A good friend of ours at Public Words, a successful public speaker, recently received a speaking inquiry from a prestigious university in the United Kingdom.  The request came via email, and there were a number of indications that it wasn’t on the level.  The email address was a Gmail account, not the university’s email.  The sender purported to be a professor at the school, but there was no record of such a professor in the university’s online database.  Of course, he might have been newly appointed, but his command of the English language was so bad that our friend was immediately suspicious. 

On further investigation, there was no mention of the conference our friend was supposed to speak at on the university’s website.  In addition, there was an unusual request to “get a work permit” from the “British embassy” (via another Gmail account).

All signs seemed to point to fraud.  And, in addition, the amount of money offered for speaking was unusually large – the final straw. 

My question to everyone is:  have you run across anything similar?  What’s the point – would the scammer have asked for bank information at a later stage if our friend had continued?  If you’ve run across speaker scams like this, please let me know. 

Comments

[Scott]

My guess is that they are going to ask for some sort of account number to "transfer" money, or that by filling out a "work visa" they would get enough vital information for identity theft.

[Jeff Korhan]

Yes, I am a speaker and have heard of the UK scam from several people.

Enjoyed your book immensely. Heard about it from Chris Brogan. Read it twice in fact. Especially liked the part about the story archetypes ...rags to riches, boy meets girl.

Jeff

[Chris Houchens]

I get a scam inquiry about speaking arounf once a year. It's always is pretty obvious with blatant tipoffs like the ones you mentioned. I hope I'm never duped, but I think I google / research a bit on every speaking inquiry before responding just so I have some background to have a discussion with them. I guess it has the added benefit of scam screening.

[kare anderson]

Ask at NSA and Speakernet and you will find that variations of this scam have been happening for a long time - perhaps more so in this increasingly internet-connected world.

[Nick Morgan]

Thanks to Scott, Jeff, Chris and Kare for the insightful comments. In a way, it's comforting (but depressing) to know that it's a common scam. Beware!

[Moira Bindner]

I represent a speaker and we just had this experience. We caught it before the bank account got involved but there was some information the theives got. Be very wary.

thanks for this posting

[Nick Morgan]

Thanks for your comment, Moira. I hope nothing too important got compromised. I also received email from a Christian church saying that the preacher had been approached with the Christian version of the scam. Fortunately, they figured it out right away, because the sums offered were unrealistically high.
Beware, everyone!

[Janis K. Walton]

Received this one and smelled a rat. They look good, have legitimate looking websites in the U.S. and in the U.K. Maybe they are using a real churches site?
Found out that someone else at my speaker's bureau received it too. Here it is:

Grace and Peace unto you Cheryl Lacey Donovan ,

We are Rev Mike Kendall and Debby Kendall of the Brownhill Road Baptist Church
292 Brownhill Road, Catford, SE6 1AU London United Kingdom.We are writing to invite you to be our guest
speaker at this year WOMEN OF HOPE CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE 2010.After
reading through your profile on http://www.cheryllaceydonovan.org
The lord has direct us to email you for this assignment.All travel
arrangements,Speaking fees and Hotel accommodation will be taken care
of as soon as you honor this invitation.

Venue
Church Hall Brownhill Road Baptist Church
292 Brownhill Road, Catford, SE6 1AU
London United Kingdom
Website:www.womenofhopeconference.com( under construction)
Expected audience: 1500
Date 1st October to 3th October 2010
Topic:PURSUING PURPOSE WITH THE POWER, PASSION AND PRESENCE OF GOD”

We will send you all binding documents including a Letter of
Invitation and Contract Agreement as soon as you honor our invitation.

Email any questions you may have to:
brownhillbaptistdeskoffice@gmail.com

We await your earliest response.

Remain Blessed

Brownhill Road Baptist Church
292 Brownhill Road, Catford, London, SE6 1AU
London United Kingdom
http://www.brownhillbaptists.org.uk
Host Pastors:Rev Mike Kendall and Debby Kendall
Email:brownhillbaptistdeskoffice@gmail.com
Tel Phone: + 44 7024069826

[Janis K. Walton]

Btw I posted my copy of hers and they inserted her website into the letter. These guys are smart.

[Reb Bradley]

Here's the speaker invitation I received.

The tip-offs:
> An invitation to fly across the ocean to speak didn't seem likely, since they only visited my website and hadn't heard me speak before.
> the Gmail account
> The church website made no reference to the pastor named in the letter.
> The event was going to have 1500 in attendance, when according to the church website, they only have 50 adult members.
> the phone number on the email did not match the number on the church website
> the church website did not list the event on the master calendar
> the event is supposed to be a “youth” conference, when the ages of attendees is listed as 18-55
> the invitation arrives in September for an event in November

Here’s the original email:

From: Pastor Dennis Smith [mailto:avenuebaptisttchurch@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 9:38 AM
To: letters@familyministries.com
Subject: AVENUE YOUTH CONFERENCE 2010

Avenue Baptist Church,
98 Avenue Road,
Beckenham,
Kent,
BR3 4SA
WEBSITE: www.avenuebaptist.org
TELEPHONE: +44 702 404 7721
fax:020 8676 3785

REQUEST FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT

Beloved ___ And _________,

I am Pastor Brian Smith from the aforementioned organization, we write you to seek your engagement in our upcoming conference tagged AVENUE YOUTH CONFERENCE 2010" coming up 15th -18th November 2010.The purpose of these conference is to re-brand the heart,mind,body and soul of Christians who have gone astray and are diverting their whole attention into mundane affairs instead of seeking eternal life.

With all these at hand, we deemed it necessary to invite you to come and minister in this year's conference after browsing through your lovely profile on your website, we are optimistic you will indeed be a center of attraction for the audience to look up to as a role model through your inspirational and emotional speech.

Confirm to us via e-mail or direct mobile on this letter head if you would be available for these engagement or further questions about event so we can forward to you necessary binding documents. Your Hotel Accommodation, Feeding, and Airfare Ticket will be taken care of by the E.O.C (Event
Organizing Committee).

More Info

AUDIENCE: 1500
AGE: 18-55
REFERENCE: EVENT BROCHURE
SIGNING AUTOGRAPH: ALLOWED
SELLING OF CD'S: ALLOWED.
SPEAKING TOPIC: BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

[Jerry N Watts]

I received the SAME INVITATION (today 11-13-10) and I cannot figure out what they hope to gain from this.

[Nick Morgan]

Jerry -- that's what puzzles everyone else. I guess at some point they were planning to ask for money. They (thankfully) didn't get that far with you.
Stay vigilant!

[Lawrence Polsky]

Just happened to me this weekend. Similar email. Thank you for having this write-up here. It seemed strange and your posting confirmed it.

[Carl]

Thanks for the posting of this information, this SCAM is being modified and updated to new churches, new pastors, new topics, and new venues because people are becoming more aware of warnings such as yours.

I have received the folowing variation this week:

Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
http://www.victorychurch.co.uk/
Host Pastor:Pastor Richard Taylor
Email:victoryoutreachchurchoffice@gmail.com
Tel Phone: + 44 7045750464

Grace and Peace unto you XXXXX XXXXX,

We are Pastor Richard Taylor of the victory Outreach Church London
,United Kingdom.We are writing to invite you to be our guest speaker
at this year Divine Restoration and Prayer Conference 2011. After
reading through your profile on http://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.org/. The
lord has direct us to email you for this assignment.All travel
arrangements,speaking fee and Hotel accommodation will be taken care
of as soon as you honor this invitation.

Venue
Spurgeon Hall (Inside Church Premises)
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
Date :21st of February to 23rd of February 2011
Topic:The Effect Of Compromising God"s Standard

We will send you all binding documents including a Letter of
Invitation and Contract Agreement as soon as you honor our invitation.
Email any questions you may have.

We await your earliest response.

Remain Blessed

Pastor Richard Taylor
Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ

Followed by:

Dear XXXXX XXXXXXX,

Thanks so much for indicating your interest to be our guest speaker at
this year Divine Restoration and Prayer Conference 2011.We are very excited and happy to have such a wonderful personality in our mist. And i also want to thank you for visiting our website and the possibility of being blessed by my divine message.

The event organizing committees had a meeting earlier today to deliberate on getting you available here in the United Kingdom. We believe we serve the lord of Possibilities. Arrangements are stated below.

We have attached a formal Letter of Invitation and contract agreement. Please reconfirm to us your Mailing Address and Cell phone number for our perusal and further action. Note you are meant to arrive a day before the commencement of the event.

Please return a signed copy of the contract agreement for proper documentation.

