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1. Thanks inel, I’ve now spamified that comment.
   .
   [Response: Hello Barry, glad to hear it, and I am also pleased I found your blog recently. When I put my links back at the start of the new school year, I'll add Brave New Climate.]

   Comment by Barry Brook — August 24, 2008 #

2. Thanks for getting the word out, I’ll repeat it.

   The Bioversity link doesn’t work now – was it advertised on the site or just in a comment? If the former, that suggests the website author was either fooled or in on the scam.
   .
   [Response: Hi Brian, I appreciate you repeating this, as you'll reach more influential people The entire Biodiversity site is inaccessible, as is Biodiversity International (wiki). It was advertised on the site as an event, with no link that I could find to any external website. It did not say much more than I said above, i.e. that there was a 3rd International Global Warming and Climate Change Conference and Industry Exposition (WGGWCC 08 ) on 25-29 July 2008 in London.]

   Comment by Brian Schmidt — August 24, 2008 #

3. Bioversity is up now. I’ve sent them an email.

   What was it that first tipped you off – the phone code?

   Comment by Brian Schmidt — August 27, 2008 #

4. Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the world, several New Zealanders have been caught by the “UK credit card scam”:

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/4671266a13.html

   I wonder (idly) if there’s any connection.

   Comment by Mark Hadfield — August 27, 2008 #

5. Thanks for following up while I’ve been travelling, Brian. I see you told DeSmogBlog too … about the scam, I mean, not my travels
   .
   There was no single identifiable thing that first tipped me off: it was a combination of my ignorance of the organisation, its comprehensive target audience and unlikely venue, along with offers of travel and visa assistance, with financial support excluding hotel booking (!), and lack of backward trail to organisers that smacked of inauthenticity. Then there was the phone number, incomplete address, and amateur website design that increased my suspicions, after which I contacted hotel manager, and he confirmed them!
   .
   I added PDFs and more notes here .

   Comment by inel — August 27, 2008 #

6. Hi Mark,
   .
   Thanks for sending that link to problems encountered by some Kiwis when they visit Britain.
   .
   The most obvious connection is that both your example and mine involve the UK. In fact, I read here that:
   “Statistics show that the target banks and financial institutions for internet fraud are English speaking. The USA, United Kingdom and Australia are the primary victims.”

   Comment by inel — August 27, 2008 #

7. this is the worst scam these fraudsters are doing and something need to be done to them

   Comment by Gachoka — August 28, 2008 #

8. Great work Inel! I’ve pushed this out to everyone I know. Scamming bastards. I hope nobody gets sucked in.

   Comment by KGrandia — August 28, 2008 #

9. In the solicitation they posted at DeSmogBlog, “Mrs. Osman” used a “walla.com” email, which is an Israeli Internet portal. Might explain the American English.

   My guess is these folks are unrelated to the typical climate denialists – they’re just con men out to steal money. Still, it seems like a lot of effort to steal what couldn’t be that many credit card numbers (how many people would really sign up?).

   My second guess is the con men have sent out notices of fake conferences in other academic and business fields so they can use the fake hotel website they’ve set up multiple times.

   I think the real hotel may have people showing up for all kinds of imaginary conferences, having thought they’d paid for rooms at the hotel.

   Comment by Brian Schmidt — August 28, 2008 #

10. I’ve filed a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center. We’ll see what happens.

    Comment by Brian Schmidt — August 28, 2008 #

11. Thanks, Brian. Police in London can do little, it seems, until a crime is committed and reported. That means a potential attendee has to lose money and their credit card company has to report that to the police to trigger investigation. Meanwhile, I think this is an attempt at ID theft, because the WGGWCC Registration Form asks for passport number and flight details. My guess is that’s why they would target blogs outside the UK to get people to attend a conference in London—help with funding travel costs and offers of assistance with visas would attract ‘climate change victims’.

    Comment by inel — August 28, 2008 #

12. Amazing i was when i received an WGGWCC invitation by my yahoo email.So,i decided to check in the WGGWCC webside and found this fraud warning.Thanks a lot

    [Response: thanks for letting me know that this is appearing in emails, Georges. It is also being placed under Classified Ads on portal sites such as IndiaList and I am waiting to hear back from Yahoo whether an email example would help their investigations. inel]

    Comment by Georges Ilunga — September 1, 2008 #

13. Hello to all of you,
    unfortunatelly I have not seen all this staff before and applied for this Conference in London. I payed everything. Can you imagine? Have any idea what can be done regarding that?

