux, des Laboratoires pharmaceutiques, et des Centres de Recherches Scientifiques.
Le dossier relatif à la mise en œuvre et à la conduite du projet se trouve actuellement en étude auprès d’experts désignés à cet effet. Très prochainement, nous ferons le devoir de vous communiquer les conclusions de leur étude. Toutefois, le projet dont le coût total de réalisation est estimé à 12.000.000 USD.
Nous projetons effectuer personnellement le déplacement chez vous très prochainement (ceci s’avère important pour la mise sur pieds de nos projets) afin de vous rencontrer et de finaliser les contours des diverses études par discutions approfondies et la signature du contrat de représentation et la Convention de Financement par acte notarié.
Les documents, la convention de financement et le rapport d’évaluation des travaux à mener, qui vous seront adressés incessamment, serviront de bases à nos futures discussions dans votre pays. Nous vous demandons de nous faire parvenir votre CV par notre Email: medical_research@london.com pour l’élaboration de notre futur contrat de représentation au cas où vous jugez favorable le partenariat. Compte tenu de l’importance de l’implantation de notre Foundation dans votre pays, nous sommes apte à mettre les moyens qu’il faut; c’est le lieu de vous signifier que nous pouvons être chez vous dans un bref délais (d’ici le mois prochain).
Dans l’attente de vos nouvelles, nous vous renouvelons le témoignage de notre grande estime et nous vous prions de trouver en ces quelques lignes, l’expression de nos salutations distinguées.
Hinger Norman Jr.
Chairman & Founder
French to English translation
We are looking for in your country a person capable of ensuring the noble office of Directors of our Foundation, our desire is to establish a branch of Bridge Medical Research Foundation in your country and for this reason that we have contacted you. Once again thank you for your agreement in principle and it is a pleasure to see you incorporate our ranks already now we are confident and strongly believe this young burgeoning collaboration between our two parties.
In addition, Bridge Medical Research Foundation was founded 1990. Medical Research Foundation is involved in various business sectors, under the supervision of Dr. Hinga Norman Jr. (Founder and majority shareholder), there are three significant performances in London, Montreal (Canada) and San Jose.
Note that the investment project consists of three main phases, and will take several years of implementation.
In the first part, we focus on sectors of the construction of hospitals, pharmaceutical laboratories, and centers of scientific research.
The record relating to the implementation and conduct of the project is currently under study with experts appointed for this purpose. Very soon, we’ll do the duty to communicate the findings of their study. However, the project whose total cost of construction is estimated at $ 12,000,000.
We plan to perform personally moving home very soon (this is important for the development of our projects) in order to meet and finalize the outline of the various studies discussed thoroughly and the signing of performance contract and the Convention Funding by deed.
Documents, the financing agreement and the evaluation report of the work to be undertaken, which will be sent shortly, will provide the foundation for our future discussions in your country. We ask that you send us your CV by our Email: medical_research@london.com for the development of our future performance contract if you feel positive partnership. Given the importance of the implementation of our Foundation in your country, we are able to put the resources it takes, this is the place you mean that we can be at home in a short time (of here next month).
Pending your news, we reiterate the testimony of our high esteem and we ask that you find in these few lines, the expression of our highest consideration.
Hello,
This crooks will never get tired, already they have sent another invitation similar to the one they sent last year. It is only that this time the workshop will happen in April this year. This points out that they failed in their first attempt to swindle NGOs money and are determined to get the cash this second round. They will not succeed.
My Trust New Hospital
Yes, it is fantastic, because I have received many mails like this and I would inform you which would be useful to NGOs. The ultimate intention is that NGOs should not be cheated by such entitities. Well done.
Venkat
Dear FUNDS FOR NGOs,
Thank for stressing that crucial concern and for others who were unaware of such stupid people please take not.
Find below another Scam Message.
Please if you received it just ignore it.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM INVITATION
Spam
ymkayinga@cotfone.org
Reply
|
alberta smith
to michelle.brown
show details 8:41 PM (2 hours ago)
from alberta smith
to michelle.brown@globomail.com
date Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 8:41 PM
subject INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM INVITATION
hide details 8:41 PM (2 hours ago)
Sir/Madam
Invitation to join the International Humanitarian Hope Organization
As mentioned above, it is our great honor to inform you that the Staffs of Representatives’ Council of the IHHO United States of America is organizing an international event named Hope for Human Right 2011 (HHR). It is our pleasure to invite you to join hands with us to participate for this symposium event. The details are as follows:
Date : 21st-24th February 2011 Washington DC USA
Date : 27th-2nd March 2011 Dakar Senegal West Africa
The main objective of this international event is to provide opportunities for participants from all over the world to openly exchange and evaluate viewpoints regarding global issues.
We hope to receive your reply regarding your interest for participation in order for us to make further arrangement. For further enquiries, please do not hesitate to reach us at
Head of secretariat
External Affairs Director of IHHO
Email: hrswosecretary@aol.com
For more information you can contact me directly with my email address giving bellow. michelle.brown@globomail.com
Yours faithfully
Mrs. Michelle Brown
IHHO Staff
I wish u keep alert all the time Friends.
This is a great ideal value to help protect organizations from these frequent scams.I have in the past received such promises from these so called "organizations" but did not respond to them.The alert you present here will be of great help to us.
Thanks
Thanks for this information. in fact , I have received numerous invitations stating that either any african countries or U.S.A. as two centre of meet. Well my common sense prevented me from responding to any of these invitations.Thanks for alerting NGOs of this danger.