We have agreed to buy you and any assistant you may wish to accompany you here flight tickets and to pay your Hotel accommodation expenses. Also your speaking fee is amounted to 8,500Dollars.$5,250 deposit is to be paid as soon as you procure all relevant travel documents so as to avoid any disappointment. You are informed to get across your UK Entry Clearance to us so your deposit can be approved according to our mandated rules and regulation.

You are advised by the Event Organizing committee to immediately contact the UK BORDER AGENCY staff to procure your UK Entry Clearance as soon as possible.

This will enable us to proceed with all arrangements to welcome you here in London due to the new British Rules. Contact the UK Border Agency staff information below for immediate assistance with her personal email address.

Name: Dr Warren Smith
Address :29 Brown Street,
Postcode: W1G 9QR
Country: London, United Kingdom
Email: ukbacustomerservices@hotmail.com
Tel: +442075588029

Please confirm to us the closest Airport to your location so we can start making arrangements to buy your flight ticket.Understand that you need to expedite action because of the short notice. Feel free to call me on + 44 7045750464

We await your earliest response

Be Blessed

Pastor Richard Taylor

Of course, when asked questions, "Pastor Richard" is more than happy to answer enough of them in such a vague way that you received a response but not an answer.

Then, when you communicate with the suggested contact about the "Entry Clearance" you receive another formal sounding response, this one asking for money (more than what the UKBA lists as a fee) for the Clearance Fee as such:
ATTENTION CLIENT:

I acknowledge the receipt of your mail and i understood all the content. Without any waste of time and due to short time you have left to proceed with the issuance of these important documents. I will therefore embark upon you obtaining a second tier UK ENTRY CLEARANCE.
These class of ENTRY CLEARANCE is for employee who falls under the category of religious activities and intends to impact knowledge and technical know-how to the citizens of Great Britain. Pertaining to the urgency and speedy alacrity of these project at hand,i will proceed to the UK BORDER AGENCY to get you all necessary documents

You are advised to immediately Provide me with the listed requirements.


1. Letter of Invitation
2. Full Name Of Applicant
3. UK Entry Clearance Fee 290pounds ($450)
4. Full Home And Office Address.
5. Date of Birth (D.O.B)
6. Valid Certificate Of Sponsorship (Already Submitted To My Desk By A
representative Of Victory Outreach Church)


When you apply you are awarded points based on your:

* certificate of sponsorship:
* English language skills; and
* available maintenance (funds). which is your requested UK CLEARANCE FEE.

Your Work Papers shall be ready in one week and you will be able to get your work papers prior to the event commencement. And as soon as your passport is ready do not hesitate to forward me necessary information so as to facilitate your Entry Clearance Submission.


I await the listed information to proceed to get you the documents as soon as
possible. Note without you providing these requirements I cannot proceed to get
you these documents. If i receive all information, then i shall
proceed to the UK Border Agency to get you your documents. Note you
can send all documents through email attachment.

You can send Clearance Permit Fee through Money Gram or Western Union to the
information below.

Name: Dr Warren Smith,
Address: LONDON UNITED KINGDOM
Postcode W1G 9QR.

After the transaction forward to me the (MTCN) numbers for verification
Make sure you attach the payment slip for record purpose.

In your service
DR Warren Smith
UK BORDER AGENCY OFFICIAL
+44 207 558 8029

The "Binding Documents" sent are informal as follows:

Victory Church
Greenforge Way, Springvale Ind.
Estate, United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
http://www.victorychurch.co.uk/
Host Pastor: Pastor Richard Taylor
Email: victoryoutreachchurchoffice@gmail.com
Tel Phone: + 44 704 575 0464

LETTER OF INVITATION
Victory Church officially invites XXXX XXXXX to be our guest speaker at the Divine Restoration and Prayer Conference 2011coming up here in United Kingdom.

Location Address
Location:
Victory Church
Spurgeon Hall (Inside Church Premises)
Greenforge Way, Springvale Ind. Estate
United Kingdom. NP44 3UZ

Date: 21st of February to 23rd of February 2011
For: Victory Church
Name: Pastor Richard Taylor
Contact Person:
Date: January 21st 2011
Signature
(illegibale signature here)

and:

Victory Church
Greenforge Way, Springvale Ind.
Estate, United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
http://www.victorychurch.co.uk/
Host Pastor: Pastor Richard Taylor
Email: victoryoutreachchurchoffice@gmail.com
Tel Phone: + 44 704 575 0464
January 21st, 2011
CONTRACT AGREEMENT
This letter of Agreement is made and entered into between XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX(hereinafter referred to as the” Speaker”) of USA and Pastor Richard Taylor (Herein referred to as the “Presenter”) whose organization name is Victory Church, United Kingdom.
The contact person for matters of this agreement is Pastor Richard Taylor who will act as agent for the presenter.
ENGAGEMENT: DIVINE RESTORATION AND PRAYER CONFERENCE 2011"
CONFERENCE THEME: “SHOW THE LIGHT AND THE PEOPLE WILL FIND THE WAY”
Host: Victory Church
Contact: Pastor Richard Taylor
Speaker: XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
Function: Divine Restoration and Prayer Conference 2011
Appearance Date(s): Date: 21st of February to 23rd of February 2011
Location:
Victory Church
Spurgeon Hall (Inside Church Premises)
Greenforge Way, Springvale Ind. Estate
United Kingdom. NP44 3UZ
Audience Size / Demographics: 1500
Topic: The Effects of Compromising God’s Standard
Time Table / Duration:
21st of February 2011 – approximately ____________ 4.00pm - 5.00pm
22nd of February 2011 – approximately ____________ 5.00pm - 6.00pm
23rd of February 2011 – approximately ____________11.00am - 12.00pm
Any additions or revisions to the timetable must be requested and approved in writing.
OTHER ENTITLEMENT:
Recommended Attire: Business / Business Casual
Travel Expense: Presenter will provide business class airfare for XXXXX XXXXXXX.
UK ENTRY CLEARANCE: to be taken care of by Speaker
Presenter will provide ground transportation to and from the Heathrow International airport in London for XXXXXX XXXXXXX.
Hotel: King-size bed, non-smoking room with late arrival guaranteed PLUS meals for XXXXXX XXXXXX.
Accommodations: London Hilton Hotel for 5nights
PAYMENT TERMS AND CONDITION:
Payable to: Speaker
Fee: 8,500.00 (USD) – plus expenses as outlined above
Deposit Amount: $ 5,250.00 (USD) Deposit due upon Procurement of UK ENTRY CLEARANCE and other relevant travel documents.
Balance Amount: $ 3250.00 (USD)
Fee Notes: Funds will be paid via Certified Bank Cheque upon conclusion of contract.
PLEASE NOTE: The first part payment of your fee will be issued out to you as soon as you procure your mandatory travel documents.
This is to ensure readiness on your part. The management does not want to undergo any loss for paying speaker travel documents due to act of insubordination from previous Speaker. The management has hereby laid down strict rules and regulations for Speaker to abide by in order to ensure an uninterrupted cordial preparation for this event. Any speaker who refuses to abide by these principles will forfeit his/her deposit and be terminated from contract.
IN WITNESS THEREOF the speaker and the Presenter have examined the forgoing provisions and have executed this agreement as of the dates shown below.
The above conditions are accepted by me:
Speaker Name: XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
Signature: ________________________
Date: ________________________
For: Victory Church
Host: Pastor Richard Taylor
Date: January 21st, 2011
Signature
(again, an illegible signature here)

The old addage applies here: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

[Donna Lou Shickel]

Well, doggone, I thought I was going to Jolly Old England! I just got the same invitation, same phrasing, and from the same not so reverend Pastor Richard Taylor. I smelled a rat when the honorarium I presented, a modest $3,000 plus expenses (I actually prayed over it, as always, God answers!) was ignored but the standard fee and deposit appeared in the next email. Before responding to ask that a deposit be WIRED, not deposited, I googled the name and SCAM. God bless you for posting this. I wouldn't have provided information outside of what they already have, but I have been known to waste a lot of time over people with less than honorable motives. Let's remember to pray for these people!

[N. Gordon]

I just got the same letter from Pastor Richard Taylor with the address 121 Harley Road
Bermondsey, London, SE 16 2Jy

[Leah Fort]

I have now received two such scam email invitations for speaking engagements. The first was from the Brownhill Road Baptist Church in the UK, as someone has already posted, and the second from Grace Baptist Church, Gurney Road, Straford, London, host pastor is Elisa John. Each gave an email address that is a gmail account. On both occasions, I looked up the churches' websites and they appear to be legitimate. However, with the second one, the pastor's name is Elisha, not Elisa. On each occasion I also "googled" the conference mentioned. The first was listed as "blah blah prayer conference 2010," the second is called "Divine Restoration and Prayer Conference 2011." In both cases neither conference exists. The first listing that comes up for the 2011 conference is this site, about the scam.