    Comment by Lina — September 23, 2008 #

14. Anyone who has already paid to attend the non-existent WGGWCC climate change conference in London should contact the police immediately.
    .
    Inform the police in your own country (Croatia, France, etc.) and your local police will contact the Metropolitan Police in London if there is suspicion that a crime has been committed.
    .
    Alternatively, and if you are already in London, you can contact the Westminster Police on one of the numbers listed. Paddington Green police station (Tel: 020 7402 1212) is the closest to The Hyde Park Hotel.

    Comment by inel — September 23, 2008 #

15. Thanks Inel,

    maybe we should wait for couple of days to see whether they will refund the money back to us. Don’t you think so?

    Comment by Lina — September 23, 2008 #

16. what really surprises me is that when i was sending them money i sent it on the name of the persons they were asking me to send. so if they went to collect the money they had to bring id with them, don’t you think so? otherwise, they couldn’t receive the money, wright? so i should have had real names and addresses…?

    Comment by Lina — September 23, 2008 #

17. They’re at it again. Just got an email saying the conference is being held November 14-18, 2008, again at the Hyde Park Hotel.
    Thank goodness I tried to check it out and found your website instead!

    Comment by Sophie — October 2, 2008 #

18. I am from India, tell me friends about authenticity of WGGWCC 08. I have submitted an abstract and about to submit our hotel reservation payment.

    regards

    Comment by Shobha — October 13, 2008 #

19. I’m a VICTIM…
    have paid £459.00 for the hotel reservation in person cash to HSBC bank…
    will find them and kick their….

    Comment by Nazaneen — October 15, 2008 #

20. Well, they “must have” held the 3rd one, since they’re now promoting the 4th.

    “4th International Global Warming and Climate Change Conference & Industry Exposition (GWCC 09) will be held at The Hyde Park Hotel, London on January 23rd-27th, 2009.”

    Inconveniently for me, I attend *real* climate change conferences (will be in Poznan in a couple weeks for UNFCCC COP14) which seems to attract a lot of fake-conference spam to me. Inconveniently for *them*, I know which conferences are the real ones.

    Comment by Dan — November 18, 2008 #

21. Hi Nazaneen, hi all,

    you were not the only victim. I have payed for the hotel, for the security deposit, for the health insurance …etc. Total amount …1200 GBP.
    I am very very disappointed but unfortunately there is very little we can do. If any of you have any good idea on how could we get this things settled, let me know…

    Comment by Lina — November 23, 2008 #

22. Hello Lina,
    I can only repeat what the police told me when I asked them for advice for people who write in to my blog. That is:

    “Anyone who has already paid to attend the non-existent WGGWCC climate change conference in London should contact the police immediately.
    .
    Inform the police in your own country (Croatia, France, etc.) and your local police will contact the Metropolitan Police in London if there is suspicion that a crime has been committed.
    .
    Alternatively, and if you are already in London, you can contact the Westminster Police on one of the numbers listed. Paddington Green police station (Tel: 020 7402 1212) is the closest to The Hyde Park Hotel.”

    P.S. Thanks to Dan for alerting us to the next version of this scam.

    Comment by inel — November 23, 2008 #

23. Now the conference name is GWCCN 09 in the month of May 2009……IS IT ALSO A FRAUD OR REAL……..can anybody help me

    Comment by asha — March 28, 2009 #

24. By the way, How could a conference website be under maintenance with the event so close at hand? And the hotel website says “future website of Hyde…” We also tracked the address (Google map). It’s nowhere in London.

    Comment by Linda — April 2, 2009 #

25. Here is the text of the email that I received.

    Dear delegate,

    On the behalf of the Organizing and Scientific Committees,the United Nations Aid is pleased to announce that the 3rd Global Warming and Climate Change Conference & Industry Exposition (GWCC 09) is going to be held in May 8-12,2009 at The Hyde Park, London in line with the UN mission.

