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Written by Cynthia Fridsma
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Dear all,
Two weeks ago I received the following email that I almost believed, but it is a scam!
Don't fall for it!
The message is as follows:
-----------1st email ------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM DESCRIMINATION AND SAFETY
1735 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: +1 - 3146898909
Fax: +1 - 9165605975
www.ncards.org / Email: info@ncards.org
Dear Colleagues,
It
is with great enthusiasm we are the members of NATIONAL CONFERENCE
AGAINST RACISM DISCRIMINATION AND SAFETY.(NCARDS) in United States
invites organizations, youths and youth-focused organizations to take
an active role in the forthcoming International conference taking place
in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The forthcoming conference with
the topics Racism and Discrimination, Students Against Destructive
Decision and Stop HIV/AIDS infection, Global Conference Against
Violence and Terrorism, Political, social economic problems in Africa
and Asia countries will take place on 13th to 17th Febuary,2006 in
Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
We believe this is an incredible
opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and organizations
in the promotion and development of proactive youth involvement and
healthy environment in our communities. I am one of the regional
oganizers of the above coming events. We picked your e-mail address
from the website forwarded to us by the Arabian and African Students
Association in the U.S.A.
Our independents donors in United
States of American will only finance all round flight tickets, feedings
and your United Arab Emirates entry Permit Visa which will allow every
interested Participant to enter into the city of Dubai. Participant are
only required to make reservation at any of the organization approved
hotel in United Arab Emirates for the conference in Dubai.
The
organizing committees will process the United Arab entry visas for all
participants requiring visa to enter into the country of United Arab
Emirates.
The visas will be processed in the Dubai by the Bureau
of citizenship and immigration services of United Arab Emirates,
immigration Department. The Visa will be sent to you after all the
vital documents includes clearances letter from your country law
enforcement agency, the hotel reservation in U.A.E and other required
documents by the NCARDS ORGANIZATION for the approval of your visa
collection from the hotels in Dubai, which we will give the order to
apply for all participant entry permit visa.
A copy of the
entry permit visa will be send by the hotel in Dubai where the
participant have chosssed to make his reservation. We are only giving
rooms for existing and active organizations to participate in these
events as chance are limited. We therefore ask interested organization
to forward the below following neccessary requirements to us in order
to start to process their visa arrangement by the hotel in Dubai.
(i) Aims and objectives of the Organization.
(ii) Organizations profile.
(iii) Achievements .
Send
your response to the secretary organizing committee to apply for
participating in these events. Only Five to seven members will be
allowed to participate from each of the selected countries. Individuals
who do not belong to any organization but are interested to participate
should form a group of five people and forward their names and passport
numbers to organizing committee through this Email address.
info@ncards.org
This invitation is sponsoring by: NCARDS
ORGANIZATION: please visit us @ www.ncards.org / Email us @
info@ncards.org for any further information regarding the registration.
Thanks
Your faithfully,
Prof Patrick Johnson
Regional Directors
-----------end of 1st email ------------------------------------------------
At
first I was flattered, honesty and thought to myself: this might be a
good story for the Online Magazine, right? After all: we're all against
Racism, Discrimination and against terrorism right? Anyway, I am.
My reaction on was:
----------- my 1st email ------------------------------------------------
Heather Nova Online Magazine
Het Breed 927
1025 JG AMSTERDAM
The Netherlands
Phone: + 31 - 206344526
www.heathernova.us
Email : cynthia@heathernova.info
Hello,
I
received a message from Prof. Patrick Johnson concerning the
forthcoming conference with the topic Racism and Discrimination,
Students Against Destructive Decision and Stop HIV/AIDS infection,
Global Conference Against Violence and Terrorism, Political, social
economic problems in Africa and Asia countries that will take place on
13 until 17 February, 2006 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
I would like to join the conference and I want to receive more information from your department.
I
am the creative manager/webmaster and editor from the Heather Nova
Online Magazine and our nonprofit organization is against all of the
above. I have published a song against violence and terrorism on our
site at URL:
http://www.heathernova.co.uk/01c21194b30f6263c/01c211971d0a46805/01c211971d0a7d20d/index.html
I
will arrange a hotel in Dubai if you would invite me for the
forthcoming conference and than I will write an article about the
conference too for the Online Magazine.
I am looking forward to your reply,
Best regards,
Cynthia Fridsma
-----------end of my 1st email ------------------------------------------------
It didn't take long to receive a message back from the 'scam gang':
-----------2nd email ------------------------------------------------
From: <info@ncards.org>
To: cynthia fridsma
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 3:14 AM
Subject: Re: Special Invitation
Dear Participant,
We
are sorry for late response regarding your mail,Due to the ever
increasing email traffic and to ensure we respond in a comprehensive
way,we ask for understanding as we get back to you and answer your
queries in full. We also write to acknowledege your mail dated on the
25th January,2006, and also to see your organizational aims, profile
and their wonderful work the they have been doing for the society.