We must all be keenly aware of the possibility of scammers and keep all our identifying information private.

[Pamela Neu]

Just got same offer from this Pastor Taylor. Wow. Glad I checked.

[Heather Shaw]

My father had a show that aired on AIB called "Your Hebrew Roots". He received an email immediately following the first airing of his show. My father was all excited and was ready to jump on it and began calling all his friends to tell him "the good news". I, being an attorney, immediately told him that it sounded like a scam and to let me do some research before he did anything. The website in the email was legitimate, but I did notice that the name of the Rev. was spelled wrong, not just in the signature, but also where it tells you who the email was from (right beside the originating email address) so it couldn't have been a typo. The Rev.'s name in the email was Rev. Garvin Carpenter B.A from the Earlsfield Baptist Church in the UK, but on the website his name is Rev. Gavin Carpenter (notice the "R" is missing). Also, the phone number was different. I emailed the church and am waiting to hear a response but bet it all that it is a scam. Once I took the phone number the email listed and put it into a google search, I was turned onto this blog and others like it. So apparantly they have used this number before +44 702 404 7721. I do not even need to hear back from the church to know this is a scam. From a legal standpoint, everyone should take this as a scam and leave it alone. Never give out your information especially when it is from a place out of the US. There is no way to fight this once the damage is done, and who can afford to fight it with it being so far away? BEWARE!!!!

[Karen Leach]

In Feb this year (2011) my friend received a form letter exactly like the other versions listed here. It was supposedly from what appears to be a real ministry.

Christ The Rock Ministries
Salvation Army Bldg, 2nd flr,
25 Brownhill Rd, SE6 2HE
London, United Kingdom.
http://www.ctrm.org/
Tel Phone: + 44 7024069826
LONDON GLORY CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE 2011

Contact the UK Border Agency staff information below for immediate assistance with her personal email address.

Name: Dr Mary Davison
Address :29 Brown Street,
Postcode: W1G 9QR
Country: London United Kingdom
Email: Drmarydavison@mail2mary.com
Tel: +442075588029

[Krista]

I have received two of these speaking scam emails as well in the past 4 months. I love it that people have inserted the text here! Thank you...It's exactly the same as what I've been getting. I'm wondering which speaker sites they're targetting, or maybe they're just taking turns with a bunch of them.

Sad, silly and stupid. If only this effort were put into constructive, edifying work!

[Dr. Angela D. Stanley]

Greetings,

THANK YOU SOOOO VERY MUCH FOR MAKING US AWARE OF THIS UNFORTUNATE SCAM. I TOO RECEIVED THE SAME EMAIL FOR THE DIVINE RESTORATION 2011 CONFERENCE IN MAY. EVEN SPOKE WITH THE SO-CALLED PASTOR. THIS TIME HIS NAME WAS PASTOR WILLIAMS ANDERSON AND WIFE MARIA. I ASKED A SERIES OF QUESTIONS AND THEY WERE VERY VAGUE WITH RESPONSE. THE GREATEST THING WAS GETTING THAT UK WORK PERMIT. THE CHURCH IS LONDON CITY INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTER (www.lcicc.co.uk) AND THE UK BORDER AGENCY: DR. REBECCA DIXON (WHOM I NEVER WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH). YES THESE PEOPLE DO NEED PRAYER! MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON THEIR SOULS. GOD SAID EVEN THE VERY ELECT WILL BE DECEIVED IN THESE LAST DAYS. THANK YOU FOR SHINING THE LIGHT ON THIS MAJOR ISSUE ON BEHALF OF TRUE BELIEVERS. GOD BLESS YOU ALL

[Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle]

I just today received the scam invitation and it immediately sent up some red flags for me although I wasn't quite sure. I Googled the church in the UK and the location, etc. It looked legit, but I still felt that something was mighty fishy about it (including the grammar in the invitation). I then saw a link to your website here and have read the other stories, complete with the letters. Mine was about the Victory Praise Adult and Youth conference in the UK. So, thank you everyone for posting here and to the host of this blog/website. We must stick together in prayer! Be vigilant! God bless!

[Carrie M]

Thanks for your postings. I too received this invitation from Richard Taylor (word for word identical to some those above, except for dates and title) and was suspicious, esp when I was asked to send money to someone at the UK border clearance with a Hotmail address. I didn't know how to confirm my suspicions.

[Carrie M]

According to another site, these emails are coming from Nigeria. You have to marvel at how that one country manages to produce so many internet scams. Do you know that this site comes up first when one googles 'UK entry clearance for religious speaker'?

[septima williams]

wow i jus receive the exact email from pastor richard taylor my question is do this pastor know that hes name is being used ? or is he a scammer also ?

[Pastor Bill Peters]

I have received the same scam. It arrived yesterday, but the lead email was the same as the others except for the dates, June 18 to 20, 2011 and the name of the conference "Victory and Praise Youth and Adult Conference 2011" Thank the Lord for this information posted here before they got more than my name and address.

[Jackie C]

To God be the glory !!! I recently received the exact same invitation from "Pastor" Richard Taylor via our church website for my Pastor to come and speak. I am grateful that this forum exposed this scam.

[cathy]

I received this "invitation" from Richard Taylor as well this week. I too am wondering if the real Richard Taylor is aware of this...youtube his name and he seems to be a legitimate pastor, speaker, author. The church name even seems legit via youtube - Victory Church UK. I did email the church office as well as the office of Victory Outreach UK organization to make them aware. So far, no response. Who knows, maybe it is all trumped up! Thanks for your post. Blessings to you all.

[Allun Davies]

In Response to Cathy above, we are well aware of this scam using our details to attempt to extort money. Just goes to show that we need to do our homework when we recieve such invitations. The location states London, staying at the Heathrow hotel, but if you check out our genuine details, you will see we are in Wales, not England. I also suggest that any contact is made through the website of the organisation, ignoring the email address thats given.

Blessings
Allun Davies
Youth Pastor
Victory Church

www.victorychurch.org.uk

[Allun Davies]

Sorry the webaddress should read www.victorychurch.co.uk

and we can be contacted direct via the contact details on the website

Blessings
Allun Davies
Youth Pastor
Victory Church

www.victorychurch.co.uk

[Candis Best]

I was just contacted with a similar scam. However, this time they used the name of a real university and an actual professor who was affiliated with that university. Everything else is similar. They use a gmail account, the grammar is questionable and they ask for you to send the work permit fees by Western Union to a personal account and also ask for your bank account to advance your speaking fees.

My version was similar to those listed above except that the university was Nottingham Trent and the invitation came from a Malcolm Prowle. I contacted the real Malcolm Prowle who informed me that eight other people had also contacted him about this scam.

It appears that the perpetrators are finding targets on websites that advertise experts so be careful if you have a web presence on those types of membership sites.
The use of real university professors ads an air of legitimacy so be mindful of that.

[Candis Best]

By the way (in response to Krista) in their email to me they mentioned that they found me on selfgrowth.com.

[Tempe Brown]

I, too, received an email via AOL from the aforementioned Victory Church in the UK. The grammar was bad enough to set off red flags immediately. Thankfully, it landed in my spam, which I check before deleting it just in case. So I Googled it and found it to be a scam. Thanks for your diligence to make others aware of this and pray that these people who do these things will put their efforts into something more positive!

[Sandra Dodd]

-=- I still felt that something was mighty fishy about it -=-

FIshy is exactly the word I used when I reported it to my UK friends.

--------
This is some kind of spam, I guess, but oddly real looking.

"We are Pastor Richard Taylor of the victory Outreach Church London,United Kingdom"....

Editor? King? Person with tape worms?

And They (he) expect(s) me to be legion:
Please reply with your FULL NAMES
(or at least plural).

Pretty fishy. Fishy like this?
---------------
(and then I put a picture of the Christian fish symbol)

I am speaking in the UK this summer, but will be home the week before the alleged
Victory Praise Youth and Adult Conference 2011.
Date :JULY 18th to 20th of JULY 2011
Topic:The Effect Of Compromising God"s Standard

My tip-offs were the grammar and punctuation, and the fact that I'm not of that religious persuasion at all. :-)

[Shirley]

I received these emails. I called the number for the pastor. Man who answered said not available. He kept asking who was calling. I asked him where he was from, he said Portugal, but lives in UK. I called the number for Border Agency, operator said number not valid. When requested a valid number via email, they said are too busy, use email.

Flags, poor english. Said border contact was a her, but name was a man.

Who do we report this to?