    Time: May 8, 2009 at 6pm to May 12, 2009 at 9pm
    Location: London, United Kingdom
    Organized By:UNAID
    Conference Theme:“Bringing Sustainable Development Down to Earth”
    Venue:The Hyde Park Hotel, 23-25 Leinster Square, Bayswater,London,England .

    Entitled “Bringing Sustainable Development Down to Earth”, the GWCC 09 conference will highlight the role of individuals,groups and grassroots efforts in green-building initiatives. The conference will explore how we can take part in addressing various forms Climate Change.

    The GWCC 09 Conference Committee welcomes Green visionaries,the academia,IOs and NGOs,Professionals in relevant fields, Green Organizations, Women and Youth Organizations, Development Groups, Governmental Agencies, Civil Society Organizations,Community Development Organizations and Donor Agencies to submit papers, panel proposals, performances, audio-visual presentation, interactive sessions or workshops broadly exploring the conference theme.

    The presentations may be completed research, research in-progress or case studies, especially those reflecting innovative Green building practice. Generally the presentations will consist of a pane
    l=3
    D3
    D2
    0of three or four presenters with similar topics. Each presenter will speak for ten minutes and after all of the presentations are completed the floor will be opened for questions and discussion.

    Presentations on additional aspects of Green Initiatives are also encouraged.Sub-themes could focus on, but are not limited to:

    a.Global Warming and Climate Change and the Oceans
    b.Sustainable Environment, Health and Development
    c.Remote Sensing and Global Surveillance
    d.Water Resources Management
    e.Carbon & GHG Management
    f.Extreme Events and Impacts Assessment.
    g. Greenhouse Gas & Ecosystems
    h.Human Health In a Changing Climate
    i.Agricultural and Forestry Resources Management
    j.Clean Energy Technology
    k.Low GHG Transportation
    l.Education: Global Change & Sustainable Development

    Submissions and/or questions may be made via email to Gwccn09@uku.co.uk. Submissions will be acknowledged within 5 days of receipt. Notifications of acceptance of proposals will be sent as soon as the reviewing process is completed, not later than April 24, 2009.The deadline for proposals is Friday, May 1 2009.

    UNAID had involved numerous donors to make it possible to offer access grants to as many participants as possible to enable them to participate in the 3rd GWCC 09 Conference.However, the limited support can only be offered to any delegate or group of delegates who have submitted one or more abstract to the scientific program and sent a motivation letter=2

    0requ
    esting=2
    0such financial support to the GWCC 09 Local Organizing Committee. The deadline for submission of the abstracts as well as the motivation letters requesting for financial assistance is Friday,May 1 2009 .Fax your application for access grant to 448 704 956 487 or E-mail: gwccn2009@googlemail.com
    For more information on registration/Call for Papers contact the WPC 2009 Chair.

    Dr Wright Snow
    Tel: 44 703 196 2595, 44 703 199 4559,
    Fax: 44 870 471 8814
    gwccn2009@googlemail.com

    Important Dates
    Paper Submission April,24 2009
    Notification of Acceptance May,1 2009
    Conference Dates May,8-12 2009

    Comment by vsmani — April 23, 2009 #

26. Also beware of the domains unaidgwcc.com and unaid-gwcc.org hosted at Yahoo, which are used for a “GWCC 09″ fake conference / hotel booking scam with these details:

    ====
    Time: June 26, 2009 at 6pm to June 30, 2009 at 9pm
    Location: London, United Kingdom
    Organized By: UNAID

    Conference Theme: “Bringing Sustainable Development Down to Earth”
    Venue: The Mayfair Hotel London, 15 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, England.
    ====

    Do not register for this non-existent conference. Do not send money to a fake hotel for a non-existent hotel room.

    Comment by Joe Wein — June 14, 2009 #

27. It seems that they are launching this “event“ again, this time in late August. It seems to have the same scam profile and fake data that you reported last year. I have pasted below the information recieved, for your reference.

    From: Global Conference [globalwarmingix@gmail.com]
    Sent: July 24, 2009 6:57 PM
    Subject: GWCCN 09 – Conference Invitation/Call for Paper.

    On the behalf of the Organizing and Scientific Committee, the Global Warming and Climate Change Network (GWCCN) is pleased to announce that the 3rd Global Warming and Climate Change Conference & Industry Exposition (GWCCN 09) is going to be held in August 24-28,2009 at The Hyde Park Hotel, London in line with the UN mission.

