Fraudulent third parties target our exhibitors and attendees every year. Here is what they do and how to check.
We do not sell attendee lists. We never have. If someone offers to sell you contact details for our attendees, they are lying about their relationship with us and probably about the data too.
Not sure whether something came from us? Forward it to info@fiberfabriccraft.com before you sign, pay or click. We will tell you, and we would much rather answer a question than clean up afterwards.
This one costs exhibitors real money, so read it carefully. Exhibitors at Koelnmesse shows are regularly targeted by a Slovakian company with what looks like an offer to update an existing free listing in an exhibitors’ directory. The letter is designed to look like it came from the show organizers. It did not. Koelnmesse Inc. and the Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival have no connection to this company or its directory.
The directory is called Fair Guide and the publisher is Construct Data Publishers. Both names sit discreetly at the bottom of the letter, while the show name and trademark are placed prominently at the top.
The letter asks you to confirm the accuracy of your details on an attached form and sign at the bottom, immediately below the fine print. That fine print is not a confirmation. It is an irrevocable order for a full-page insertion at roughly $1,877 per year for three years, more than $5,600 in total. It also binds you to Slovakian law and lets the company appoint a third party, such as a collection agency, to pursue you in your own jurisdiction.
If a free listing confirmation arrives by post or email, read every line before you sign anything. If you are not certain it came from us, forward it to info@fiberfabriccraft.com and we will tell you.
Exhibitors and attendees report calls from companies claiming to handle hotel reservations for the festival. These are scams.
Koelnmesse Inc. has not contracted any outside company to confirm, book or modify hotel accommodation for this festival. Callers of this kind have no access to our data, which means they obtained your number somewhere else entirely. Their rates are usually higher than our negotiated block rates, and their reservations often carry unreasonable change and cancellation penalties, or none at all because the booking was never made.
Hang up, give them nothing, and let us know. Book through the official information on our Hotel Information page or directly with the hotel.
Tell us at info@fiberfabriccraft.com, even if you are embarrassed, because it helps us warn everyone else. Contact your bank or card issuer immediately if you paid. Keep the original letter or email; it is evidence. You can also report it to the US Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