Thanks for the forum that solidified my suspicious. I knew I couldn't be the first. Shalom

They wanted me to email my DOB, home & office address, scan copy of passport or driver's license, western union fee of $467 for Certificate.

Now who sends money to someone they can't talk to over the phone?

They began to rush me and say I couldn't just put them on hold, so they can get another speaker. They were worried, etc. Doesn't sound like a kingdom people abiding in the pace of the Lord.

Grace and Peace unto you Such & such

Sorry for the later sending of the former invitation letter and contract agreement letter.Thanks so much for indicating your interest to be our guest speaker at this year Divine Restoration and Prayer Conference 2011. We are very excited and happy to have such a wonderful personality in our mist.Kindly note that you are our guest speaker.

The event organizing committees had a meeting earlier today to deliberate on getting you available here in the United Kingdom. We believe we serve the Lord of Possibilities. Arrangements are stated below.

We have attached a formal Letter of Invitation and contract agreement. Please reconfirm to us your Mailing Address and Cell phone number for our perusal and further action. Note you are meant to arrive a day before the commencement of the event.Please return a signed copy of the contract agreement for proper documentation.

We have agreed to buy your flight tickets and to pay your Hotel accommodation expenses.Also your speaking fee is amounted to $8,500Dollars.$5,250 deposit is to be paid as soon as you procure all relevant travel documents so as to avoid any disappointment. You are informed to get across your Uk Entry Clearance cERTIFICATE to us so your deposit can be approved according to our mandated rules and regulation.

You are advised by the Event Organizing committee to immediately contact the UK BORDER AGENCY customer service to procure your UK Entry Clearance certificate as soon as possible.

This will enable us to proceed with all arrangements to welcome you here in London due to the new British Rules. Contact the UK Border Agency information below for immediate assistance with her personal email address.

Name: Dr Warren Smith
Address :29 Brown Street,
Postcode: W1G 9QR
Country: London, United Kingdom
Email: ukbacustomerservices1@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: +4420150088029

Please confirm to us the closest Airport to your location so we can start making arrangements to buy your flight ticket.Understand that you need to expedite action because of the short notice. Feel free to call me on + 44 7045706531

We await your earliest response
Be Blessed
Pastor Richard Taylor

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

Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
http://www.victorychurch.co.uk/
Host Pastor:Pastor Richard Taylor
Email:victoryoutreachchurchuk@yahoo.co.uk
Tel Phone: + 44 7045706531

We are Pastor Richard Taylor of the victory Outreach Church London,United Kingdom.We are writing to invite you to be our guest speaker at this year Victory Praise Youth and Adult Conference 2011. After reading through your profile . The lord has direct us to email you for this assignment.All travel arrangements,speaking fee and accommodation will be taken care of as soon as you honor this invitation.

Venue
Spurgeon Hall (Inside Church Premises)
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
Date :JULY 18th to 20th of JULY 2011
Topic:The Effect Of Compromising God"s Standard

We will send you all binding documents including a Letter of Invitation and Contract Agreement as soon as you honor our invitation.Email any questions you may have and Please reply with your FULL NAMES AND HOME OR OFFICE ADDRESS PLUS DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER.

We await your earliest response.

Remain Blessed

Pastor Richard Taylor
Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
http://www.victorychurch.co.uk/
Host Pastor:Pastor Richard Taylor
Email:victoryoutreachchurchuk@yahoo.co.uk
Tel Phone: + 44 7045706531

[Shannon]

THANK YOU FOR THESE POSTS!
We were about to send the $250 for our visas (times 4 people)! Then, it didn't make sense. Our Pastor was contacted via e-mail to speak at the Divine Restoration Conference June 24-26, 2011 at the London City International Christian Center. He was to get paid $8500 for 3 one hour speaking engagements. The website www.lcicc.co.uk and Pastor Williams Anderson with UK Border Agent Dr. Rebbecca Dixon. Thank God our red flags raised with glory when they asked us to wire them $250 each!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

HERE IS THE LAST LETTER WE RECEIVED........

You are advised by the Event Organizing committee to immediately
contact the UK BORDER AGENCY staff to procure your UK Work Permit as
soon as possible.

This will enable us to proceed with all arrangements to welcome you
here in London due to the new British Rules. Contact the UK Border
Agency staff information below for immediate assistance with her
personal email address.

Name: Dr Rebbecca Dixon
Address :29 Brown Street,
Postcode: W1G 9QR
Country: London United Kingdom
Email: visaservices@bhoffice.co.uk
Tel: +442075588029

[Allun Davies]

Another update for you guys, don't forward anynmore emails to us, we are aware of the scam and are working with the Police and border agency on the matter. Thanks and God Bless

Victory Church

www.victorychurch.co.uk

Any correspondance can be made through our website.

[Hazel Palache]

This scam is still alive and well so it seems.

Someone sent me your article becauseI received an email inviting me to speak at the London University of Arts about 2 weeks ago and smelled a rat the first email, sent a couple of emails to see if it was real, they answer all the replies (I send no info.)

As of today they have answered everything and haven't requested money. I can't work out what the point of this is. Usually these scams are about money and I hope no-one actually falls for this.

Thanks for the information, you confirmed what I thought it was.

Hazel

[Gareth Lewis]

I am a pastor in Cheltenham UK and we are on the other end of all this. We have had over a dozen ministries in North America doing thier homework contact us to see if this was a scam. The man sending these out uses my name with an addition to it, inviting them to a great conference, with amazing amounts of money promised. How he intends to get money and it almost worked with a couple of people is that he tells them to get an entry permit to the uk and gives the contact details of a Dr to apply to. After they have applied and been accepted them Dr asks them to send about $300 for him to release the permit. I think most of the points raised tell you how to know its a fake, it should be fairly obvious but I think speakers and singers get very excited at the thought of the trip and possibly the finance. You have to do your homework. You would always get the necessary visa thorugh the normal channels, not with an individual. God bless you all.

[Tom]

The scammers have changed the name to "Pastor Wesley Dennis" of Christ Church in Sidcup UK. Just got my invitation today! THANKS for posting!

[Hugh C. Culbreht]

Today I have received a similar offer from the Victory Outreach Church in England. Event call the VICTORY PRAISE YOUTH AND ADULT CONFERENCE 2011. The Pastors name mentioned was Pastor Richard Taylor. The church in the email was Victory Outreach Church but the web address was Victory Church. The pastor name mentioned above and the email address were real and listed on the web site given. But I notice the difference in the church names and the phone and fax numbers. Then when I googled the event I eventually landed here and I am sure glad I did. I have email the original sender of the invitation a list of questions which as of this writing have not been answered. It will be interesting to read the reply. Through this we should all beware. The devil is on the rampage to discourage and deminish the faith of the Lord's workers but I can tell you for me the devil will not win. Thanks for all who have supplied input on this scam and like a brother said above pray for those who have instigated such an offering. One day they will have to answer for their deceit. Vengence is the Lords. Don't mess with His anointed.

[Teddy Chadwick]

When I got a call from the so-called "Richard Taylor" he sounded like he had a Nigerian accent. This could explain why they prefer email.

They are now targeting Music Ministers as well. They found my worship team "Yerubilee" thru our profile at gospelreggae.com. I sincerely pray that people of True faith will have enough discernment to be safe from this.

For me the tipoff was that I felt no joy in the spirit as I read the email.

That and the over the top language and request for border fees sent to an individual.

Thanks to the real Victory Church for posting your commente here.

Teddy
www.Yerubilee.com
"Messianic Roots Reggae from Jerusalem"

[D. Ransom]

Unfortunately, I too received the same letter and became suspicious. When I began to do research on it, this posting just came up. Thank you for being a blessing and giving warning to those truly looking to serve God and His people in ministry!

Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
http://www.victorychurch.co.uk/
Email:victoryoutreachchurchcenter@gmail.com
Tel Phone: + 44 704 575 0464

REQUEST FOR PERFORMANCE ENGAGEMENT

Blessed XXXXXX XXXXX,

We are Pastor Richard Taylor from the organization mentioned above,We write
you to seek your engagement in our upcoming conference tagged "VICTORY PRAISE YOUTH
AND ADULT CONFERENCE"coming up from 2nd-5th of September
2011.

Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ

THEME:"SHOW THE LIGHT AND PEOPLE WILL FIND THE WAY"

TOPIC:"THE EVENT OF COMPROMISING GOD'S STANDARD"

The purpose for these event is to re-brand the mind,body and souls of
Christians who have gone astray and are diverting their whole
attention into affairs and material things.Also bringing a heart of
deep compassion and a strong commitment to the fullness of life that
is found only in the redemptive love of Chris
You are hereby INVITED to perform engagement as the Lord is going
to feed us with his words to edify our souls through his ministers.