    Date: August 24-28, 2009
    Location: London, United Kingdom
    Organized By:GWCCN
    Conference Theme: “Bringing Sustainable Development Down to Earth”
    Venue: The Hyde Park Hotel, 23-25 Leinster Square, Bayswater,London,England .

    Entitled ”Bringing Sustainable Development Down to Earth”, the GWCCN 09 conference will highlight the role of individuals, groups and grassroots efforts in ”green-building” initiatives. The conference will explore what we can do as ordinary citizens in addressing the adverse effects of Global Warming and Climate Change.

    The GWCCN 09 Conference Committee welcomes ”green visionaries”, the academia, IOs and NGOs, Professionals in relevant fields, Green Organizations, Women and Youth Organizations, Development Groups, Governmental Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Community Development Organizations and Donor Agencies to submit papers, panel proposals, performances, audio-visual presentation, interactive sessions or workshops broadly exploring the conference theme.

    The presentations may be completed research, research in-progress or case studies, especially those reflecting innovative ”green building” practice. Generally the presentations will consist of a panel of three or four presenters with similar topics. Each presenter will speak for ten minutes and after all of the presentations are completed the floor will be opened for questions and discussion.

    Submissions and/or questions may be made via email to conference@gwccn.ukfsn.org Submissions will be acknowledged within 5 days of receipt. Notifications of acceptance of proposals will be sent as soon as the reviewing process is completed, not later than August 10, 2009.The deadline for proposals is Monday, August 17, 2009.

    GWCCN had involved numerous donors to make it possible to offer access grants to as many participants as possible to enable them to participate in the 3rd GWCCN 09 Conference. However, the limited support can only be offered to any delegate or group of delegates who have submitted one or more abstract to the scientific program and sent a motivation letter requesting such financial support to the GWCCN 09 Local Organizing Committee. The deadline for submission of the abstracts as well as the motivation letters requesting for financial assistance is Monday, August 17, 2009 .Fax your application for access grant to +44 702 405 7791 or E-mail: conference@gwccn.ukfsn.org

    For more information on registration/Call for Papers contact the GWCCN 09 Chair.

    Dr John Snow
    Tel: +44 702 405 7791
    Fax: +44 870 405 7700
    conference@gwccn.ukfsn.org
    30 East End Road, London, N2 OS LONDON.

    Comment by Ange — July 26, 2009 #

28. I have found a similar fake conference with exactly the same strategy – it is called the “Centre for Human Development and Vice Control” CHDVC with a conference on “Human Empowerment: The Key to Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction”…same thing I googled the NGO, can’t find it -the hotel addresses don’t check out – on has an address Pier 72 in Seattle and when I called a hotel at a similar address they said that Pier 72 doesn’t exist – only up to Pier 70..

    Comment by Didi A. Devapriya — September 14, 2009 #

29. Here’s the email
    9th International conference.

    Greetings,

    Centre for human development and vice control CHDVC cordially invites you to attend the 9th International conference with the theme, Human Empowerment “The Key to Economic Growth & Poverty Reduction”. To be held in USA and UK . The conference is a combine conference with two segments.
    VENUES AND EVENT DATES
    1. The events shall commence on the 7th till the 10th of November, 2009 at
    Water Front auditorium,
    2248 Alaskan Way, Pier 72
    Seattle, WA 98127
    USA

    2. While the second segment in the UK shall commence on the 13th November till 16th November,
    2009 at Queen Park Conference Centre
    7 Derby Cottages
    Appleshaw
    Andover
    Hampshire SP13 10BQ
    London, United Kingdom.
    This conference will address the issue of Youth & Women Empowerment, Poverty Reduction: from the individual to the global community. More than ever before, Individuals, Youth Associations, Religious Groups, Environmental NGOs, Community Associations and Nonprofit Organizations are being called to operate transparently, and adhere to the highest code of ethical conduct of living in service to others for human development. The conference will explore new ways to enhance empowerment to make youths & women of our society viable to face challenges that confronts underdeveloped & developing countries.

