Beware Of FAKE AWARDS - Quality/Excellence

Posted by Victoria Strauss for Writer Beware

Here’s a story that, for sheer weight of irony, I wish like anything I’d been the one to break. But author and publisher Michael N. Marcusbeat me to it, in a recent post on his Book Making blog.

Everyone loves an award, right? Awards acknowledge excellence and achievement, raise the profile of the awardee, and garner the respect of peers (that’s the theory, anyway). There are plenty of big prestigious awards whose names everyone recognizes, and lots of small, semi-prestigious awards that may be recognizable only within a particular niche or audience, and vast numbers of tiny, all-but-invisible awards that may make you feel good, but will provoke stares of incomprehension if you mention them to someone else.

There are also–you guessed it–vanity awards, where the goal isn’t to recognize excellence, but to entice entrants or winners to hand over cash to the awards sponsors.

For instance, the awards given by the Small Business Commerce Association, which honor “businesses that we believe have achieved exceptional success in their local community.” Sounds cool, right? Wrong. Like the infamous, and now-defunct, Poetry.com scheme, the aim of the SBCA awards is to identify thousands of “winners,” and persuade them to buy stuff: in this case, plaques and trophies. In its own form of award, the BBB gives the SBCA a C-, based on the questions it has received about the business, and the company’s failure to respond.

You’d think it would be transparently obvious that an awards program that makes you buy your own trophy is not legit. And many people are wise to this kind of ploy–if you Google the SBCA, you’ll find much angry, bemused, and amused discussion. But these schemes wouldn’t exist if they didn’t work at least some of the time. The same websearch turns up plenty of happy suckers.

Including, as it happens, Outskirts Press–a self-publishing service/vanity publisher whose put-your-book-cover-on-a-stamp “promotional” service I made fun of a few months back. A sharp-eyed Michael Marcus–who is familiar with the SBCA, having been solicited for one of its fake awards himself–recently spotted a December press release from press-release-happy Outskirts, touting its receipt of a 2009 Best of Business Award from the SBCA. I couldn’t put it better than Mr. Marcus does:

The number of news media that published the Outskirts press release is ONE.

Oops! I’m sorry, folks, but the number should probably be ZERO.

That alleged news medium that published the press release, called Self Publishing News, is actually a blog produced by (drum roll please) Outskirts Press.

So, we have a vanity publisher, using its own vanity blog to publish a vanity press release bragging about a vanity trophy.

I couldn’t make this up.

No, indeed.

Even funnier: It seems this isn’t the first time Outskirts has been hornswoggled by a fake award. Last August, another press release announced Outskirts’ receipt of the 2009 Best of Parker Award from the U.S. Commerce Association. The BBB has received questions about the U.S. Commerce Association similar to those they’ve been receiving about the SBCA, and it doesn’t seem unreasonable to assume that, like the endlessly proliferating Who’s Who schemes, these very similar “awards” are in fact run by the same people. Check out, for instance, the nearly identical descriptions of the awards programs on the two organizations’  websites. From theSBCA:

Each year, the SBCA identifies businesses that we believe have achieved exceptional success in their local community…Nominees are typically local businesses that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

And from the USCA:

Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

The USCA is currently being sued by a Las Vegas company for trademark infringement.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…

Scams in India

Pretending not to Know the Way to Your Hotel

1. Pretending not to Know the Way to Your Hotel

This scam is most often tried on visitors arriving at Delhi airport who attempt to take a pre-paid taxi their hotel. During the journey, the driver will say that he doesn’t know where your hotel is (or that it’s full, or doesn’t exist) and offer to take you to another hotel, or a travel agent who can find you a hotel.

Many people end up falling for this scam as they’re tired from their flight and overwhelmed by the onslaught of India for the first time. Make sure you insist on being taken to the hotel that you planned to stay in. In addition, in Delhi don’t give the pre-paid taxi voucher to the driver until he does so. The driver requires this voucher in order to receive his payment from the taxi office for the trip. 

2. Saying that the Place You're Looking for has Moved or is Closed

This is a common scam that you are likely to experience all over India, but most often around tourist destinations in major cities. In Delhi, travelers looking for the foreign tourist reservation office at the New Delhi railway station are often told that it's closed or has moved. They are then taken to a travel agent to make their booking.

Other variations of this scam will be encountered when you attempt to visit shops and tourist attractions that are apparently “closed”. In each case, an offer will be forthcoming to take you to an alternative and sometimes even “better” place. You should ignore these people and continue to proceed to wherever you wanted to go. 

