FairGuide Advertising Scam Still Circulating
September 20, 2012
UPDATE - Sept 20/12: We have just been made aware these scammers are currently sending mail about "guide listings" to craft producers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Don't sign and send back any form to this company.
A company using the names FairGuide and/or Construct Data Publishers is regularly mining lists of trade show exhibitors (including old lists) and has been sending listing contracts to local craft producers to get them to sign up to 'ensure their listing is in the guide'. The company has operated from Post Office boxes in several different countries over the past number of years. The letter they send currently references the Atlantic Craft Trade Show in Halifax (also known as ACTS), misleading the recipient into believing FairGuide is somehow associated with ACTS. FairGuide and Construct Data Publishers is in no way associated with ACTS or any other legitimate show we are aware of.
If you receive such a letter and you sign and return the form you will be financially obligated to pay $1700 CAD per year for at least 3 years to this company. If you refuse to pay once you have signed the form and sent it back, they have been known to threaten to put people in collection agencies.
ACTS has had so much trouble with these people the show has contacted police and put a notice on its website warning people. See the notice here.
If you receive such a communication, please report it to your local police detachment. Don't sign any of these forms and send them back to this company.