    Additionally, the 9th International conference will be a unique meeting place for individuals, nonprofits, civil societies, religious group(s), and representatives from governmental and non governmental sectors to share innovative ideas and practices, make relationships, and build strategic partnerships.
    Professional training seminars and workshops for representatives of nonprofits and NGOs will also be offered throughout the conference in topics including:

    (1) Empowerment Through Effective Service
    (2) Youth/Women empowerment our stronghold
    (3) Development Sustainability the way forward
    (4) Empowerment for a better society.
    Conference Registration.
    Registration is free. Contact the organizing committee secretariat via email: ………………………
    for more information about registration process.

    We also send greetings to all our members with much regards to all volunteers and sponsors of our events. Of all, the tools at our disposal to promote the security of people, none offers great potential than the one we are using. Yet this medium of fighting against social vice is still to be used to its fullest. We are only at the beginning of the curve in determining the potential of this new tool. As we see the explosion of public enterprises, e-commerce and integrated networks that is driving the private sector ahead, we need an equivalent boost to serve the public good and to also advance the welfare and safety of individual’s world over.
    Provisions for participants:

    All intending participants to this forthcoming conference in USA and UK must put many things into considerations before taking decision to participate in this event. Provisions have been made for participants which include: all round flight tickets, feeding and accommodation in the US . These will be taken care of by our sponsors. Delegates will take care of their hotel reservation in the UK during the second conference as our sponsors did not make provisions for that.

    The delegates who need the authorization of the USA visas to participate in this event must pay for the hotel reservations in the UK while our sponsors would pay the hotel bills for all delegates in the USA . Note that delegates MUST attend the two segments of the conference. If you have considered thus, then you should give us the go ahead by reaching us with the particulars of your delegates to the US bureau of immigrant affairs to open your visa file by sending email to us with the participants names and passports as soon as you have verified. This will enable us know those that are coming for the conference really and must go back to their countries after the combine conference.

    Delegates should contact the secretary for details of the selected hotels which are close to the venue of the event and at cheaper rates. In order to receive the conference materials as well as other information, you should get back to me.

    Your Sincerely,
    Mrs:Lis Wilson.

    Comment by Didi A. Devapriya — September 14, 2009 #

30. Thank you for comparing notes with us, Didi.

    To any Brit, the address given looks ridiculous.

    Queen Park Conference Centre
    7 Derby Cottages
    Appleshaw
    Andover
    Hampshire SP13 10BQ
    London, United Kingdom.

    A Conference Centre in a cottage in a Hampshire village is laughable. Also, SP (Southampton) postcodes only go from 1 to 11. Furthermore, Hampshire is nowhere near London!

    Comment by inel — September 14, 2009 #

31. they are at it again – “Subject: United Nations Conference at the Highest Level on the World Financial and Economic Crisis

    United Nations Conference at the Highest Level on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development.( 27-30 October 2009, @ The International Convention Center London, United Kingdom).

    Dear Invited Delegate,

    The United Nations is convening a four-day summit of Economists, Educationists, Administrators, Manufacturers, Researchers, Non-Governmental Organizations, Religious Leaders, Community Organizations Private Sector from 27 – 30 October 2009 in London (UK) to assess the worst global economic down turn since the Great Depression. The aim is to identify emergency and long-term responses to mitigate the impact of the crisis, especially on vulnerable populations, and initiate a needed dialogue on the transformation of the international financial architecture, taking into account the needs and concerns of all countries of the world.

    The United Nations summit coming up in October was mandated at the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development, held in December 2008 in Doha, Qatar. Member States requested the General Assembly to organize the meeting “at the highest level”.

    Registration to this Summit is “free”. The United Nations General Assembly have made sponsorship available to support free travel costs and all-round return air flight ticket for all participant. Invited participants will take responsibility for hotel accommodation expenses at the Hyde Park Hotels London UK, the designated hotel that will accommodate all participant for the Global Financial and Economic Crisis Summit. For reservation, contact Hyde Park Hotels: reservation@thehydeparkhotels.net

    For more registration information, to participate in the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development, contact the co-ordinator via e-mail unwfec@confernce-un.org

    Register Now!”
    found this in my NGO inbox

    Comment by Bertrand Bhikarry — September 23, 2009 #

32. Yip had the same arrive in my inbox earlier today. These guys must be making something off the whole thing to have actually managed to take it this far along the way!

    Comment by Wendy Robb — September 25, 2009 #

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