We choose you for these engagement because you have the real insight
and intuitiveness of delivering a heart piercing speech after reading
through your profile on http://www.xxxxxxxxxx.com/.We are op
timistic and you will indeed be a center attraction for the audience and win so
many souls for the Lord through your inspirational,spiritual,
touching and emotional word of yours.

ENTITLEMENTS:
VICTORY OUTREACH CHURCH Event Organizing Committee will be responsible
for your Hotel Accommodation,Feeding,and Airfare Ticket Booking.An
Honorarium ground transportation.

Confirm to us via e-mail or direct mobile on these letter head if you
will be available for these engagement so we can go ahead with
necessary preparations

For more information about event please,do not hesitate to send an
e-mail to us (victoryoutreachchurchcenter@gmail.com).We will be ready to
answer all your questions.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

REMAIN BLESSED
Pastor Richard Taylor
Senior Pastor
Victory Outreach Church
+44 704 575 0464

[Stephanie Cavett]

My pastor just received his invitation(July 30, 2011) from the "Pastor Richard Taylor" of Victory Outreach Church, Greenforge Way, Springvale Ind Estate, United Kingdom! It seemed strange to say the least, so I Googled the location and your posting came up advising us that it was a SCAM! This is very sad, but we will continue to serve God in the beauty of honesty. Thank you again for alerting us to this Scam!

[Kathy Mauldin]

Fasting and prayer caused me to doubt the singing engagement offer from "Pastor Richard Taylor." Although my CD has been playing in London for three years, I was awed by the offer only to doubt the source. I researched the pastor and church and found them to be true but noticed to many gmails and hotmail e-mails instead of church org. e-mails for me to believe the offer was legit, even the so-called border security agent did not have a gov. e-mail address. That doesn't count the many phone numbers that didn't match the church websites. After five days of fasting and prayer, this site popped up to clear all my doubts. I thank God for showing me your site and I thank you for posting scams aimed at the true spirit of God, His servants.

[Duane Frame]

I received the same invitation to sing this past week from Pastor Richard Taylor of Victory Outreach Church inviting me to sing an the Youth - Adult Conference being held Sept 9th - 11th. I had the itenary along with the contract just waiting upon the Work Permit to be processed. I received a phone call today from the So Called "Pastor Taylor" telling me that if I didn't get the work permit by tomorrow that he would call me back to get it processed through. I am so glad that there were red-flags, and upon Prayer God revealed the scam through this website. God will take care of me, and I pity the person trying to fraud God's Children. God's Richest Blessings to All.

[Daylin James]

Well, I don't want to be left out here as I got the same hit from these scam dirty individuals. I just won an International Gospel Vocal Championship and within two weeks they had contact me with a contract and I began pursuing this engagement. Fortunatly,I pursued clarification within my heart and was directed to this site by his hand I believe. I am left dishearted but stronger that I found out early enough.

[sheripedigo@aol.com]

i just reicieved one too and because i do sing and speak i thought they found me by referral.. i found it odd too.. so i put in the address and googled it and THANK GOD i did.. thanks for posting this!!!

[Mom]

My 13-year-old daughter just received the same e-mail to sing at the Victory Church Youth and Adult Conference and enjoyed two hours of joyful anticipation of a trip to England (she is a professional singer). I looked at the website and there was no mention of the conference (my first clue that something was amiss). When I googled the name of the conference I found this website and had to relay the bad news to her. WAKE UP CALL for both her and me. Guess the trip across the pond will have to wait. :(

[Linda Brown]

Received this on 03/10/2011
Thank God I found out it is a scam!!! Thanks for this site.
Here is the email I received.

Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
http://www.victorychurch.co.uk/
Host Pastor:Pastor Richard Taylor
Tel Phone: + 447045750460
Fax:01242 524476

REQUEST FOR PERFORMANCE ENGAGEMENT

Beloved Linda Brown,

I am Pastor Richard Taylor from the aforementioned organization, we
write you to seek your engagement in our upcoming conference tagged
"VICTORY PRAISE YOUTH AND ADULT CONFERENCE 2011" coming up 4th - 6th
November2011.

VENUE: Spurgeon Hall (Inside Church Premises)
Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
ENGLAND
THEME: "SHOW THE LIGHT AND THE PEOPLE WILL FIND THE WAY"

The purpose of these conference is to re-brand the heart,mind,body and
soul of Christians who have gone astray and are diverting their whole
attention into mundane affairs and ensuring that it is possible for
Christians, whether new or of long standing, to deepen their spiritual
lives and gain eternal life. Also bringing a heart of deep compassion
and a strong commitment to the fullness of life that is found only in
the redemptive love of Christ.

You are hereby invited for a performance engagement as God is going to
feed us with his words to edify our souls through his ministers and orchestras.
We choose you for this engagement because you have the real insight
and intuitiveness of delivering a an exceptional performance after
digesting your profile on http://www.tangentmusic.org/
we are optimistic you will indeed be a center of attraction for the
audience to look up t0 as a role model through your inspirational
and emotional musical ministration.

EVENT INFORMATION
AUDIENCE:2500
AGE:18-55
REFERENCE:EVENT BROCHURE
SIGNING OF AUTOGRAPH: ALLOWED
SELLING OF CD'S AND BOOKS: ALLOWED.
Victory Outreach Church Event Organizing Committee will be responsible
for your Hotel Accommodation, Feeding, and Airfare Ticket Booking,
Honorarium and ground transportation.

We will be very grateful if you accept our invitation.
Confirm to us via e-mail or direct mobile on this letter head if you
will be available for these engagement so we can go ahead with
necessary preparations.
For more information about event please do not hesitate to send an
email to us (victorychurchconference2011@gmail.com). We will be ready to
answer all your questions.
Everyone is welcome here at Victory Outreach Church,
and we look forward to meet you soon!

Pastor Richard Taylor
Victory Outreach Church
Tel Phone: + 447045750460

[Louise]

Our organization received one on Sept 29. The church website and minister's name used were real. But the church's "contact us" page had a posting that it was a scam. Legitmate people often use G-mail addresses different than their standard ones.

[rebecca hagelin]

Has anyone received a scam e-mail from Abbeygreen Church in Scotland? I actually travel abroad speaking at legit events (was in Australia just a few weeks ago) so the e-mail invite was not that unusual. However, the language is similar to what numerous folks have subscribed.....thanks for any insight you can shed.

[Louise]

This is the version we received. The website is real and minister's name real & spelled correctly, but THEIR "contact us" page had already posted that this is a scam. We OFTEN get these contacts from "Africa" but this was the first from "Scotland." These days, MANY ministries and staff use G-mail, hotmail, etc. so that did not seem unusual. We even get phone calls from "Africa." Maybe those really are "from Africa." With Skype, etc., it can be free. We did not call the phone # listed. The English was not good, but some ministers do learn English as a 2nd language. The scammer seems to be trying to get more deceptive.

"Blessing be onto you... I am Rev David Carmichael,
the presiding minister of the Abbeygreen Church of Scotland.
We are hosting a conference come 28th, 29th and 30th of next month
and we are pleased to notify you that you have been chosen by our
Event Organizing Committee to speak at this event. After checking your
credentials and after reading blogs about you, we received the Lords
direction to invite you to speak in this event and we also believe you
are as well more than capable to deliver in this occasion, We have
decided among the Event Organizing Committee to invite you to this
program.
As I earlier stated, the program is billed to hold on the 28th, 29th
and the 30th of next month and we have also invited other notable
speakers who are in the middle of an agreement with us for this
program, As an inspirational and motivational speaker myself, I will
also be speaking at this conference.
The conference theme has been carefully chosen by the Lords'
inspiration due to the backdrop of the present situation in the United
Kingdom and this year's conference has been tagged
'Holding on to God when things fall apart.
And the keynote you will be speaking on is : Man and God: The Relationship

Please confirm your availability for this event and the date that you
will be available, in between this 3 days so we can put it on our
website and start to design posters as well as hand bills, If you do
agree to this contract we would also need a picture of you to put up
in posters and flyers prior to the event date. You will only be
speaking one day in the three day conference.The reason we are inviting
you is based on your personality awe want people hereto understand how
you survived been yourself.

We would like to know your standard speaking fee for this engagement
as we have budgeted 13,500USD for your speaking fee and it is not
regarding to your standard fees, Our fees are based on budget and we
are not biased with our speakers fee, We budget for every speaker
according to what the Event Organizing committee deem fit, But we will
also be glad to negotiate.