Once
more, Peace and love to you all . I’m the General Secretary of NCARDS
Organization, The National Conference Against Racism and Safety. The
aims, objectives, organizational profile and achievements have been
epitomized in the website i.e. www.ncards.org and we really appreciate
your organization for all their efforts they have made in by the
lifting the image of the society.
The up-coming Ncards
Conferences is never under advertisement. It is not open for every body
to Participate, we can only accept participants under recommendation,
But since your recommendation comes from one of our colleagues/Members
(or) our affliated organization,We will give you or your organization
the opportunity to participate in the forth coming NCARDS Conference.
The
up-coming NCARDS Conference (Global Conference Against Violence and
Terrorism,Racism and Discrimination, Students Against Destructive
Decision and Stop HIV/AIDS infection, Political,social economic
problems in Africa and Asia countries) is scheduled to take place at
Dubai, United Arab Emirates at the Jumeirah conventional Hall,Section
24B, Sixth floor.
The Conference will commence on 13th to 17th
Febuary,2006 with the first topic on Racism and Discrimination.The aims
of the Ncards Conference is to teach the youths on the need to avoid
Racism and Discrimanation,Teenage Drug abuse,Children Prostitution and
Gangster life, which is increasing every day among the Youths all over
the world.The Up-coming NCARDS Conferences were being organized and
sponsored by the Global Relief & Reconstruction Agency in United
States and the conference is dedicated to all our beloved brothers and
sisters who lost their precious lives on drug and sexual assault all
over the world.
To participate in the up-coming Ncards
conference regardless of your religious, Nationality and belief. Only
Five to Seven people are expected to participate together as a group
from your home country and none of them will be less than eighteen
years,they must attend for the five days which the conference will be
hold in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
They should be in
position of their international passports to the hotel where their
reservation will be done in order to get their U.A.E entry permit visa
which will allow the participant to enter into the city of Dubai,
United Arab Emirates for the conference.
Shortlisted
Participants, should forward the below listed requirements to the
organizer immidiately in order to open a participant files,as all
participants required visa will be forwarded to the U.A.E Bureau of
citizenship and immigration services.
Any group/individaul
required United Arab Emirates entry permit visa to enter into the city
are requested to write to us immediately and forward the below
requirement needed for applying the U.A.E entry permit visa to Dubai
and also indicates if your group will like to make any contribution on
the above mention topics during the conference.
I would like to present a Point during the conference ( )
I shall require an entry visa (enclosed passport photocopy)
Please
return this below requirements to us immediately in order to direct you
the organization approved hotel in Dubai for your United Arab Emirates
entry permit visa and your reservation.
Any participant who
did not forwarded the requirement on time, will automatically miss the
visa assistance. Only 5 or 7 members will be accepted to participate as
a group from the selected countries. You should reach us with the
following information about your group.
(1) Names of Participant
(2) International Passport details
(3) country of orgin/ Country code.
Our
independent Donors and the Sponsors will only take care of your,(i)
Round Trip flight tickets (ii) Feeding. Participants are only
responsible for their hotel reservation in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates,where the conference is scheduled to take place.
Your
U.A.E (Dubai) hotel reservation confirmation will only prove to us that
you must leave the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates after the
conference. This is because the U.A.E Bureau of citizenship and
immigration services warns our Organization to make sure that all our
participant leaves the country after the conference,in order not to
barns/avoid the company/hotel that help to get U.A.E visa from
obtaining visa to any person that is entering into the city of
Dubai,United Arab Emirates.
Finally,we will give you more
directives as soon as your names reach to us. Please note that we are
not the U.A.E authority authorizing your visas, As the United Arab
Emirates immigration service, Visa Section have guaranttee us of
issueing all our participant entry permit visa which will enable the
participant to enter into the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates for
the NCARDS Conference.
We are working with data directives
from the U.A.E Bureau of Citizenship and immigration services,the body
that is in charge of authorization of visas. We cannot add or reduce
any given requirements for the authorization of participants visa. All
requirements must be met by participants requiring the U.A.E entry
permit visa assistance.
For any further Enquiry, contact us @ www.ncards.org
Thanks
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs.Betty Andrew
General Secretary
Ncards Organization.
N/B:
Please in order to meet up for the date of the conference in United
Arab Emirates, we urge the interested members to forward the above
mentioned requirement in order to direct you on you can get the United
Arab Emirates entry permit visa, and also the hotel in United Arab
where you will make your reservation.
