Circle Of Photographers AKA Circle Of Poets ripoff, internet scam, hoax, scam, Internet

On 31st January 2005 I recieved notification of one of my photographs being selected for publication. I did enter this photo on their website so I naturally assumed it was all legitimate and, when I received this e-mail below, I was estatic! I had never sent off AUD $102.02 using my only credit card that only had a $200 limit. I thought that this manuscript they stated this particular photo of my pet dogs would be in would be a wonderful memory to treasure, as my eldest dog is nearing 15 years in humans age, I wanted something for keepsake to hand down to my daughter and then onto her children etc..

Then came 21st February and my manuscript still hadn't arrived I sent a e-mail to their help e-mail address to ask why the hold up? They replied the books will be shipped out March due to We incurring some delays because of their contractor.

I waited patiently and as it is now 23rd March and still no manuscript, I question the integrity of these people, I sent numerous e-mails that constantly came back stating fatal errors thinking it was just perhaps cyberspace conjestion I would resend the same e-mail days later to discover the same exact reply..
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Hi. This is the qmail-send program at globat.com.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

:
Mail quota exceeded.
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I very much believe that I have been duped into a scam.. maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right, you be the judge.. but having my money in their hands I expect to receive the manuscript for which it was intended.. which is rightfully mine..

However, I want to report them on my gut instinct being..
I have lost $102.02 AUD and will never see the manuscript, a hard expensive lesson has surely been learnt here..

Below is the copy of the original e-mail they sent stating of my photo being lucky to be selected and the link to the manuscript offer..:
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Circle of Photographers;
Dear Karen,
We have chosen to publish your photograph in the 2005 edition of Photography vibes. Your photograph was part of a high number of entries. Our editors recognize its technical qualities. It is with great pleasure that we would like to inform you that your photograph:
A picture tells a thousand words, so does Sammy Sam ;)
has been selected to get published.

Though we do not offer royalties, your copy rights are fully respected.
You are also considered as part of finalists for our grand prize of $5000.

Please note that only members who order the 2005 manuscript qualify for the $5000 grand prize (this is required to fund the prize, to craft and print the manuscripts and to support our team - thank you for your understanding) and receive an invitation for the global photography conference.

Once you order, we will contact you soon with more details on that global conference (with photography experts and all 2005 contest winners working on technical/improvisation workshops).

Our editors select photographs on the basis of technical quality, composition, flow, texture and light. With respect to your photograph "A picture tells a thousand words, so does Sammy Sam ;)", our team of editors has particularly appreciated the assymetric composition and light mix used throughout.

All Circle of Photographers members can now view your photograph in our new manuscript and we will also present it to other publishers and photography organizations. We will ask for your authorization in the event your photograph is also selected by another publisher.

Our own manuscript is made of high quality, bounded paper. The manuscript contains professional illustrations. It makes a terrific coffee table book and a great gift to friends and family!
Should you want to receive a copy (copies) before reserves run out, please click on the "buy now" image button below.

Note: If you are Hotmail users, or you can not make payment to us by using the "BUY NOW" button at the left, please copy the following url and paste it in the address bar of your browser:
http://www.circleofphotographers.com/payment/payPhotoContest.php?ContestPhotoID=5082

For help, support, and enquiry, please feel free to contact us at help@circleofphotographers.com


Note: If you don't want to receive any further news from us, please click here to opt out. Or just send an email to cancel@circleofphotographers.com.

The manuscript "Photo Vibes" is priced at $59 to provide for the high costs of editing, printing and for the high quality book.
Please note that due to high demand and limited supplies, manuscripts are available on a first come, first served basis.

The Circle of Photographers team.
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Kaz
Rydalmere NSW
Australia