All travel arrangements such as Flight fare, Speaking fee deposit as
well as Hotel accommodation will be taken care of as soon as you honor
this invitation.
We will send you all binding documents including a Letter of
Invitation and Contract Agreement as soon as you honor our invitation.
Email us any questions you may have:

You are blessed.

--
Rev. David Carmichael
+44 7031873786

Abbeygreen Church of Scotland
http://www.abbeygreen.org.uk
Abbeygreen, Lesmahagow,
Lanarkshire,
ML11 0ED
Scotland"

[rebecca hagelin]

I've just been able to answer my own question - the Scotland request is, indeed, a scam. If you receive invites from the the Abbeygreen Church(which is a legit little church) please ignore them. The church's website now has notice that someone is using their good name to perpetrate an international hoax in the attempt to get people to pay upfront for bogus "work visas". Thanks for all you have done to alert us to what is going on!

[Robert Spector]

I am a long-time speaker. I received this scam email this week. They start by asking you to send money for a work permit.

Blessing be onto you. I am Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestone, the
presiding minister of Whytescauseway Baptist Church,Whytescauseway
United Kingdom

We are hosting a conference come 5th, 6th and 7th of next month and
we are pleased to notify you that you have been chosen by our Event
Organizing Committee to speak at this event. After checking your
credentials (http://bureau.espeakers.com) and after visiting your
website, we received the Lords direction to invite you to speak in
this event and we also believe you are as well more than capable to
deliver in this occasion,We have decided among the Event Organizing
Committee to invite you to this program.

As I earlier stated, the program is billed to hold on the 5th,
6th and the 7th of November 2011 and we have also invited other
notable speakers including Robert Williams as well as Dan Micheal and
in the process of getting 2 others who is in the middle of an
agreement with us for this program, As an inspirational and
motivational speaker myself, I will also be speaking
at this conference.

The conference theme has been carefully chosen by the Lord
inspiration due to the backdrop of the present situation in the United
Kingdom and this year's conference has been tagged 'How to stay focus
when others lose focus: Holding on to God when things fall apart.
And the keynote is : Survival instinct in an ailing Economy.

Please confirm your availability for this event and the date that
you will be available in-between this 3 days so we can put it on our
website and start to design posters as well as hand bills, If you do
agree to this contract we would also need a picture of you to put up
in posters and flyers prior to the event date. You will only be
speaking once in the three day conference.
We have budgeted 19,500USD for your speaking fee and it is not
regarding to your standard fees, Our fees are based on budget and we
are not biased with our speakers fee, We budget for every speaker
according to what the Event Organizing committee deem fit.

All travel arrangements such as Flight fare, Speaking fee
deposit as well as Hotel accommodation will be taken care of as soon
as you honor this invitation.We will send you all binding documents
including a Letter of Invitation and Contract Agreement as soon as you
honor our invitation.

Email any questions you may have to:

You are blessed.

Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestone
+44 7031873786

Whytescauseway Baptist Church
http://www.whytescauseway.org
Whytescauseway
Kirkcaldy
Fife
KY1 1XF

[Rene]

I received exactly the same e-mail and scam today:

Blessing be onto you Rene Jorgensen, I am Rev. Dr. Phillip Egglestone, the presiding minister of the Whytescauseway Baptist Church, Scotland.
We are hosting a conference come 4th, 5th and 6th of next month and we are pleased to notify you that you have been chosen by our Event Organizing Committee to speak at this event. After checking your credentials and after reading blogs about you, we received the Lords direction to invite you to speak in this event and we also believe you are as well more than capable to deliver in this occasion, We have decided among the Event Organizing Committee to invite you to this program.
As I earlier stated, the program is billed to hold on the 4th, 5th and the 6th of November, 2011. As an inspirational and motivational speaker myself, I will also be speaking at this conference.

I was inagurated as the Presiding Minister of this esteemed church about a year ago and we have being able to make our little impact in the world, We have being able to take christianity to the cranny of the most remote Asian villages, We have aslo supported the Haiti and Sudan causes.
We organized this conference and workshop in the hope of trying to re-organize the Church and further extend our impacts, So we can have people listen and be inspired by speakers like yourself on topics ranging from family matters to healthy living, which is why we chose you to speak at this event as a keynote speaker. Also this conference will as well mark my one year anniversay as the Presiding Minister of this blessed Church.
The conference theme has been carefully chosen by the Lords' inspiration due to the backdrop of the present situation in the United Kingdom and this year's conference has been tagged
'Holding on to God when things fall apart'.
And the keynote you will be speaking on is : 'Success & Religion: The connection.

Please confirm your availability for this event and the date that you will be available, in between this 3 days so we can put it on our website and start to design posters as well as hand bills, If you do agree to this contract we would also need a picture of you to put up in posters and flyers prior to the event date. You will only be speaking one day in the three day conference.The reason we are inviting you is based on your personality awe want people hereto understand how you survived been yourself.
We would like to know your standard speaking fee for this engagement as we have budgeted 18,500USD for your honorarium and it is not regarding to your standard fees, Our fees are based on budget and we are not biased with our speakers fee, We budget for every speaker according to what the Event Organizing committee deem fit, But we will also be glad to negotiate.

All travel arrangements such as Flight fare, Speaking fee deposit as well as Hotel accommodation will be taken care of as soon as you honor this invitation.
The events committee will send you all binding documents including a Letter of Invitation and Contract Agreement as well.
Email us any questions you may have:

You are blessed.

--
Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestone
+44 7031873786

Whytescauseway Baptist Church
Whytescauseway, Kirkcaldy,
Fife.
KY1 1XF
Scotland.
www.whytescauseway.org

[Jill Beardsley]

Got one, too....just this morning
Blessing be onto you, I am Rev. Dr. Phillip Egglestone, the presiding minister of the Whytescauseway Baptist Church, Scotland.
We are hosting a conference come 4th, 5th and 6th of next month and we are pleased to notify you that you have been chosen by our Event Organizing Committee to speak at this event. After checking your credentials and after reading blogs about you, we received the Lords direction to invite you to speak in this event and we also believe you are as well more than capable to deliver in this occasion, We have decided among the Event Organizing Committee to invite you to this program.
As I earlier stated, the program is billed to hold on the 4th, 5th and the 6th of November, 2011. As an inspirational and motivational speaker myself, I will also be speaking at this conference.

I was inagurated as the Presiding Minister of this esteemed church about a year ago and we have being able to make our little impact in the world, We have being able to take christianity to the cranny of the most remote Asian villages, We have aslo supported the Haiti and Sudan causes.
We organized this conference and workshop in the hope of trying to re-organize the Church and further extend our impacts, So we can have people listen and be inspired by speakers like yourself on topics ranging from family matters to healthy living, which is why we chose you to speak at this event as a keynote speaker. Also this conference will as well mark my one year anniversay as the Presiding Minister of this blessed Church.
The conference theme has been carefully chosen by the Lords' inspiration due to the backdrop of the present situation in the United Kingdom and this year's conference has been tagged
'Holding on to God when things fall apart'.
And the keynote you will be speaking on is : 'Living a purposeful life'

Please confirm your availability for this event and the date that you will be available, in between this 3 days so we can put it on our website and start to design posters as well as hand bills, If you do agree to this contract we would also need a picture of you to put up in posters and flyers prior to the event date. You will only be speaking one day in the three day conference.The reason we are inviting you is based on your personality awe want people hereto understand how you survived been yourself.
We would like to know your standard speaking fee for this engagement as we have budgeted 18,500USD for your honorarium and it is not regarding to your standard fees, Our fees are based on budget and we are not biased with our speakers fee, We budget for every speaker according to what the Event Organizing committee deem fit, But we will also be glad to negotiate.

All travel arrangements such as Flight fare, Speaking fee deposit as well as Hotel accommodation will be taken care of as soon as you honor this invitation.
The events committee will send you all binding documents including a Letter of Invitation and Contract Agreement as well.
Email us any questions you may have:

You are blessed.

--
Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestone
+44 7031873786

Whytescauseway Baptist Church
Whytescauseway, Kirkcaldy,
Fife.
KY1 1XF
Scotland.
www.whytescauseway.org

[Marc]

I got that same one today as well.

[jon petz]

Amazing how you can google this stuff. I too received the Scotland request from Rev Egglestone. I tried to contact the church, but there is no contact info on their site. strange - I reached out as it seemed like a scam, but had to respond as well. Very politely - but with requests.

I thought I would share their response as my invite is the same as the others:
-----------
Good evening Jon, We would rather have you talk on the keynote 'How To be UP In A Down World' Is this okay? and we can definitely forward the honorarium's deposit but NOT full payment as you know we cannot send full payment without having you here. So we will pay 50% and then pay 50% cash on your arrival here.