----------- end of 2nd email ------------------------------------------------
After
reading this I had second thoughts about the 'conference' but at the
end I decided to go along with it and send an email back to the 'scam
gang'.
----------- My 2nd email ------------------------------------------------
Heather Nova Online Magazine
Het Breed 927
1025 JG AMSTERDAM
Phone : +31206344526
http://www.heathernova.us
Amsterdam, January 31, 2006
Dear Mrs. Betty Andrew,
First
I would like to apologize for my late response. I was away for a few
days because a close relative of mine past away last week. Anyway, in
your email you’re asking for the names of the participant,
international Passport details and country of origin. Enclosed you’ll
find a copy of my passport as a JPG picture.
I understand about the previous email that I have to give my statement about the upcoming conference. My statement is:
“We’re
against discrimination, specially against sexual discrimination because
we believe that men and women are equal and none is superior above the
other. Equal human rights. We believe that the best way to help people
is to offer good information about the ‘forbidden’ areas like
homosexuality and trans-sexuality. People who are ‘different’ are
frequently the victims of brutal violence. The innocent becomes a
victim of his/her own culture because it is a taboo. Even in our
Western society. The best way to deal with this is to offer solid
information and let ‘normal’ people realize that the so-called
difference is only in their mind, not in reality. Because we’re all
human. It’s the same with aids. If it wouldn’t be a ‘taboo’ than
providing information on how to prevent Aids would be easier. We’re
against terrorism too and it has to be banned out of the world. There’s
no reason to kill someone else just because he/she has a different
point of view. You don’t have to agree with someone but it’s not a
reason to kill for. Terrorism is in fact a bit like discrimination.
It’s the other end of the road. What starts with discrimination ends
with terrorism and best way to prevent that is to open your mind for
discussions without hatred. Provide information in a two-way direction.
Than we can discuss and solve it without killing each other. ”
That’s the statement of our nonprofit magazine.
Take care and all the best,
Cynthia Fridsma,
creative manager & founder of the
Heather Nova Online Magazine
----------- End of my 2nd email ------------------------------------------------
Within an hour I received the following email from the 'scam organization' and this email is really weird.
-----------3th email ------------------------------------------------
From: "info" <info@ncards.org>
To: "cynthia fridsma" <cynthia@heathernova.info>
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 8:32 AM
Subject: FILE NUMBER
Dear Participant,
Thanks
very much for your information which you have provide for the opening
of your file number which we have submitted to our Organizing committee
for proper arrangement of your group flight ticket.
Please,
kindly find the attached copy of your group file number for your group
for the conference in United Arab Emirates, and also you are to make
your reservation at the hotels in United Arab Emirates.
This
will help our independent donor to arrangement and send your flight
ticket confirmation slip. As our independent donor will only be in
position to take care of your feedings round trip flight ticket
throughout the whole conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
we
have forward the attached copies of your international passport for the
them to apply for your group entry permit visa to United Arab Emirates.
But you are to urgently contact the hotels in order to know where you
can make your reservation and to inform them to apply for your entry
permit visa. If your group did not contact the hotels to know the hotel
for your reservation, your entry permit visa will not be apply since
you did not ask any of the hotel to apply for your visa.
As soon
as we received your group hotel reservation booking confirmation
receipt from the hotel in United Arab Emirates,we will automatically
send your flight ticket within 24hrs service.
We look forward to see you in our up coming conferences in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Thanks
Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Betty Andrew(Esq.)
Ncards Organization.
General Secretary.
N/B:
Please urgently contact the hotel for your reservation and to instruct
them to apply for your entry permit visa to United Arab Emirates.
-----------End of 3th email ------------------------------------------------
The
weird thing about this 'conference' is that you are not allowed to book
a hotel yourself, it has to be the hotel they have selected for you and
you cannot leave the hotel either. Weird huh? Look at the document they
send with the email, than you will know what I mean.
----------- copy from the ms word document -------------------------
Attn: Participant,
We
write to acknowledge receipt of your passports information as requested
in the process of your registration. We have today opened up a file for
your group. File numbers are as follows:
CLCYE/US00999/ICC WE07/20MS.
Below
are the information’s been send to the Organizing Committee for the
approval of your participation which will help your organization/group
in your country to obtain United Arab Emirates entry permit visa for
the conference at Dubai. You are to contact the organization approved
hotels in Dubai for your entry permit visa to Dubai, United Arab
Emirates.
File No: CLCYE/US00999/ICC WE07/20MS
For
proper identification of your group file numbers, all correspondence
should bear the file numbers. The Dubai conference will start on 13th -
17th February, 2006. The conditions sent to you in our previous mail
covers for both individual and group participants, review it for the
group.
