Gullible Part II- the poetry.com scam

poetry.com contact you? Be afraid...be very afraid!

And this is the letter I received. Here I thought I was special and one of the best poets in the contest.







From the desk of Steve Michaels
ISP Convention Chairperson


Dear R-L,

We recently informed you that you and your poetic accomplishments could have been honored during the International Society of Poets Convention recently held at the legendary Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 19–22, 2007, even though you were unable to attend.

Please note that because so many of our selected poets took advantage of this opportunity, we have extended the time for you to elect to receive your 2007 awards and benefits of ISP membership. All that is necessary is for you to allow us to present one of your poems at our next convention and for you to elect to receive all of the awards and benefits of ISP membership that we have scheduled for you.

R-L, your poem will be presented at the next ISP Convention!
Receive Your Crystal Award (Over a $300 Value!)

Your awards, which will be shipped to you at this time, include your custom engraved lead crystal Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Award, your bronze Commemorative Award Medallion, your ISP decal, and your Full One Year Membership into the International Society of Poets for 2007-2008, and a subscription to its magazine, Poetry Today.

Your poem will be presented at the largest and most prestigious gathering of poets in history and it’s so very important for us and your fellow poets to hear your poem read with the same passion and emotion which you intended when you wrote it. This is why we have arranged for a professional poetry reader to present your poem, allowing your poetry to receive the exposure and recognition you deserve. All you need to do to have your work presented is submit your poem quickly. Just imagine . . . all of the attending guests at the upcoming International Society of Poets Annual Convention will hear your poetry read.

Now, let me tell you a little about the awards and special items you will receive once you confirm your participation by sending us your poem:

* Your Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Award is a magnificent work of art in itself ($300.00 value), made from imported lead crystal. It is hand-engraved and mounted on a solid marble base. This will be the first time ever that we have bestowed these crystal awards. This impressive award features a finely crafted hand holding a blue crystal globe, symbolizing the Society's mission to spread poetry around the world. It is so valuable that we have designed a special carrying case just for this award.
* Your Bronze Commemorative Award Medallion ($40.00) is a forged bronze medal with intricate detail that’s brilliantly displayed on a colorful nylon ribbon.
* Full one year membership in the International Society of Poets for 2007-2008 ($60.00 value) entitles you to a personalized membership card, an embroidered ISP patch, an ISP window decal, a one year subscription to Poetry Today magazine, and entry into exclusive poetry contests for members only.

R-L, all that’s required for us to immediately send you all of these awards is for you to send us your poem that will be formally presented at the upcoming convention. Your convention poem can be written on any subject, in any style, and can be up to 40 lines in length. Additionally, we must ask you to send a nominal fee ($169.00 plus shipping and handling) to cover the expenses we incur presenting your poetry, and to cover the costs to insure and ship all of these extremely bulky and heavy awards to you. For this small fee you will receive over $400.00 worth of ISP membership materials, including your lead crystal Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Award!

Receive over $500 in Awards and Membership Benefits!

R-L, my purpose for making you this offer is to recognize your poetic accomplishments. I also hope that you will see for yourself what an amazing organization we are. I sincerely look forward to meeting you in person and having you read your artistry in front of thousands of fellow poets who attend this live awards event every year. Unfortunately that’s not the case this year, so we are trying to do the next best thing. I'd like to offer you one more special gift when you send in your poem and confirmation form, because I would really like to see you in person. I will send you a coupon for $100.00 off a future convention. That brings the total value for this offer to over $500.00! We are making a tremendous effort to include your poetry at the next convention, and we hope that you will return you confirmation form and poem as soon as possible.

Go here to submit your poem.

Sincerely,

Steve Michaels
Convention Chairperson
International Society of Poets

P.S. Your lead crystal Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Award, bronze Commemorative Award Medallion, embroidered ISP patch, and ISP window decal will be shipped to you by Federal Express Ground service. Your subscription to the award-winning Poetry Today magazine will arrive separately. All of these items are accompanied by a 100% money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied for any reason simply return them within 60 days for a full refund, no questions asked.



And, as a follow up, I received this offer.

A personal note from the desk of:
Howard Ely, Managing Editor


Dear R-L Roepke,

Just as many attendees of the recent International Society of Poets Convention, held last month in Las Vegas, had the opportunity to meet and learn from some of the today's leading poets and educators, I wanted to offer you a similar opportunity now, even though the convention is over.

Not long ago you sent us a submission for entry into the International Open Amateur Poetry Contest and your poem, Springtime Rose, qualified as a semi-finalist. Since many well-known artists have shown an overwhelming interest in having their poem critiqued by a professional poetry editor, we have assembled a professional Editorial staff whose qualifications and experience in the field of poetry is unparalleled. Our Editorial staff consists of well-respected poetry professors with Ph.D.s in literature from leading universities and award-winning authors.

All great poetic works have been written and rewritten many times before they were deemed finished by their author, and all writers need editorial assistance from time to time. That's why we have assembled an excellent staff so we can provide this service to you. Remember, this is your creative artistry, and our professionals are only here to help you become a better writer and to assist you in creating your very own poetic masterpiece!

Take advantage of this limited time opportunity to have
your poetry reviewed by professional poets!

You may submit any poem that you have written for this personal poetry review from our professional Editorial staff. Please type your poem in the form provided and proofread it before you submit it. Since we are only accepting a limited number of poems, we must charge a nominal fee to cover the cost and fees associated with having a professional editor critique your poem. Just think, you will have your own one-on-one critique from a qualified editor who is well-versed in the literature and writings of great poets.

Within a few weeks of submitting your work, you will receive your poem printed on fine, ivory linen paper with handwritten notations and a certificate showing that it has been reviewed by our knowledgeable Editorial staff. You will also receive a full-page critique of your artistry in a beautiful presentation folder for you to keep as a valuable reference for future writing. Also, at no additional cost, we will provide supplementary information to help improve your poetic craft.

And there's one more thing that is included in this limited-time, exclusive offer . . . a special gift! You will receive The International Library of Poetry Pen. This fine writing instrument has been elegantly crafted using heavy metal casings, with gold accents and a polished black lacquered barrel. The official logo of The International Library of Poetry is carefully etched on the cap. And, in addition to its exquisite design, the pen contains refillable black ink. This piece has a retail value of over $35.00, and it can be yours for free if you proceed with this offer to receive a review of your poetry.

R-L, your poetry is important to us and we know it's important to you also, so we are offering you feedback on your poetic writing from the most educated and experienced poetry editors available today. We are very excited to offer you this rare opportunity, and we are anxiously waiting to read what happens when you combine your talent with their expertise. The results will be phenomenal.

Sincerely,


Howard Ely
Managing Editor

P.S. Our professional Editorial staff has a limited amount of time to devote to this very special opportunity, and we are only honoring this offer to those poets who act quickly. Please submit your poem now to receive the professional critique, including a review certification, the beautiful presentation folder with information to help you improve your poetry, and the free limited-time offer of The International Library of Poetry Pen.

Go here to submit your poem for personal review by our professional Editorial staff.

(Of course, they do not mention that it costs $79.95 please pay by credit card.)

And, the The International Library of Poetry is part of poetry.com. I also received an offer to join their website. I get five days free. It did not tell me how much I would have to pay after that.

So, beware of poetry contests. I am not saying do not enter them; just be aware that there are scammers out there. You should never have to pay to win a contest.