We have gadgets to aide your presentation as the tech.team are working on audio-visual performances to be superb.

You can call me anytime as if I am not at the church I will be at the worship centre and I have the phone extension there as well. Please check my number under my name below.

I would be expecting your call.

Remain Blessed.

--
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestone
+44 7031873786

Whytescauseway Baptist Church
Whytescauseway, Kirkcaldy,
Fife.
KY1 1XF
Scotland.
www.whytescauseway.org
--------

Looks like a nice church - sorry they got caught up in it.

[Jon]

Not that I have time, but thought I would waste some of his time and get him excited about some potential income. I responded again with:
Dear Sir,

I have great content related to creating impact in who we are and what we do – which is certainly about being UP in a down world. As mentioned, please do send over the paperwork for our legal review along with the production support contact for audio visual arrangements. In addition, could you give me an overview of the demographics of your congregation as well as speakers you’ve had in the past?

I will begin some preparation on my side in order to bring the best program to you and your convention attendees.

Look forward to your response.

Thank you Rev. Egglestone
-------------
Will see what happens from here....

[Rosie Pekar]

Got the same today...sorry I laughed...I am an excop and the offer of $18k + for one speaker when its a church and for an event less than a month away...RIDICULOUS...I get booked by schools with almost a years notice. Send them back fraudulent details and have the laugh back on them...oh your name has changed to supercalafragalistics by marriage...I'll update our records!!!

[Jill Beardsley]

and they followed up:
Thank you Mr. Dick Beardsley for indicating your interest to be our Guest Speaker at this year's conference, May God forever be with you.

I am Edward Smith, President of the event organizing committee of the conference 'Holding on to God when things fall apart'. We beleive you have been notified by our Presiding Minister Rev.Dr. Phillip Egglestone, as we are in charge of the smooth running of this event and by God's grace we are bound to succeed.
We are very excited to have you in this conference. The event organizing committee had a meeting earlier today to deliberate on getting you available here in the United Kingdom. We believe we serve the lord of Possibilities. Arrangements are stated below.

We have attached a formal Letter of Invitation and a contract agreement. Please reconfirm to us your Mailing Address for our perusal and further action. Note you are meant to arrive a day before the commencement of the event. You are billed to speak on the 6th day of November.

Please return a copy of the contract agreement duly signed by you for proper documentation. Print it out, sign and scan back to us(Keep a copy as well). We have agreed to buy your flight ticket and to pay your Hotel accommodation expenses. Also your Speaking fee which amounted to 18,500USD will not be paid in full as yet, 9,250USD deposit is to be paid as soon as you procure all relevant travel documents so as to avoid any disappointment and the balance will be given to you cash when you arrive here. You are informed to get across your Work Permit in the UK to us so your deposit can be approved according to our mandated regulation as well as your UK visa for travels. If you do not have these please let us know so we can make arrangements for the documents to be processed quickly as the event is at hand. But if you do have the visa and work permit just scan and send to us.

Please check the attached documents, It contains your letter of invitation as well as your letter of agreement. We expect your response in regards the documents asap. Thank you and may God bless us all.

[jon petz]

I'm too far in to stop now... I liked Rosie's comment - so I'm playing back with them. I RECEIVED my contract today and responding with multiple corrections and requests. I'm going to be a male Diva if they want me that bad.

I also asked for grins:
- Can you please provide the actual demographics in terms of age diversification and male/female breakdown in each category
- Can you provide insight and details as to the state of your church and current feelings. Why are people feeling it’s a down world in Scotland?

[Satira Ciara]

Good Afternoon-

I am an assistant armor bearer to my apostle and pastor. My apostle received an email through our church website in regards to our Sr. Pastor speaking at the "YOUTH and ADULT CONFERENCE" in the UK from Pastor Richard Taylor. So as the assistant we did respond but every question we have asked there was no answers. Here is the original email: REQUEST FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT

Blessed Pastor Garland J. Norton ,

We are Pastor Richard Taylor from the organization mentioned above,We write
you to seek your engagement in our upcoming conference tagged "VICTORY PRAISE
YOUTH AND ADULT CONFERENCE 2011"coming up from 4th-6th of November 2011.

Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ

THEME:"SHOW THE LIGHT AND PEOPLE WILL FIND THE WAY"

TOPIC:"THE EVENT OF COMPROMISING GOD'S STANDARD"

The purpose for these event is to re-brand the mind,body and souls of
Christians who have gone astray and are diverting their whole
attention into affairs and material things.Also bringing a heart of
deep compassion and a strong commitment to the fullness of life that is
found only in the redemptive love of Christ.

You are hereby invited for a Speaking engagement as God is going to
feed us with his words to edify our souls through his ministers.

We choose you for these engagement because you have the real insight
and intuitiveness of delivering a heart piercing speech after reading through
your profile on http://hopdci.webs.com/. We are optimistic and you will
indeed be a center attraction for the audience and win so many souls for the Lord
through your inspirational,spiritual, touching and emotional word of yours.

ENTITLEMENTS:
VICTORY OUTREACH CHURCH Event Organizing Committee will be responsible
for your Hotel Accommodation,Feeding,and Airfare Ticket Booking.An Honorarium
and ground transportation.

EVENT INFORMATION

AUDIENCE:1500
AGE:18-55
REFERENCE:EVENT BROCHURE
SIGNING OF AUTOGRAPH: ALLOWED
SELLING OF CD'S AND BOOKS: ALLOWED.
SPEAKING TOPIC: THE EFFECTS OF COMPROMISING GOD'S STANDARD

Confirm to us via e-mail or direct mobile on these letter head if you
will be available for these engagement so we can go ahead with
necessary preparations

For more information about event please,do not hesitate to send an
e-mail to us ( victoryoutreachchurchdesk@gmail.com).We will be ready to
answer all your questions.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

REMAIN BLESSED
Pastor Richard Taylor
Senior Pastor
Victory Outreach Church
+44 704 575 0464

My apostle has called every number that was sent to us by email and there was no answer. So YES THIS IS A SCAM! In regards to work permit we have received the email to that required me also and the email was also GMAIL. Our Sr. Pastor also received a Contract Agreement. We will not let him sign anything and he said himself he won't until we find out if this is legit. As I read all the comments and googled the same exact address and emails. Majority were from Pastor Richard Taylor. However, I am letting you know that this is a scam.

[Judy]

I received a similar letter and did approximately 5 hours of web research. Everything looked ligitimate. Unfortunately I did not find this website or any others about the scam until I had already sent them the info they requested for the Work Permit. I am concerned about them having my personal information. These guys are super smart! They copied the UK Border Agency website so that it looks totally legit. We went to the British Embassy website and they stated that only a British employer could request the work permit.

That was when we wised up.

Now I am a bit worried about identity theft so am changing all my passwords.

Wish I'd found this site earlier!

[Jacquie Lewis-Kemp]

Wow, this really is a popular scam. Thanks for writing this article so that I could search this "minister" and find out the truth.

[Darryl]

Just received this morning 18 Oct 2011

Blessing be onto you. I am Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestone, the
presiding minister of the Hedingham Baptist Church,Sible Hedingham
United Kingdom

We are hosting a conference come 28th, 29th and 30th of next month and
we are pleased to notify you that you have been chosen by our Event
Organizing Committee to speak at this event.After checking your
credentials on (http://www.speakerlink.co.nz/) and after visiting your
website, we received the Lords direction to invite you to speak in
this event and we also believe you
are as well more than capable to deliver in this occasion,We have
decided among the Event Organizing Committee to invite you to this
program.

As I earlier stated, the program is billed to hold on the 28th,29th
and the 30th of November 2011 and we have also invited other
notable speakers including Robert Williams as well as Dan Micheal and
in the process of getting 2 others who is in the middle of an
agreement with us for this program, As an inspirational and
motivational speaker myself, I will also be speaking at this
conference.

The conference theme has been carefully chosen by the Lord
inspiration due to the backdrop of the present situation in the United
Kingdom and this year's conference has been tagged 'How to stay focus
when others lose focus: Holding on to God when things fall apart. And
the keynote is : Survival instinct in an ailing Economy.

Please confirm your availability for this event and the date that
you will be available in-between this 3 days so we can put it on our
website and start to design posters as well as hand bills, If you do
agree to this contract we would also need a picture of you to put up
in posters and flyers prior to the event date. You will only be
speaking once in the three day conference.
We have budgeted 19,500USD for your speaking fee and it is not
regarding to your standard fees, Our fees are based on budget and we
are not biased with our speakers fee, We budget for every speaker
according to what the Event Organizing committee deem fit.