It is mandatory that all participants in the forth coming
conference in Dubai have to make their hotel reservation with the
organizational approved hotel in the city of Dubai, any prospective
participant without reservation in this hotel will not be allowed into
the venue as this will help the security officials to monitor the
movement of people in and out of the venue during the conference. As
American/British and citizens of other countries
Will be
present in the conference, it is necessary to adopt a security measures
that will help to prevent terrorist activities as in the world today.
All
participants are expected to attend the conference from their hotel
rooms, staying outside the hotel will not be allowed. The organization
has recommended the hotel below. Please contact the management for your
reservation and your entry permit visa to United Arab Emirates as it is
a "condition" for participant’s registration for the conference. You
are expected to reserve your hotel room for five (5) days that the
conference will last in Dubai.
HOTEL LE NOVETEL
P.O BOX: 1006, ABU-DHABI, U. A. E.
Email: uae.hotellenovetel@gmail.com or info@hotellenovetel.com
Website: www.hotellenovetel.com
On
completing your reservation, you should send your reservation
confirmation receipt to this office for registration purposes. Ask the
hotel management to issue you with a (RESERVATION CONFIRMATION RECEIPT)
this is needed to release your flight ticket from the Ncards organizing
committee. And also try to inform us after you have received your entry
permit visa from any of the organization approved hotel. As this will
help us to keep proper records of the number of visa we received from
any of the hotels in United Arab Emirates.
We look forward to seeing your group at the conference.
Thanks
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Betty Andrew
(Gen. Secretary)
N/B:
The above mentioned hotels are the organization approved hotels in
United Arab Emirates where our entire participant are to make their
reservation. Our donors will only be in responsible for your entry
permit visa to United
As soon as you are contacting the hotel
for your reservation, you are also to send your scan international
passport for them to get entry permit visa to United Arab Emirates. You
are not to get you get your United permit Visa to any travel agency in
your country as our donors will be in position to pay for your entry
permit visa through the hotel where your reservation are made.
----------- end of copy -------------------------
You
see what I mean? They do not allow me to get my United permit Visa via
any travel agency, and I can only go to Hotel Le Novetel. Nevertheless,
where's the address of the hotel. It's only a P. o. box.
I didn't trust it and decided to send an email to the 'hotel'. I wrote:
-----------my 4th email ------------------------------------------------
Heather Nova Online Magazine
Het Breed 927
1025 JG AMSTERDAM
The Netherlands
Phone : +31 20 634 45 26
http://www.heathernova.us
Dear sir/madam,
My name is Cynthia Fridsma and I am from the Heather Nova Online Magazine.
In
the last weeks of Januari I received an message from the Ncards
Organization regarding the upcoming National Conference Against Racism
Discrimination And Safety (NCARDS).
I wonder if you're familiar with this conference, or is it a hoax?
I am looking forward to your reply.
Best regards,
Cynthia Fridsma
-----------end of my 4th email ------------------------------------------------
I received the following email back, from the hotel:
-----------email from the 'hotel' ------------------------------------------------
From: info
To: Cynthia Fridsma
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 9:42 AM
Subject: CONTACT US FOR YOUR RESERVATION
Assalamu Alaikum Wr. Wb.
Dear Guest Cynthia Fridsma,
Thank
for contacting Hotel le Novetel Abu-Dhabi, U.A.E to be your home for
your reservation, in repect for your request, Our hotel is one of the
hotel NCARDS organization in America are using for their conference on
13th - 17th febuary,2006.
We will like you to understand that
due to the number of participants taking part in the conference, few
rooms are avaliable now, to be sure of your individaul/group
reservation,we ask all our clients to make payment for the room before
we can reserve any room.
please contact the reservation Manager Mr. Kenneth Christopher
through email address: reservation@hotellenovetel.com (or)
uae.hotellenovetel@gmail.com for your reservation rate and system of
payment for conferences.
Please, you are also send your
international passport copy in order to apply for your U.A.E entry
permit visa. if your country required U.A.E entry permit visa to enter
into U.A.E
Ensure to find out if your country are visa free to U.A.E as the entry visa will be stamp on your arrival.
Sincerely,
Ahmed O. Mohammed,
Manager Hotel le Novetel.
-----------end of email from the 'hotel' ------------------------------------------------
I have looked at the headers of the email and the IP addresses of 'the organization' and the 'hotel' are the same.
I
also did a research on the internet to see if I can find more
information of this hotel, but couldn't find any. Another weird thing:
why don't they have an address listed on their site where the hotel is?
I decided to check the domain name too, from the 'organization' and their home address is in the city Deira Dubai! Can you explain to me why an American organization would have their administration in Deira Dubai?
p.s. the name servers of both domains, from the 'hotel' and 'the organization' is
NS1.NIMBLE-HOST.COM
I will also post this article to 'the organization' and I will publish their response too (if I get any). |
