Beware of Fraudulent Websites Imitating the US Press Association
There has been a surge of fraudulent websites masquerading as legitimate organizations using the same acronym as the US Press Association (USPA). These dishonest entities are deceiving individuals with false promises, fake publications, and misleading claims. Operating primarily out of Germany, these sites have crafted elaborate schemes to imitate the authentic US Press Association, taking advantage of unsuspecting people and tarnishing the reputation of genuine media organizations.
How These Scams Work
These fraudulent websites use deceptive tactics to lure individuals into thinking they are affiliated with a reputable press organization. Here’s how they operate:
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Fake Publications & Credentials: These sites create and promote fake publications to give the illusion of legitimacy. They often promise press credentials, exclusive access to events, and membership benefits that they cannot deliver.
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Taking Your Money Without Delivering: Many victims report paying for memberships, press passes, or certifications, only to be met with long delays or receive nothing at all. In some cases, individuals wait weeks or months with no communication or response, while others never receive the products or services they were promised.
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Inflating Their Numbers: These companies are primarily interested in increasing the number of "members" they can list on their websites. By imitating the trusted US Press Association name, they attempt to gain credibility and lure more unsuspecting individuals to part with their money.
Red Flags to Watch For
It’s important to recognize the signs of a fraudulent operation. Here are key red flags:
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Lack of Transparency: Genuine organizations are transparent about their location and operations. These fraudulent sites operate out of Germany but often obscure their true identity or location.
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Unverifiable Claims: Check the legitimacy of any publications they claim to be associated with. Many of these websites create fake or untraceable publications to seem legitimate.
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Delayed or Nonexistent Deliveries: If you’ve paid for credentials or memberships and haven’t received them after a reasonable period, you may be dealing with a scam.
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Poor Customer Support: Scam sites often lack any form of customer service, or their support is slow and unresponsive.
Protect Yourself
If you’re looking to join a press association, it’s crucial to research thoroughly before making any payments. Here’s how you can stay safe:
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Verify the Website: Ensure you’re on the official US Press Association website by checking for legitimate contact information, reviews, and the site’s history.
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Contact Directly: Reach out to the US Press Association directly if you’re unsure. Legitimate organizations will be more than willing to verify their services.
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Look for Reviews: A trusted organization will have a wealth of genuine feedback and testimonials. Be cautious of any site with little to no credible reviews or a lack of verifiable history.
Final Thoughts
The US Press Association is a well-established organization dedicated to supporting independent journalists, photographers, and media professionals. Unfortunately, fraudulent websites have emerged, using the same acronym to deceive individuals and steal money. By staying vigilant and researching before making any commitments, you can avoid falling victim to these scams and ensure you’re dealing with the authentic US Press Association.
If you believe you’ve been scammed or encountered a fraudulent site, report it immediately to prevent others from falling into the same trap.
Since our inception there have been many websites attempting to pass themselves off as the US Press Association.
The facade that is put up by some of these websites is very elaborate. There are interconnected webs of "press agencies" offering to sell you a "press pass" or some other bogus card.
Fact is, these people have no idea what they are doing. Sure, they have convinced enough people to buy their product and if you go to their site you'll see some members. These numbers pale in comparison to the vast member base that has chosen to trust us, the US Press Association. These sites and their operators desperately want to know how we operate.
Why do they want to know? The answer is simple. We have been dedicated to serving and assisting freelance and professional journalists and others involved in media for close to two decades now. These pop-up websites have been around for weeks, some have managed to deceive their way into a few years of operation.
We need to take a stance against this type of deceptive practice!
This surge in underground "press agencies" is creating a lasting mark on the integrity of freelance and even professional media organizations.
Many of these websites are really just one big interconnected web owned and controlled by a few people.
They create a business structure and set up a registered agent office in a state like Nevada, meanwhile they are nowhere to be found within the United States, instead they reside elsewhere in countries like Germany, Russia and several others. Of course, being a resident of these other countries is not an issue, the issue lies within the deceptive web in which they cast to catch unsuspecting individuals.
Another tactic that these sites use is keyword stuffing. They will load there site up using keywords used by credible sites in an effort to get their site to rank for a particular search. These keywords range from basic phrases that do pertain to a press pass all the way to the star telegram press pass which is actually an old website with information on a subscriber savings card. There are no lengths these scammers won't go to to separate people from their money!
You Decide
Freelance Credential - Insight & Info
We came across this blog and decided to link to it from here. We hope it serves it's readers well.
Excerpt from blog at blogger.com
One of the most frustrating things we experience as a freelancer whether it be as a writer, photographer, editor or other is limited access or lack of perceived credibility. Obviously our portfolios and bodies of works can speak for themselves and address some of these issues. Still, some people want to see some kind of ID or credential before allowing us into their venues or events.
Yes, there was a time when this was the most frustrating part of being a freelancer. Well, guess what??? That is no longer the most frustrating aspect, especially if you are just starting out. Now in addition to addressing this need, relative newcomers are faced with so many search results claiming to offer a solution for you.
We had a chance to catch up with one of the "members" of a so called press agency. We found her at a place called depositphotos.com, an online resource for various stock photography. She had very little time for us as she is a very busy person given that she is a (student, model, computer technician, receptionist, doctor, yoga instructor, photographer, reporter, customer service rep), just to name a few things. We have some images below that are linked to the website where you too can purchase images of this very busy woman.
Here is a link to a page full of models holding up blank cards - https://www.shutterstock.com/search/similar/104385785
And More photos of the same model posing for other tasks, trades, jobs - https://www.shutterstock.com/search/models/12530077?context_photo=104385785
We won't lure, lie or cheat to obtain members. Our members are here because they made a solid and informed decision about the organization they wished to become part of. Please stand with us and you can rest assured that we will always have the best interest of our members in mind.
Stand with us. Become a member today.
To find out even more about how the US Press Association actually helps it's members, have a look at the FAQ's
