The growing green movement has been a target for crooks and fraudsters for some time.
Now we have reports that online fraudsters now have climate scientists in their sights. They are sending them invitations to fake conferences, often at fictional five-star London hotels.
They are sending scientists emails directing them to fake conference websites.
The BBC reports: "Typically they are told their travel costs will be refunded – but they have to pay first 'to reserve a hotel room'. The 'phishing' scammers appear to be after information such as e-mail addresses, as well as money. One currently live website advertises a conference in February, run by the "Global Warming Volunteer Group" and claiming to "focus on the risks and opportunities posed to society by global warming and… promote the exchange of ideas and learning across the Globe". The venue is given as the Crown London Hotel – whose address is the same as the real-life Crowne Plaza, just round the corner from Buckingham Palace."
Earlier during the week, I did a blog entry on how organized crime was targeting the carbon market.
If nothing else, it tells us that the green sector is vulnerable to crooks. This needs to be watched carefully.
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