All travel arrangements such as Flight fare, Speaking fee
deposit as well as Hotel accommodation will be taken care of as soon
as you honor this invitation.We will send you all binding documents
including a Letter of Invitation and Contract Agreement as soon as you
honor our invitation.

Email any questions you may have to:

You are blessed.

Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestone
+44 7031873786

Hedingham Baptist Church
177, Swan Street,
Sible Hedingham
Essex
CO9 3PX
KY1 1XF

[Gil Delaney]

I was just invited by a large church in London to speak at a conference. It appears to be a scam. The invitation came out of the blue, filled with flattery and financial promises.

[Rob]

A Speaker I am representing have been receiving these emails from one Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestonea, who seems to legitimately be the pastor, thank god the church website caught on and dedicated some of the home page to letting speakers know it was a scam

[Dara Duguay]

I received this email which seemed very suspicious. They got my name from one of the Speaker's Bureaus I am a part of. They also were requiring me to get a work permit in the UK and I am sure would ask for my bank information to transfer the funds. When I googled the church address a small church in Essex England appeared but the conference was going to have 1,000 attendees. They also told me to fly into Scotland but Essex is outside of London. Lots of suspicious details. Here is the original email:

Good Morning Dara Duguay,

Blessing be onto you. I am Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestone, the
presiding minister of the Hedingham Baptist Church,Sible Hedingham
United Kingdom

We are hosting a conference come 28th, 29th and 30th of next month and
we are pleased to notify you that you have been chosen by our Event
Organizing Committee to speak at this event.After checking your
credentials on (www.allamericanspeakers.com) and after visiting your
website, we received the Lords direction to invite you to speak in
this event and we also believe you
are as well more than capable to deliver in this occasion,We have
decided among the Event Organizing Committee to invite you to this
program.

As I earlier stated, the program is billed to hold on the 28th,29th
and the 30th of November 2011 and we have also invited other
notable speakers including Robert Williams as well as Dan Micheal and
in the process of getting 2 others who is in the middle of an
agreement with us for this program, As an inspirational and
motivational speaker myself, I will also be speaking at this
conference.

The conference theme has been carefully chosen by the Lord
inspiration due to the backdrop of the present situation in the United
Kingdom and this year's conference has been tagged 'How to stay focus
when others lose focus: Holding on to God when things fall apart. And
the keynote is : Survival instinct in an ailing Economy.

Please confirm your availability for this event and the date that
you will be available in-between this 3 days so we can put it on our
website and start to design posters as well as hand bills, If you do
agree to this contract we would also need a picture of you to put up
in posters and flyers prior to the event date. You will only be
speaking once in the three day conference.
We have budgeted 24,500USD for your speaking fee and it is not
regarding to your standard fees, Our fees are based on budget and we
are not biased with our speakers fee, We budget for every speaker
according to what the Event Organizing committee deem fit.

All travel arrangements such as Flight fare, Speaking fee
deposit as well as Hotel accommodation will be taken care of as soon
as you honor this invitation.We will send you all binding documents
including a Letter of Invitation and Contract Agreement as soon as you
honor our invitation.

Email any questions you may have to:

You are blessed.

Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestone
+44 7031873786

Hedingham Baptist Church
177, Swan Street,
Sible Hedingham
Essex
CO9 3PX
KY1 1XF

[kamagra online]

I was just contacted with a similar scam. However, this time they used the name of a real university and an actual professor who was affiliated with that university. Everything else is similar. They use a gmail account, the grammar is questionable and they ask for you to send the work permit fees by Western Union to a personal account and also ask for your bank account to advance your speaking fees.

My version was similar to those listed above except that the university was Nottingham Trent and the invitation came from a Malcolm Prowle. I contacted the real Malcolm Prowle who informed me that eight other people had also contacted him about this scam.

It appears that the perpetrators are finding targets on websites that advertise experts so be careful if you have a web presence on those types of membership sites.
The use of real university professors ads an air of legitimacy so be mindful of that.

[generic viagra]

Well, doggone, I thought I was going to Jolly Old England! I just got the same invitation, same phrasing, and from the same not so reverend Pastor Richard Taylor. I smelled a rat when the honorarium I presented, a modest $3,000 plus expenses (I actually prayed over it, as always, God answers!) was ignored but the standard fee and deposit appeared in the next email. Before responding to ask that a deposit be WIRED, not deposited, I googled the name and SCAM. God bless you for posting this. I wouldn't have provided information outside of what they already have, but I have been known to waste a lot of time over people with less than honorable motives. Let's remember to pray for these people!

[viagra online prescription]

To God be the glory !!! I recently received the exact same invitation from "Pastor" Richard Taylor via our church website for my Pastor to come and speak. I am grateful that this forum exposed this scam.

[Kevin Downey, Jr.]

I got one from the Rev Bill Calder asking me to speak at his church. I'm a comedian. He located me on an old site where the headshot I jokingly used is a pic of Charlie Manson. If he'd really seen my act he'd know I'm not right for a church.

[Julian Malotti]

I received a similar invitation. I thought I was becoming an international preacher! Hahaha. Anyway here is the email I received, hope someone can be blessed by it, by not falling in this scam.

Blessing
Pastor Julian Malotti www.thewaysd.org

Senders email: victoryoutreachchurchdesk@gmail.com

Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ
http://www.victorychurch.co.uk/
Email:victoryoutreachchurchdesk@gmail.com
Tel Phone: + 44 704 575 0464

REQUEST FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT
Blessed Pastor Julian,
We are Pastor Richard Taylor from the organization mentioned above,We write
you to seek your engagement in our upcoming conference tagged "VICTORY PRAISE
YOUTH AND ADULT CONFERENCE 2011"coming up from 6th-8th of January 2012.
Victory Outreach Church
Greenforge Way
Springvale Ind Estate
United Kingdom
NP44 3UZ

The purpose for these event is to re-brand the mind,body and souls of
Christians who have gone astray and are diverting their whole
attention into affairs and material things.Also bringing a heart of
deep compassion and a strong commitment to the fullness of life that is
found only in the redemptive love of Christ.

You are hereby invited for a Speaking engagement as God is going to
feed us with his words to edify our souls through his ministers.

We choose you for these engagement because you have the real insight
and intuitiveness of delivering a heart piercing speech after reading through
your profile on http://www.thewaysd.org. We are optimistic and you will indeed be a center attraction for the audience and win so many souls for the Lord
through your inspirational,spiritual, touching and emotional word of yours.

ENTITLEMENTS:
VICTORY OUTREACH CHURCH Event Organizing Committee will be responsible
for your Hotel Accommodation,Feeding,and Airfare Ticket Booking.An Honorarium
and ground transportation.

AUDIENCE:1500
AGE:18-55
REFERENCE:EVENT BROCHURE
SIGNING OF AUTOGRAPH: ALLOWED
SELLING OF CD'S AND BOOKS: ALLOWED.
SPEAKING TOPIC: THE EFFECTS OF COMPROMISING GOD'S STANDARD

[Bruce Roberts]

I just got one of these exact letters word for word like a previous post for a musician that I book for that her recored label forwarded to me.It seemed fishy but looked legit so we pursued the thought but after the google search of the conference led to scam sites like this, our instinct was correct.Thanks to the internet we saved a lot of time and phone calls checking this out.

[Janet Matthews]

HI - I just got this invitation from Reverend: Bill Calder
+44 7031873786 at West Wickham & Shirley Baptist Church
Corner of Wickham Road & Monks Orchard Road
Croydon
Surrey
CRO 8DR

Same stuff - offering me $18,500.00 US for a speaking gig...somewhere...Dec 9,10 and 11 - less than a month away. Amazing! Immediatly suspicious I did the search, and voila - there it was. Thanks for keeping this posting alive - most speaker have their wits about them so hopefully this search will alert anyone else who gets contacted.

[Stephanie]

I got this same invite - but for a musical engagement specific to my website. I'm so glad I found this site - I figured it was a scam as no one has hired me via email for such an over the top price when they don't know who I am!!! But these guys are definitely sneaky. If it's too good to be true....

[Steve Williams]

To confirm, and I can speak on behalf of Pastor Richard Taylor, and the Victory Church team, that this nothing to do with Victory Church or Pastor Taylor. Please do not respond to emails such as this. Victory Church do not invite speakers or artists in this way.

[DAVID WALTERS]

Yes we recieved exactly the same letter from "Victory church" - Pastor Richard Taylor last week . We are David abd Kathie Walters, Good News Ministries Macon Georgia

davidmwalters@mindspring.com
www.kathiewalters@mindspring.com

[Jack Kalvan]

I just got a similar email from Reverend Collins Small
+44 7031873786
(new name, same phone number)

[Mark]

I also got the Reverend Collins Small 44 7031873786