检查可疑活动真实性的十个简单步骤

为了持续的保护TakingITGlobal会员的网上安全，针对因特网上虚假活动日益增多的情况，编写了本指南。有时候，一些人会通过TIG IM或者电子邮件联系会员，自称为TIG工作人员或者会员。请记住，所有由TakingITGlobal组织的活动都会公布在活动日历上，并注明是由TakingITGlobal主办。

本指南适用于大型国内和国际活动。其中一些步骤如步骤四等可能不适用于小型地区活动。

1. 无详细联系信息
The host organization should always have their full mailing address (NO PO Box) and telephone number provided.

2. 错误的地址或电话信息
Sometimes, a fake event will provide false address information. Check this quickly using Google Maps to see if the address exists. Also check for the correct address format. For example, all postal codes in Canada follow this format: M5R 2H3 letter and number alternating. All US zip codes are 5 numbers, with no letters - such as 90210, or a longer format displayed with four digits at the end - such as 90210-1504.

3. 无该网站或该网站质量太差
Most often, suspicious events will not have their own website. If they do, they are often of very poor quality. Any international event will have a well built website that is accessible at all times and has its own domain name such as www.wyc2008.qc.ca. Fake events may also use free hosting services that could make their website address appear as follows http://international-event.geocities.com or www.geocities.com/international-event.

4. 免费提供的电子邮件地址
可疑的活动经常要求参加者们发送邮件以获得更多的活动信息，但他们提供的邮箱却属于Yahoo!或Hotmail等免费电邮供应商。如果是规模较大的会议或国际性会议，工作人员是不太可能使用这样的免费邮箱的。

5. 虚假慈善机构或公司
虚假会议经常使用真实公司或者慈善机构的名字以使他们看起来合法。对于加拿大，英国和美国等国家的机构，可以在政府的慈善机构搜索引擎上查询它们的真实地址和联系信息。

加拿大，点击这里.

美国，点击这里.

英国，点击这里.

6. 被直接联系
If you were contacted to be involved in a conference when there is no clear reason as to why you were emailed, you should treat the event as suspicious.

7. 如果活动包括免费旅行，住宿和津贴
If free travel or accommodation is offered, especially to all delegates, the event is almost certainly fraudulent. These programs (if available) are always limited in supply, and always include a formal application process.

8. If the event email or website asks for money or personal information
If contacted directly and the email asks you for money or personal information such as passport numbers right away without you asking to participate, the event is usually fraudlent. Be especially wary when you had not previously indicated interest to participate.

9. Real events will never request a processing fee or visa fee
如果有人联系你并要求你交纳申请费或者签证费用，那么这个活动应被认为是可疑的。签证相关的大部分费用应由参加者自己支付，或者直接支付给当地的大使馆或领事馆，或者在你到达活动举办地后支付给当地入境单位。大部分正规活动是不需要申请费的。

10. A final check!
As a last resort, call the organizers or email them and ask specific information about the event. You should be confident at this point that the event is real.

目前，一种常见的欺诈行为是组织者声称他们的活动将在两个不同的国家举行。大部分活动不太可能在两个不同城市举行的，尤其是相邻的两个城市。此外，过去曾经举行过的活动比那些“第一次年会”更加可信。

As a last resort, please contact us! We are more than happy to assist you if you are not confident about an event after going through this list.