Industry related scams
SCAMMERS / FAKE LISTS
Exhibitors are being targeted by companies claiming to be, or work with, event organisers. They use existing event branding and may appear genuine. In the past this has included directories, hotel bookings and companies claiming they can sell visitor data from events.
Exhibitors need to be vigilant, read the small print, inform their exhibition, marketing and finance teams about the risk of scams and check with the event organiser if they receive anything they are unsure of.
Live Events or The Plant Powered Show never sell data. Please report any instances to the team here.
What to do if targeted by a scammer:
Our advice is to IGNORE THEM COMPLETELY, and do not communicate with them in any way. Writing letters and responding to emails simply confirms that you exist and are available at the address/email address/number they have for you and they will continue to pursue:
- ALERT the organiser of your event
- DO NOT PAY ANYTHING
- DO NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE SCAMMERS
- Please make sure to verify the email addresses both in the ‘From’ address field and in the ‘Reply-to’ address field (which will become visible when you reply to an email). Typically, fraudsters will use fake email addresses in one or both of these address fields and can use other sophisticated techniques. A detailed guide to help spot and defend against phishing attacks and fraudulent emails can be found on The Cybersecurity Hub, South Africa’s National Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) here.
If you suspect that you have received a fraudulent email or if you have any questions please contact a member of the team here.
