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Topic: Attention UK readers - is this a scam?

John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 02-21-2002 11:41 PM

You know, this is funny Leo, because I was just talking to a friend about this just yesterday! I was wondering myself....

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 02-22-2002 11:17 AM

The reason I asked is that a friend who runs a single-screen in Cornwall has just had another one of the mailshots. So it seems that these people haven't gone away, and in the last year have attracted enough suckers to stay in business.

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Adam Fuller
Film Handler

Posts: 13
From: Edinburgh / Scotland
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-30-2004 12:49 PM

I received one of their leaftets inviting me to join last week. They've got a website now, www.filmprojectionist.org . The leaflet is as pathetically amateur as the website. I'd be curious to hear from anyone who has actually been stupid enough to join this "association" and what they got for their £56, apart from a "certificate" thrown together in Microsoft Word.

It's been more than three years since this was first brought up here, but it looks like they're doing another round of looking for stupid people who'll give their money to clever people. "They just seemed so convincing....", I can just picture them saying on "Watchdog".

I did what I do with all junk mail - tore it up and sent it back to them, making sure that the envelope it arrived in with my name and address was at the top.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 03-30-2004 03:13 PM

I looked up their domain name, wondering if it would reveal who is behind this, and got the following:

quote:
[whois.publicinterestregistry.net]
for informational purposes only, and PIR does not guarantee its
accuracy. This service is intended only for query-based access. You agree
circumstances will you use this data to: (a) allow, enable, or otherwise
support the transmission by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile of mass
unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations to entities other than
the data recipient's own existing customers; or (b) enable high volume,
automated, electronic processes that send queries or data to the systems of
Registry Operator or any ICANN-Accredited Registrar, except as reasonably
necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. All
rights reserved. PIR reserves the right to modify these terms at any

Domain ID:D60347721-LROR
Domain Name:FILMPROJECTIONIST.ORG
Created On:12-Feb-2001 22:26:22 UTC
Last Updated On:24-Nov-2003 17:05:13 UTC
Expiration Date:12-Feb-2005 22:26:22 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar:R52-LROR
Status:OK
Registrant ID:10686578657050
Registrant Name:The Association of Film Projectionists
Registrant Street1:Cambridge House, 128 Park Road
Registrant City:Camberley
Registrant State/Province:Surrey
Registrant Postal Code:GU15 2LW
Registrant Country:GB
Registrant Email:helpdesk@easily.co.uk
Admin ID:10686578661400
Admin Name:Technical Support
Admin Street1:109-111 Farringdon Road
Admin City:London
Admin State/Province:.
Admin Postal Code:EC1R 3BW
Admin Country:GB
Admin Email:helpdesk@easily.co.uk
Tech ID:10686578668470
Tech Name:Technical Support
Tech Street1:Easily Limited
Tech Street2:109-111 Farringdon Road
Tech City:London
Tech State/Province:*
Tech Postal Code:EC1R 3BW
Tech Country:GB
Tech Phone:+44.442078410070
Tech Email:helpdesk@easily.co.uk
Name Server:DNS0.EASILY.CO.UK
Name Server:DNS1.EASILY.CO.UK

**** End of data fetched from referral whois ****

Database last updated on 2004-03-30 21:12:21 UTC

CORE - [Internet Council of Registrars]

So no more info on the 'organisation' itself, but it does reveal who their hosting ISP is. I wonder if they're aware of the likelihood of this being a scam operation?

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Paul Carey
Film Handler

Posts: 17
From: St Andrews, Scotland, UK
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-30-2004 04:47 PM

I recieved another one of their flyers last week, they must be doing another mailshot of sites in the UK again. I've just binned it.

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Michael Harlow
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 170
From: Faversham, Kent, UK
Registered: Jul 2002

posted 03-31-2004 03:14 AM

Hi,

I have had this leaflet twice now. The first time in went in the bin, the second time i tried calling the number "for more information" but didn't get anywhere fast. But, things like this go in the bin.

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Adam Fuller
Film Handler

Posts: 13
From: Edinburgh / Scotland
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-31-2004 06:49 AM

Hmm. This is getting more suspicious!

I 'phoned them last night to ask for a sample copy of their "newsletter" before I joined. (Yeah, right!) The woman who answered the 'phone said "Hello, can I help you?" instead of "Hello, Association of Film Projectionists?" Needless to say, you can't get their newsletter unless you're a member.

Then I did a search on their 'phone number, and this pointed me to "Resources Centre Ltd" in Camberley. So, this looks like a generic name/number they're using, probably for other "associations" they run!

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Dick Vaughan
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1032
From: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 03-31-2004 07:01 AM

Time to drop a line to Nicky Campbell at BBC Watchdog?

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Christian Sinclair
Film Handler

Posts: 6
From: Bracknell, UK
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 04-03-2004 02:08 PM

We had a similar letter this year and last year about the same time. Was quite interested in it last year but thought better about it since when you call the number whoever answers the phone doesn;t seem to have a clue about the company or can give any concrete answers. Our national booth office suggested not replying to it and I've told my projectionists not to part with any money. Seems very suss to me.

Camberley is only just down the road from me... maybe I should pop down to their offices sometime.... hmmm. Keep you posted.

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