INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF POETS rip-off! WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE TO PAY TO BE A WINNER? OWINGS MILL Maryland

I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF POETS DECLARING THAT MY POEM WAS EXCELLENT. THEY SAID THAT OUT OF THOUSANDS OF ENTRIES I WAS RANKED A SEMI-FINALIST AND ALSO I WAS INVITED TO ATTEND THE POET SYMPOSIUM IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. THEN A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THEY MAILED AN URGENT LETTER SAYING I'M SORRY YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE SEMINAR BUT YOU ARE AN HONORED GUEST TO BE AWARDED, SO IF YOU WILL SEND US A WRITTEN POEM (UP TO 40 LINES) WE WILL BE HAPPY TO HAVE ONE OF PROFESSIONAL POETS TO RECITE YOUR POETRY BUT I HAVE TO PAY THEM FOR THIS SERVICE. SINCE I WON'T BE THERE SEND THEM $169.00 TO SHIP MY SILVER PRIZE AWARD AND OTHER BONUS PRIZE AWARDS THAT I HAVE WON.

I NEVER TOLD THEM I WAS NOT COMING NOR DID THEY
SEND ME ANY INFORMATION ON THE SEMINARS REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE TO PAY TO BE A WINNER? WHY SHOULD I SEND THEM ANOTHER POEM? USE THE POEM THAT IS TO BE AWARDED RIGHT? I DON'T KNOW, I DO KNOW THEY WON'T RECEIVE NAY MONEY FROM ME... BE CAREFUL WITH THIS COMPANY, BUT DON'T LOSE HOPE I BELIEVE IN DESTINY!

Cherise
ELIZABETH, New Jersey
U.S.A.