The speaking gig scam.

[Bruce Atchison - author]

Greetings;

I just received permission to share the following warning about a scammer
who lures writers into phony speaking engagements. Here's what my friend,
Donna Fawcett, wrote:

This one is unbelievable. I was approached last week by a Pastor Richard
Taylor of Victory Church in the UK. Pastor Taylor indicated that one of
their speakers for the women's conference cancelled and would I consider
taking her place. Now, I'm a suspense writer so I tend to be suspicious by
nature. My hackles rose but everything seemed to check out at first glance.
There really was a Victory Church in the UK. There really was a Pastor
Richard Taylor. The email seem legitimate since it linked to what I now
know is a mirror website. I said sure. I mean, why not? I'd get to visit
England. Then the contract came. $8,500.00 USD to speak for two hours?
All expense flight paid for and accommodations? No way! But it all seemed
legitimate and my husband (owner of four thriving businesses) read through
everything and agreed that it seemed on the up and up. I signed the
contract and sent the letter of invitation to agent for the UK border
customs. And then our scammer made a mistake. He phoned me. While I know
that there are whites in South Africa and South Africans in England, the
voice on the other end of phone was clearly that of a man with a South
African accent. I had already visited the VC website and I think it was the
lack of Welsh accent that tipped me off (with a helping hand from the Holy
Spirit). I googled 'Victory Church' and when I went to the website, low and
behold, they had a different email and phone number. I emailed them right
away and received a reply this morning stating that this was a scam and the
Fraud Agency in London (UK) was investigating. Oh goody--fodder for another
book! Kidding aside, I emailed the Fraud Squad in England and then the RCMP
in Canada. I received an autoresponse from both. The RCMP one had a number
to call which I called. As soon as the switchboard operator heard my story,
she fast tracked me to an officer. He was thrilled that I hadn't gone very
far into the scam and the scammer still doesn't know that I know. (Not as
thrilled as I was--I bet). He then took all of the information--email
addresses, shipping addresses, customs address etc. and fairly tap-danced
his way through the conversation. It appears that I am one of the very few
who got away clean from these scammers. He said they are that good. They
end up with $2500.00 of the money they supposedly send you as an advance and
they end up with enough information to duplicate your passport and identity.
Scary! So this fake Pastor Taylor thinks I'm still coming to England and
I'm praying that the Fraud Squad manages to track him to his door. Wouldn't
it be awesome, too, if this guy comes to know Christ in the process? The
RCMP officer got quite a chuckle out of my suspicious nature and a laugh
when I told him I write suspense novels. See--writing fiction is very
important:) At any rate, beware!

Donna Fawcett
writing as Donna Dawson
http://www.donnafawcett.com
Author of Best Canadian Contemporary Novel 2011 'Rescued'
and the two-category award winning novel 2009 'Vengeance'. (The Word Guild
Awards)
http://www.thewordguild.com
Conference Speaker

Former Writing instructor/Fanshawe College, London, Ontario
author of Rescued, Fires of Fury, Vengeance, The Adam & Eve Project and
Redeemed