In the bustling world of convention housing, there’s a shadowy player known as the “poacher.” These crafty impostors pose as official housing providers, luring unsuspecting attendees and exhibitors away from the official room block.
Their goal? To snatch reservations, disrupt event organizers’ plans, and attempt to scam your participants into purchases that are nonexistent.
No one is immune to these threats, but by remaining vigilant, we can collectively outsmart those pesky poachers. We have prepared some strategies to protect your participants, including email templates, messaging advice, and even a sample cease-and-desist letter.
“By collaborating with our clients, we can construct a robust defense against poachers. At onPeak, our dedication lies in safeguarding attendees and exhibitors from these disruptive tactics.”
– Hollie Zeyher, Director Marketing, onPeak
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) now offers a streamlined reporting process for individuals and companies to flag these activities. By sharing these reports with law enforcement partners, the FTC aims to aid investigations and put an end to these harmful practices.
How to file a fraud report:
- Go to Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Click on “Report Now”
- For Question 1: “Is your report about any of these common problems?
- Select “An Impersonator” (top left answer)
- For Question 2: “Who were they pretending to be?
- Select “Well-known or trusted business”
- Click “Continue”
- Add as much information as you have and submit!
So, next time one of your participants encounters an unfamiliar housing offer, it might just be a room poacher in disguise. After all, it’s only official if it’s onPeak!
If you want to chat more about how poachers are impacting your event, just drop us a line.
