Okay, I get this series of emails about MADcon, a Las Vegas Conference that I’ve been nominated for a global marketing award. Now, although I have been a technical pioneer in the Marketing field, this one had red flags on it and only found one article pertaining to this particular scam. Starts with nomination form, call with person (indian) and so forth. Then comes the fee request for $49. So here’s my first red flag.
I then do a little research and found that the address given, 2810 N Church St, Wilmington, DE 19802 is a run-down (apartment?) location with kids toys in the back. After googling this, it seems they have dominated the SEO and have a bunch of fake websites about it.
It claims to be held in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand this upcoming December of 2020 (delayed by COVID-19, of course)
The only reference I could find to this being a scam is here: https://www.business2community.com/marketing/the-agency-award-scam-how-it-works-02286219
The Location they give on Google maps is here: https://rb.gy/rzpkys
I believe it is related to MLM? Certainly fishy but I’m not sure if the whole conference thing is a scam. However if you go to their website the speakers listed are all questionable based on business origins like “RichWorks” https://richworks.com/
I called up The Mirage to verify if they have an event listed for the 15-17 December, 2020 as claimed by the person who reached out to me. It took them a while to locate it in the system, but they eventually did locate it (with the group code that was shared with me).
3.
I was also able to locate the videos of RichWorks (thanks @thegardner#140988 for linking them here), on their social media pages and looks like the guy was indeed present at the event in Dubai as a keynote speaker.
I am still unsure if I'd move forward with them and have more looking up to do. However I thought it might help y'all.
So what exactly is the scam? Everything so far seems legit. If you’re not a “winner” you get your $49 back. Could it be it’s because they’re new and just making a name for themselves? I mean my bro started a legit company, SEC filings and the works and people questioned if it was a scam too.
We need more that doubt to prove otherwise. I did my search because I was "nominated" and even though the email was suspicious I spoke with someone and drilled that poor lady. I even called the hotel. If this is a scam it's the best and longest running one that no one knows about.
And if it's a scam, you meet other people who've been scammed and make business connections. I mean, I'm trying to find the negatives bro lol.
@Digi#145157 They are engaging in questionable business, but you are right it may not be directly fraudulent. However their practices are not ethical by any means.
@rafterman2000#140793 Yeah, I think it’s safe to call this a scam. It’s “real” in the sense that there’s an actual event, but it’s a scam in the sense that you’re paying a company that no one cares about/has heard of (but is vague enough that most people won’t question it) $50 (+ $1,500, if attending the event) so they can give you an award/plaque that doesn’t mean anything.
It's not like the awards through Forbes, AdWeek, etc., that actually mean something and are an honor to receive.
I was nominated for this as well, and have since then done a deep dive on this. Here's a few of the reasons why they seem shady:
1) There's absolutely no one of note in the marketing/advertising industry who either works for them or has spoken at a previous event. No one at all (check their site).
2) The address on their website links to middle of nowhere DE (it just looks like a random park corner when I saw it on Google images)
3) Even when asked, there's no info given regarding why I was nominated, who nominated me, if they even know what company I work for/what I do, etc. (Also—get this—they keep telling me that their Las Vegas event in December is "still scheduled to happen in-person, because there are about 150 other conferences happening".... sure, VIRTUAL ones, but not in person).
4) I took the time to look into this further via the Better Business Bureau, who confirmed my suspicions that their information is contradictory, deliberately vague, and has the stench of a scam.
I wanted to add in here as I was just approached and had a call with this company. I actually sent over their terms of service to my lawyer. They have changed their name to: www.marketing2conf.com also claiming to own the conference: https://www.ifah.world/
so everyone can beware here. in the terms it says :
Intellectual property
11.1 We are the owner or licensee of all intellectual property rights on the Website. You acknowledge and agree that all copyright, trademarks and all other intellectual property rights in all material or content contained within the Website shall remain at all times owned by us or our licensors. You are permitted to use this material only as expressly authorized by us. We reserve all rights not expressly granted in and to the Website and the content on the Website. You agree not to copy, publish, republish, redistribute, archive, store, adapt, alter, modify, translate, create derivative works from, summarize, photocopy, scan, syndicate, sell, license, frame, harvest, scrape, grant or purport to grant any rights in or otherwise make available any content from the Website.
Termination
12.1 We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to terminate or block your access to all or part of the Websites, with or without notice, for any reason or no reason, including without limitation your violation of these Terms.
Very concerning and I will update you all when I hear back from my lawyer.