Shawn Olson Creative Arts 142 18 http://www.shawnolson.net http://www.shawnolson.net/sitemedia/shawnolsoncreativearts.gif http://www.shawnolson.net/guest/1/?refType=article&refId=1142 Guestbook Posts http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Great article on this topic: What's What with the Who's Who? Who would be so foolish as to pay for inclusion in a Who's Who book that no one reads? http://www.csoonline.com/article/498903/What_s_What_with_the_Who_s_Who_ Terrance Wheatley 2009-11-15T09:03:28-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Yes, all of these whos who sites are run by scammers. good article that shows what they do and how they accept everyone. http://www.csoonline.com/article/498903/What_s_What_with_the_Who_s_Who_ Tina Barton 2009-08-05T14:59:24-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Thanks for the article. I've been getting voice messages on my personal cell phone from these people as well on my work cell phone. The telemarketer leaves this "urgent" message for me to return their call ASAP so they can congratulate and "interview" me. Sounds like I need to update my "no call" request! Beth Pauly 2009-07-15T16:24:33-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Shawn, thank you for posting. I received a letter in the mail too. I thought it was just another listing of professionals, typically like the ones they run in the legal profession, so you can get in contact with other lawyers or to get business from potential clients. What a crock. Legally they should put on the letter that there is a cost of membership. erica lynn 2009-07-10T08:35:53-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Thank you for drawing my attention to this. Whilst I will not personally be joining their registry, I do take my hat off to them! They seem to be charging you money to get your name on a mailing list! Why can't I think of ideas like that. Simon McEwen 2009-06-10T04:28:39-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 I was also taken in by their flattery, sales technique and false claims. Similar to so many other complaints I also realized the stupidity of my ways very quickly and demanded a refund the very next day. I was contacted by their complaint resolution manager and we started on a 3 week circus involving email exchanges, voice mail messages and then listening in to a recording of my call where the words "all sales are final" (which was quickly spoken and even on a 2nd listen barely audible), was interpreted by CWW as NO REFUNDS. After a lot of hassling they agreed to a refund minus $100 for "costs already incurred". They then sent me a letter to sign that included this text...........:As discussed, this is a letter acknowledging the resolution reached today. Please sign it at the bottom and return it immediately. Upon receipt of your signed letter, absent of editorial adjustments and/or comments, your credit in the amount of $500.00 will be processed and posted to your account within 10-12 business days. This will close your membership. This offer is valid only if returned to our establishment no later than . I refused as it was not a full refund. After a few more less polite emails, voice mail, and phone calls they agreed to a full refund. I will say one thin in support of CWW, the lady that I was dealing with was always pleasant and DID return my emails and phone calls. I was a little surprised at this. Anyway, my advice is to have NOTHING to do with them. It is probably NOT a scam in the true sense of the word, but really has NO value and anyone that signs up and is happy with it is NOT worth networking with. IF you do get caught as I did, be unrelenting in your requests for a refund. EMail via their website EVERY night, leave voice mails EVERY day and do NOT accept NO for an answer. They have NO right to keep your money. Their call recording is for Quality Assurance purposes and NOT a legally binding contract, they are not even allowed to present it as such. Simon Lowe 2009-05-23T17:43:25-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 OH My!!! Thank God for guiding me to read this and Google, right before i was going to start filling out the process online. I have been scam with other company's on line, but this one is a very wicked way to steel ppl money. How in heck would u have the nerve to go out to middle class ppl and lie in their face to go after their money?? not only that, but in this moments of difficult economical crisis?? What are these company's thinking?? Thank you,Thank You,Thank You, for posting this. I wonder how they get my address and mail me this letter. I'm pretty sure they access this when ever i do purchases online..RRRRRR I hate scamers!! Sandy Feliciano 2009-05-15T11:33:59-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Unbelievable! I received an email at work from Madison Who's Who requesting further information to be included in the registry. I proudly completed the form and felt good looking it over and thinking about my accomplishments. I thought to myself, "indeed I am worthy of this honor." Today, I get a phone call from Madison Who's Who. After a series of questions, the gentlemen stated, "I am authorized to recommend you to be included in the Madison Who's Who registry." I was going to receive a welcome package inclusive of two airline tickets, user name and password for accessing directory, webpage and a wall plate. All this could have been mine for just $899.00, not bad for a lifetime membership, is it? Well, I said, no don't have it, tight market. He then said, "tell you what, I can hear your hesitant, but really want to be included in this once in a lifetime offer, how about...for two $189.00 payments. I stalled and stalled, finally he went all the way down to $19.95 for a 30 day trial offer just to take a look and see for myself before I buy. I said, let me think it over and get back to you, he said he'll call me around the same time on Monday. I can't wait...what a crock of mess!!! Thanks for your information, if we all take time out to research things that doesn't seem right, we would save a lot of money. Alisa Bigstaff 2009-03-20T16:38:44-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 I got an e-mail from Continental Who's Who today and decided to research before entering info in there online "database of professionals"... and I found this, and I would like to say thank you. I was nominated for Who's Who in high school, via a teacher, and I had to check with her that it was real. So I thought maybe they had gotten somthing from there, but then realized that it was sent to my work e-mail, which they had no way of knowing. Kudos for not taking this down despite the threat of legal action! Ali G. 2009-02-24T08:05:03-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 thanks! i was on the phone with this scam, i started to suspect things when she started to talk about the prices, im thinking wtf?! i thought i was being honored, i have never paid to be honored...