How Not to Get Scammed From Trade Show

How Not to Get Scammed by Con Artists Posing as Trade Show Operatives
By GEOFF WILLIAMS, AOL SMALL BUSINESS

Below listed several suggestions for determining whether a trade show is the real deal or it just a scam.

Don't attend the show if it's the organization's very first trade show. That advice comes from Matt Meyerson, based out of Beverly Hills, California, who runs a small fashion trade event in New York City called Expose. "I hate saying not to attend someone's first show," admits Meyerson, whose trade show is in its fourth year.

Yet this makes sense, especially if it's a bit of an impulsive move on your part. If a trade show has a track record, it's a given that they're a legitimate outfit. It's not a guarantee it'll be a good trade show -- "some people think you can just throw out a table and chairs and invite people, and that's enough," laments Meyerson -- but you probably won't get ripped off.

Find out who the sponsors are. "If the key sponsors are new products or business startups, the event most likely doesn't have the history with major vendors or players. Make sure you are investing in well known events that welcome well known players," says Billy Lowe, a celebrity hairstylist with 20 years' experience in the beauty industry as a national trade show spokesman for numerous beauty brands.

He's absolutely right. Coca-Cola, for instance, isn't going to be sponsoring some two-bit outfit plotting to rip you and your wallet off. On the other hand, anyone can say their sponsor is a major soft drink or company, so don't just take the organizer's word for it -- find out yourself.

Do a background check. Meyerson says, "Do your due diligence and Google who is running the show, and see what their history is, what they've done before. That should be enough to help you make an informed decision on whether this is a show you want to be involved with."

One can hope.

Geoff Williams is a regular contributor to AOL Small Business. He is also the co-author of the new book Living Well with Bad Credit.