Accommodation scam alert for New Phytologist Symposia attendees

The New Phytologist Trust has learned that a third-party company, Exhibitor Housing Services (EHS), is targeting New Phytologist Symposium speakers and attendees with a fraudulent travel and hotel booking scheme. The company is calling and / or emailing symposium speakers and attendees, falsely claiming it is the 'official' housing bureau and / or authorised by New Phytologist to book hotel and / or travel accommodation for the symposium. The New Phytologist Trust is not affiliated in any way with EHS. All accommodation bookings for New Phytologist Symposia should be made through the New Phytologist Trust website or directly with a member of the Central Office team.

 

Other organisations have reported this apparent scam, which appears to target conferences. Attendees of other conferences have reported the person calling:

  • Claims that the hotel rate has dropped and they would like to adjust the cost.
  • Claims that rooms are running out and must be booked as soon as possible.
  • Claims that rooms are sold out and that they can help find you alternative hotels.
  • Claims they can get you a better room rate than the conference organisers.

 

Please be aware that this is a SCAM designed to obtain your credit card information and / or make charges to your credit card. Please exercise extreme caution when contacted by EHS. The EHS representatives are often extremely pushy. We recommend that you do NOT give this company your credit card number, personal information, or any details about your hotel reservation. We have heard that speakers and attendees that have given EHS their credit card information have incurred substantial credit card charges (cancellation fees, service fees, etc).

 

If you receive a phone call from a company offering a hotel and travel booking service or EHS, or an e-mail sent from @ehshousing.com, please forward the information to np-symposia@lancaster.ac.uk.