Unfortunately, exhibitors and attendees to major exhibitions and conferences are sometimes targeted by fraudsters to obtain money. We work very closely with the Association of Exhibition Organisers to identify these scams, and we always alert our customers to them. Below are details of the scams that we are currently aware of. Please be mindful of these if you are contacted by any other organisation in relation to any of our events:
Email lists:
Some exhibiting companies have been contacted by fictitious companies who claim to be able to supply mailing lists of show attendees. These individuals (many of whom send emails from untraceable Hotmail accounts and from fictitious company addresses) are committing fraud.
Clarion Events Group is the owner of all data in relation to our events and NEVER sells any of its data. If you receive such unsolicited offers, please do not respond as these offers have not been authorised by Clarion.
We will take the strongest action against any such illegal activity including reporting these fraudsters to the police and, where appropriate, issuing court proceedings.
Show guides:
The official show guides of iGB Affiliate Barcelona have previously been produced in partnership with Event Guides Ltd.
In recent years, third parties such as Expo Guides, Fairguide, Construct Data Verlag and others have been targeting exhibitors at major exhibitions for paid entries into show guides. These companies are NOT in any way affiliated with Clarion Gaming and they are NOT working on our behalf.
These companies use a misleading form, often with the show logo, which resembles an organiser’s free catalogue entry form. Exhibitors who sign and return the form for an entry in an online directory are contracted into a three-year, "non-retractable" agreement. Non-payment is then followed by aggressive debt collecting by recovery agents, including threats of legal action.
We strongly advise all exhibitors to be vigilant against organisations such as these. Please be aware and read the small print details before signing any documents. Please contact us if you require any clarification.
If you have been caught out, the current advice from the AEO (Association of Exhibition Organisers) is as follows:
1) DO NOT PAY ANYTHING
2) IGNORE THEM COMPLETELY. Do not communicate with them in any way, even if they threaten legal action. Writing letters simply confirms that you exist and are available at the address/email address/number they have for you, thus encouraging them to pursue payment
3) Report it to your local Trading Standards office
4) Keep a log of all correspondence and contact from these third parties
Optional: Complain to the receiving bank that their client (Expo Guide or other as applicable) is obtaining money by deception.
Hotel room bookings:
You may be contacted by some external companies which purport to offer discounted hotel rates for attendees. Please note that these are not supported by Clarion Events and are a scam. Please be advised that genuine rates are detailed only in communications received directly from Clarion Events and will be available on this website. and we therefore encourage you to contact us should you be approached by any external organisations.
TO BE CLEAR, IGB AFFILIATE BARCELONA DOES NOT RENT, SHARE OR SELL YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO ANY THIRD PARTIES
To help us put a stop to these deceptive companies, we ask that if you receive a solicitation from any person or business that claims to be authorised by iGB Affiliate Barcelona (or makes it seem as though there is some sort of association with the event), you to forward it to us at hello@clariongaming.com