3. Importing Gemstones Duty Free

This scam is widespread in Jaipur and also Agra, where many people come to buy gemstones. It involves tourists being approached by a gem dealer, who convinces them to buy some gemstones for him, import them under their duty free allowance, then sell them on to one of his willing partners in the their home country for much more money than they originally paid.

Of course the details that you'll be given about the "partner" are fictitious and you'll be stuck with a lot of worthless gems. Definitely avoid anyone who approaches you with an offer like this or any similar scenario. Sometimes you won't be asked to buy the gems, but instead to provide a "financial guarantee" of your credit card number and signature.

 

4. Making the Meter Run Fast

Many taxi drivers and auto rickshaw drivers are honest, but some have meters that they’ve altered to run fast so that they can claim a higher fare. It pays to watch the meter to ensure that it’s ticking over at a consistent pace, and not too quickly. Another variation to this scam is the taxi driver saying that the meter is broken, and then quoting an inflated fee to your destination. Here's a non confrontational way of dealing with ripoff taxi drivers who try this scam.

5. Offering a Reduced Taxi Fare in Return for Visiting Emporiums

While this isn’t a scam as such, it can still be quite a bother. Taxi drivers will often offer a reduced fare if visitors agree to stop off at a few expensive handicraft emporiums on the way, so that they can get commissions. No purchases are necessary, only looking. The catch is when the number of emporiums to be visited increases from “a few” to at least 5 or 6, so that the driver can maximize his commissions.

The sales people in the emporiums don’t let potential customers get away easily, so such an exercise can end up taking hours. If you want to reach your destination promptly or don’t want to be caught up in what will feel like endless browsing, it’s best to give this offer a miss and pay the full taxi fare.

Sai Infosystem Fraud | SIS Fraud

SBI issues notice after Sai Info Systems CMD goes 'missing'

 

AHMEDABAD: State Bank of India has cautioned people here not to deal with Sai Info Systems' properties and securities mortgaged to the bank after the company's CMD went incommunicado.
SBI, which heads a consortium of banks lending to SIS, has published a public notice in few dailies here, forewarning the people against dealing with any of the company assets or Main promoter and CMD of Sai Info Systems (SIS), Sunil Kakkad, is not contactable and is reported to be "missing", the SBI notice stated.
SBI has mentioned two companies' assets, which are mortgaged to a consortium, as security for various credit facilities granted.
These are Click Telecom Pvt Ltd (associate of SIS), with a registered office at Raheja Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai and Attrium Infocomm Pvt Ltd (subsidiary of SIS), with an office at Bodakdev, Ahmedabad.
As on March 31, 2013, Kakkad was a director in both these companies.
He went 'missing' in June this year, leaving hundreds of employees here without salaries, though SIS figured amongst the largest Gujarat-based infotech companies, and had launched India's first "see phone", a video telephony service, in a tie-up with BSNL.
Agitating company employees have posted on social media websites and given a call to meet in Ahmedabad on August 3 to decide their further course of action.

 

Sai Infosystem Fraud | Sai Infosystems Fraud | Sai Infosystem salary

Hello,

I am not giving my identity but i am an employee of a Company , /head office at Ahmedabad named "Sai InfoSystem (India) Ltd." (www.saicare.com)

I am working with this company since July,2012.

In this company the Salary structure is complicated. (75 % fix and 25 % variable monthly basis).
It has been told that variable would be monthly paid ,since i joined ,i have not received my variable (25% amount of my total CTC) since September,2012,its been a 8 months i have not received my variable. Additionally i have not received my Fix Salary since last month (since March,2013).

Here ,they are showing Variable Paid on Salary Slip on employee portal, But they have not actually paid us. There is not even single Cr. entry in our salary a/c ,that is the proof. This is very big Fraud this company is doing with us, more than that we are not able to survive not w/o salary.

It's a humble request to do some action against this.

If you are Victim of Sai Infosystem so plz comment here

Comment As: Anonymous select

Is www.grahakseva.com government website?

Plz comment!!!

Fake Universities of India | ugc list of fake university

Bihar


1. Maithili University/Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga, Bihar.
   Delhi
2. Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP) Jagatpuri, Delhi.
   
