Fake expo letters are doing the rounds in high schools in Ladysmith. The letter indicates that students have been accepted and approved to participate in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists.
Parents are asked to pay a deposit to secure their child’s placement and accommodation at the expo. Because attending the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists carries such high prestige, parents often are so excited that their children have been accepted that they do not spot obvious indications that the three- to six-page acceptance forms do not mention Eskom Expo for Young Scientists at all.
They cleverly use the wording “Expo Nationals”, followed by the wording “for young scientists” in the next line and give a non-existent web address. The forms may vary in look, but they will have your child’s name on it and include a student number.
Anyone who has taken part in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists will know that there are no student numbers. The scamsters make the letter seem legit and even include several factually correct details to hide their scam. However, the letter goes on to say that the cost is R12,500 and that R8,000 has to be deposited into an account before April 20 this year.
Several people have already fallen for this scam. If you receive a letter and are in any doubt as to whether it is real, please contact Jean Anderson at Egerton Primary School.
