Woo, Fraud!

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RedeyesUK
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Woo, Fraud!

Post by RedeyesUK »

Just had a phone call at work from an IT supplier.



It looks like our old website has been copied and set up by some fraudsters, who are then trying to use it to make them look legitimate. (They're passing themselves off as another company, not us)



Trouble is, they screwed up the clone, and there's still one link that points to our contact details. <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo-->



Website is here: http://addictiveflava.co.uk/home.htm

(For fun, see if you can spot the link they forgot to remove)



Trading Standards have been notified, watch this space. <!--emo&B)--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/cool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cool.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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Mrs Redeyes
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Woo, Fraud!

Post by Mrs Redeyes »

I really want to phone them <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->



Instead I'm sending them an email from my Speedo account about setting up structures for a 2-day offsite we're planning to have in September. <!--emo&:unsure:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/unsure.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='unsure.gif' /><!--endemo-->



<!--emo&:rofl:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/4013/140/emo/rofl.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rofl.gif' /><!--endemo-->




--------------------


<div class='signature'>"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"



"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"



<img src='http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w165 ... Icon-1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"

"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"

Image
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Mrs Redeyes
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Woo, Fraud!

Post by Mrs Redeyes »

Aha!! It's the Design link, still says "Welcome to Showplace" and "Showplace Event Design"



Dummies <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->




--------------------


<div class='signature'>"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"



"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"



<img src='http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w165 ... Icon-1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"

"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"

Image
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RedeyesUK
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Woo, Fraud!

Post by RedeyesUK »

I've just found the real Addictive Flava (looks like they're a DJ company) with completely different contact details and on a different website.



Just to stir things up a bit, I sent them an email letting them know as well. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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RedeyesUK
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Post by RedeyesUK »

Mrs Redeyes wrote:I really want to phone them <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->



Instead I'm sending them an email from my Speedo account about setting up structures for a 2-day offsite we're planning to have in September. <!--emo&:unsure:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/unsure.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='unsure.gif' /><!--endemo-->



<!--emo&:rofl:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/4013/140/emo/rofl.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rofl.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Good work <!--emo&:good:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/4013/140/emo/good.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='good.gif' /><!--endemo-->



let us know if you hear back. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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Mrs Redeyes
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Woo, Fraud!

Post by Mrs Redeyes »

I sent the below quoted email:


Good Afternoon,



Speedo are planning an 80th Anniversary, 2 day event in September of 2009. It will be held in the grounds of Eastwood Hall Nottingham. We would like to have 4, single storey structures set up for the 2 days for exhibitions and demonstrations, we need one that can be used for a dinner and dance on the evening of the first day, with associated catering and waiting staff and it will need to seat 300 people comfortably.



Could you please advise if this is the type of event you could cater to, and if so, please let me know exactly what kind of information you need in order to provide a quote.



Thank You

Amy



========================================

Amy Hall

Business Assistant

Speedo International Limited (Pentland Brands)

Tel: +44 (0) 115 xxx xxxx

Fax:+44 (0) 115 xxx xxxx

========================================


I'll let you know if I get a response <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->




--------------------


<div class='signature'>"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"



"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"



<img src='http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w165 ... Icon-1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"

"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"

Image
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Mrs Redeyes
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Woo, Fraud!

Post by Mrs Redeyes »

What I love even more is that they went through the testimonials and changed all the "Showplace"s to "Addictive Flava"s <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo-->



Such attention to detail <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo-->




--------------------


<div class='signature'>"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"



"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"



<img src='http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w165 ... Icon-1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"

"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"

Image
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RedeyesUK
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Woo, Fraud!

Post by RedeyesUK »

It's not that hard to do really, you just need the source code which is easy enough. Then, as it's plain text, you can just do a find/replace as you would in Word.



Which makes it even more laughable that they missed one. <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo-->



Just had a call from trading standards, they're having a look at the website now.
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Mrs Redeyes
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Post by Mrs Redeyes »

I just got a reply from "John Down" <[email protected]>


Dear Amy



This should not be a problem as we normally cater for such events.



I will put together a quotation for you with some example of structures that may suite your requirements.



I will also require a few more details, in that:



1) 300 people will be catered for in total



2) Is it conference seating or exhibition with internal structures



3) Are there separations between staff, such as seniors, directors etc.



4) Will Speedo have exclusive use of the Eastwood Hall



It wood great if you can give me a synopsis of your last event, and the differences you want to attain this time if any.



Further any information wouldn't go amiss about what you want to achieve as a whole over the two days.



Is it simply the structures you want or project management of the event inclusive of catering etc.



Regards



John Down



Account Manager



Addictive Flava


I am fighting the urge to go through and correct the syntax and grammar <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->



What do you think ?? Shall I bait him a bit more?




--------------------


<div class='signature'>"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"



"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"



<img src='http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w165 ... Icon-1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"

"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"

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JJW009
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Woo, Fraud!

Post by JJW009 »

Mrs Redeyes wrote:What do you think ?? Shall I bait him a bit more?
No. I think it's ill advised to get involved tbh.



There is a company of that name and address registered with that number. I can't find any other website for them.



http://www.ukdata.com/numbers/06106738.html



They "might" be bona, apart from the fake history. That might simply be down to a rather naive amateur IT attempt. I take it all those "case studies" are belong to Showplace?




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<div class='signature'> <img src='http://myanimelist.net/signature/JJW009.png' border='0' alt='user posted image'> ??? <img src='http://imagegen.last.fm/LastfmMyspace/oartists/5/JJW009.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
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RedeyesUK
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Post by RedeyesUK »

JJW009 wrote:I take it all those "case studies" are belong to Showcase?
Yep. If you look on www.showplace.uk.com, you'll see a lot of the same images on our new site.



I've also found the website for addictive flavas here.



I've googled the number and it gets loads of hits for some entirely unrelated companies. If they are a legit company, they're certainly a bunch of cowboys!



As for the email reply, best to sit on it for now. If they are being legit, then that's a piss poor attempt at sales - you can't arrange something of that scope via email! Any even halfway competent salesman would have been straight on the phone to you.



(Speaking of phone numbers, I've just deleted them from your post)
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Mrs Redeyes
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Post by Mrs Redeyes »

Any news on this yet? The guy hasn't tried to contact me again so they're obviously not that keen for a tasty morsel of an event to get paid for!! <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo-->




--------------------


<div class='signature'>"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"



"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"



<img src='http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w165 ... Icon-1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
"Why do the people who know the least, know it the loudest?"

"Illegitmi non carborundum est!"

Image
User avatar
RedeyesUK
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Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 12:00 am
Location: Over there, then left a bit..no, a bit more..that's it!
Woo, Fraud!

Post by RedeyesUK »

Nothing yet. I haven't done anything else as it's with Trading Standards now. If they don't get anywhere I'll report them to their hosting provider.

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