3. Commercial University Ltd., Daryaganj, Delhi.
   
4. United Nations University, Delhi.
   
5. Vocational University, Delhi.
   
6. ADR-Centric Juridical University, ADR House, 8J, Gopala Tower, 25 Rajendra Place, New Delhi - 110 008.
   
7. Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, New Delhi.
   Karnataka
8. Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Gokak, Belgaum, Karnataka.
   Kerala
9. St. John’s University, Kishanattam, Kerala.
   Madhya Pradesh
10. Kesarwani Vidyapith, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
    Maharashtra
11. Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
    Tamil Nadu
12. D.D.B. Sanskrit University, Putur, Trichi, Tamil Nadu.
    West Bengal
13. Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkatta.
    Uttar Pradesh
14. Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya, (Women’s University) Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
    
15. Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
    
16. National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
    
17. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Achaltal, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
    
18. Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Kosi Kalan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
    
19. Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.
    
20. Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Institutional Area,Khoda,Makanpur,Noida Phase-II, Uttar Pradesh.
    
21. Gurukul Vishwavidyala, Vridanvan, Uttar Pradesh.
    

* Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow, UP - the matter is subjudice before the District Judge - Lucknow

source: http://www.ugc.ac.in/page/fake-universities.aspx

CMJ University

CMJ University to appeal against HC order to stop admissions

 

 

Shillong, May 18 (IANS) CMJ University Saturday decided to file a writ appeal after the Meghalaya High Court directed the controversial private varsity to stop admissions while throwing out its appeal to allow it to continue admissions.

"Our clients (CMJ University) will be filing a writ appeal before the division bench of the high court next week in the interest of the students of CMJ University," S.P. Sharma, the legal counsel of CMJ University, told IANS.

The High Court has also rejected an anticipatory bail application of CMJ University chancellor Chandra Mohan Jha.

Upholding Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary's directive, Chief Justice T. Meena Kumari Thursday had asked the university not to admit students till the controversy surrounding the private varsity is resolved.

CMJ University, named after its chancellor Chandra Mohan Jha, hit media headlines following Mooshahary exposing various irregularities in its functioning. Mooshahary also holds the post of 'visitor' of the university.

The university has created a record by awarding doctorate degrees to 434 candidates in the 2012-13 academic year, and enrolled 490 students for the programme during 2012-13, even as only 10 of its faculty members have doctorate degrees.

In her judgment, Chief Justice Kumari observed that the letter written to Jha has "no legal infirmity" and refused to interfere with the same.

"The court finds that the letter has no legal infirmity and it need not be interfered with by this court. It is also made clear that till the controversy is resolved, the university shall not admit students in the university," Chief Justice Kumari stated in her judgment while disposing the writ petition.

However, Jha's legal counsel contended that even though a number of representations were made to the government for approval of the chancellor, there was no approval accorded by the governor.
"If the governor fails to accord approval, it is assumed that (he) has accorded his approval for functioning of the university and also the appointment of the chancellor of the CMJ University," Sharma stated.
Sharma said the university proceeded under "deemed approval" and took admission and also offered degrees to the students who have completed the course for 2010-11.
But Chief Justice Kumari said there were no materials, which were placed before the court by the petitioner according approval of appointment of the chancellor by the governor.
"In absence of which, it may be assumed that there was no approval of the appointment of the chancellor by the governor," she observed.
The chief justice further observed that the university had acted "on its own" without getting approval of the appointment of the chancellor in admitting students from 2010-11 onwards.
"It is a common policy that the university cannot confer a degree on the students without a chancellor of the university. The subject matter of the writ petition involves such controversy and also for compliance of the certain requirements required under the statute for different courses, of which, is Ph.D. course under the prevailing circumstances," Chief Justice Kumari observed.
CMJ University has also been barred from recruiting Ghanian students for its distance learning programmes since it is not accredited with Ghana's National Accreditation Board (NAB).
Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had hinted that the government may ask the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the university's functioning.
"FIRs (first information reports) have been filed in different cities of the country. We are looking if the case should be handed over to a central agency," Sangma said.
Meghalaya's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is investigating the alleged lapses of CMJ University, has unearthed a number of irregularities in its functioning.
The CID has arrested the varsity's registrar, Mrinal Kanti Deb, and his deputy Premlal Rai, on charges of fraud and cheating.
A lower court in Meghalaya had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Chandra Mohan Jha and his two associates, Manjeet Kaur and Juban Kharpuri, in connection with the alleged forgery and irregularities by the institution.
source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/cmj-university-appeal-against-hc-order-stop-admissions-083758287.html