(visversa they pay me for being great)well anyways thanks if i wasnt for me having a computer next to me and this site i wouldnt of known. when she was on the phone i googled, whos who and the search engine brought up diffrent things along with "scam" quickly i pulled that up....anyways THANKS A LOT marta deleon 2009-02-17T10:15:36-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 I got a letter today from Cambridge Who's Who.. I found it odd since I'm a stay at home mom and still in college. So I googled, found this and want to THANK YOU! Chelle Barnes 2009-02-12T16:41:35-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Thanks for publishing this. I got a letter from Biltmore Who's Who today. Honoring me for being a "who's who among executives and professional women". Last I checked there are some physical requirements, which I don't meet, to be a woman. Professional or otherwise. It's bad enough that they misspelled my name. Not really a big deal, happens all the time. But jeez... If only my "undercarriage" could've gone so unnoticed all those times I had to go to the blackboard in math class. Jesse H 2008-12-18T04:24:15-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 I applaud you for taking a stand. It is impossible to tell how many people you are saving from distress. It isn't just the money; it fills a person with self-doubt and shame. So I want to thank you and wish you a warm holiday season. Von Lawrence 2008-12-17T18:31:00-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 I just received a letter from Cambridge Who's Who. It had me and my mother cracked up. I was to be part of the 'Professional and Executive Women' registry but the funny thing is... I've been unemployed for over a year, just recently started college, and before that I worked in a legit call center. There is nothing professional about me. Another thing I discovered about their letter, at the very bottom of the page it states 'Cambridge Who's Who is proudly not associated or affiliated with any other Who's Who Publication or Organization.' Yet, just for giggles, I submitted the application to discover if they would actually contact me. You're right, it is a scam *opinion*, if you've done something to deserve credit for, you shouldn't have to pay a penny. Amanda Dickey 2008-12-16T00:40:35-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Thanks for this article. I got the letter from Cambridge Who's Who and really wondered about it. I have not been in business long and I am independently contracted, so I don't advertise. How they got my info eluded me and I smelled a rat. It played on my ego at first, then I wasn't so sure. This and other similar searches confirmed it. I just didn't believe they wouldn't sell my info onto others. I was right. Good for you! Andrea Cousins 2008-12-01T16:32:52-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Shawn, I was contacted by Cambridge Who's Who and quickly registered on their website! I got the call yesterday from their rep (or should I say "rip" as in rip off). I did not buy into it and I didn't know how to get her off the phone, she was slick and pretty well trained to cope with any scenario. When I finally said "look I'm at lunch with some clients", she said "well don't you have a credit card?" If that wasn't a red flag, I don't know what is!! Then when I got to the office, there was an e-mail in my box following up with their BS!!! Thanks for letting me vent! Carmen Luna 2008-11-26T07:54:51-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Like many others, thanks for taking the time to address this. Just got a solicitation from "Cabridge Who's Who"--it sounded too flattering to be true, thought I'd do a quick Google. You're awesome! Cee Gee 2008-11-20T13:40:44-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Just had to add my appreciation even though your 'mailbox' is full of those. Just got my letter from Cambridge today. Being I am now retired all of 10 yrs., was not 'professional' or in business, I didn't see how I should be representing my community for them. My first thought was Poetry.com since I am presently receiving emails every other day asking permission to print my poem. I do not answer since I have donated enough money to them over the yrs. to satisfy my ego. I thank you again for sharing all the details of your experience. It made it so quick and easy for me to put my mind at rest. The sad part for all of us 'victims' is never knowing if our poetry really had any merit. Vivian Carlsson 2008-11-01T20:05:25-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 Thank you Shawn for being so honest and leaving this info on the web. I just got a letter from Cambridge Who's Who, and I was interested in checking it out further. I decided to do a quick check for a potential "Who's Who Scam" before I followed through, and I found your article. You kept me from wasting my time. Thanks again!! Renee Shuma 2008-10-03T21:29:08-05:00 http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1142 "PLLLRRRRR"....that's the sound of MY ego deflating! I was also bestowed with the 'honor' of being selected by the Continental Who's Who Registry of 'distinguished business professionals'---for a fee of seven hundred and forty nine dollars that would provide me the honor of being on their registry for LIFE, or a 5-year, and then a 3-year (both fully upgradeable of course) membership for a lower fee. Darn, I had my Biography ready to go... ;) Fabiola Del Muro 2008-10-02T17:13:45-05:00