FRSA’s Tips on Avoiding Event Scammers

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

Scammers are an industry-wide problem and often target trade shows exhibitors and attendees.  

Scammers are a worldwide problem and utilize several strategies to gain trust and steal money or personal information. Unfortunately, they are not going away any time soon. Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA)’s Annual Convention and the Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Expo is set to take place this Summer, from July 21-23, 2021 and FRSA is expecting scammers to make their attempts at exhibitor companies and attendees once again. Continue reading to learn how to spot a scammer and avoid losing any money or personal information.   

Scammers will often pose as an established or even well-known business to try and gain your trust. FRSA event scammers will use the FRSA logo in emails or claim to work for FRSA or the Gaylord Palms over the phone. These scammers may also have a fake verification procedure in place, where they ask you to fill out personal information on an unsafe website.   

Many FRSA event attendees and company exhibitors have been contacted by these scammers, who claim to be associated with FRSA. They usually claim a room block is filling up at the event’s host hotel, urging you to book your room now before it’s too late. This is a common scammer strategy designed to create a sense of urgency and lead people to make rash decisions.  

FRSA’s 2021 room block with the Gaylord Palms Resort has at this point not been opened. The block will be opened later this spring when FRSA sends the exhibitor kit to exhibitors who have paid in full for their booth space. Only then should you book your rooms directly with the Gaylord Palms Resort with the hotel link and password that will be included in your exhibitor kit.  

FRSA never solicits to their exhibitors and neither do their host hotels. FRSA has found the best way to deal with a scammer calling about room blocks is to tell them you have already booked your room.  

Additionally, the FRSA has come into awareness that many scammer companies are offering to sell either the 2020 or 2021 FRSA Expo attendee list. These are fraudulent claims made by scammer companies that do not have any FRSA data. FRSA does not sell exhibitor information or attendee information to anyone for any reason.  

Learn more about FRSA in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.flordiaroof.com.