Blueprint for a Fraudulent Organization - Yoni Dvorkis's Blog

<p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><i>Dear &nbsp;,</i></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I am delighted to inform you that your poem "" has been awarded our prestigious <u><b>Editor's Choice Award</b></u> because it displays an original perspective and unique creativity -- judged to be the qualities found most in exceptional poetry. Congratulations on your achievement!</font></p> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="550" height="350"> <tbody><tr> <td background="http://poetry.com/poetrybuy/images/AwardPlaqueLayout.gif"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="77%"> <tbody><tr> <td height="100"><div align="center"> <p><font size="4" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><i><font color="#3154a4" size="5" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp; </font><font color="#333333"><br> <font size="5">2008 </font></font></i></font></p> </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="88">&nbsp;</td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Your poem is also featured in a deluxe hardbound edition. This anthology, as expected, will soon be sold out. We have, however, reserved a limited number of copies that are now available only to poets included in this distinctive volume. Because you are one of these poets, we wanted to remind you of its limited availability. <a href="http://www.poetry.com/poetrybuy/quickorderformsecond.asp?OBN=999&amp;PN=1&amp;ID=P9169380&amp;SC=J438">If you haven't already ordered a copy or wish to obtain additional copies, this is your last opportunity to do so.</a> Don't miss out on owning this unique edition featuring your poem!</font></p><p>- I copied this directly from their email. Note the lack of poet name and/or title of work. This suggests a machine automatically distributes this to anyone on an email list.<br></p>

James Marshall Goff Date: 3/22/2009 3:30:00 PM hey gang! I got a faux-copper medallion! I can't remember why! but couldn't even use it to pay for a postage stamp! very funny, Jim Login to Reply

Katherine Stella Date: 3/22/2009 9:12:00 AM LOL this site is a scam from word go I too did win a few in my time even got nominated poet of year I use these paper to line kitty box lol and there award for haiku is a nice mousepad to collect dust and droppings and dont forget about poetry in motion they send ya a 100 gift certificate to buy back your own works lol totaly a scam never did hear my poetry sound of music yet either thanks for the chuckle on this one Login to Reply

Lena Townsend Date: 2/28/2009 10:02:00 PM I bought my book, and yes it was featured. It was the only poem I put on their site. I still receive invites to the big bash and offers saying I was picked to be featured on some CD's with a professional reading my poem to music or something. It is quite a scam. I love the reality of PoetrySoup. Here we can make friends and learn from the best. The contests on here are real and challenging and if one wins they know they have truly accomplished something, not just bought their way in. Thank you for sharing this because so many people are suckered into spending the money on the hope that it is real. Smiles from Lolita Login to Reply

Constance La France Date: 2/28/2009 4:04:00 PM I also have a few of those so called awards , even once took up the offer to be featured on one of their so called poetry books, but of course, there was a payment involved, did it, but never got my copy of the book, after about a year of correstpondence, got a pathetic replica of what the book was suppose to be, with my poem full of typos.. yep .. a big fat rat.. and guess what, my poem was on the opening feature too, just as Vince said.... stroke the ego, why not.. I preferr, the wonderful comments, from like- minded poets, I get on poetry soup... and the opportunity to participate in the contests.. .. Spirit and Soul, Constance Login to Reply

Danielle White Date: 2/27/2009 3:50:00 AM I smelled a rat from the get-go. Did you know "Who's Who" does the same thing? God, I love POETRY SOUP for being real! *****Danielle***** Login to Reply

Vince Suzadail Jr. Date: 2/26/2009 6:43:00 PM I have a few of them. I actually bought the books a couple of times until twice in a row my poem was the opening feature, so I figured whoever bought the book, their poem was the opening feature. Don't forget the invitation to their big bash for only about $600.00. A racket feeding on egos. I just got a notice one of my poems won the editor's choice award and I didn't enter one, so they must have taken an old one. Of course the title wasn't in the notice. Great iformative blog. Vince Login to Reply

Debbie Guzzi Date: 2/26/2009 5:43:00 PM Me too and I got my book! Actually was a nice hard covered book! However, they really are just selling us books LOL. Light & Love Debbie Login to Reply

Orma Sullivan Date: 2/26/2009 3:25:00 PM I received a similar announcement from them. Poetry.com goes by several other names. There are many scam-sights. The TV show 20/20 had 2nd graders send in their poems to Poetry.com. Every child received a letter that said they were poet of the year. There is a website which lists many of the fraudulent writing-scam-websites. All best, Orma Login to Reply

Carrie Richards Date: 2/26/2009 12:47:00 PM I too, received one of these "awards", when I submitted a poem a couple of years ago. It was my tip off that this wasn't the website I wanted to be a part of. It came almost immediately after my first submission...a bit suspcious, wouldn't you say?? (I KNEW...it wasn't THAT good!) just another way to scam people ~ Carrie Login to Reply