English Chess Forum

Received this today....

"I am enquiring on behalf of my client who is looking for his son to take part in a competition as his son has been playing chess for a while now.

Basically his dad wants to sign him up for a well known and a reputable competition where he will get a certificate and a title and from the research i have done it has lead me to you. It would be absolutely great if you could advise me procedure of taking part in a tournament, does he need to sign up to be a member of a club first, or how does it work exactly? "

I find the certificate request a little odd : perhaps I shouldn't?

Opinions?

Sounds like the sort of thing some parents who outsource things would seek to have arranged. I don't find the request strange, more the fact that there are businesses where people sort out requests like that. Wish I could outsource some of the things I have to research or arrange myself!

BTW, might not be that sensible for this to be discussed publicly, as it would be pretty obvious to those asking what you are talking about. If they are able to do enough research for them to contact you, they would easily be able to find this forum as well (which does show up when you use internet search engines).

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:10 pm

Sounds like the sort of thing some parents who outsource things would seek to have arranged. I don't find the request strange, more the fact that there are businesses where people sort out requests like that. Wish I could outsource some of the things I have to research or arrange myself!

BTW, might not be that sensible for this to be discussed publicly, as it would be pretty obvious to those asking what you are talking about. If they are able to do enough research for them to contact you, they would easily be able to find this forum as well (which does show up when you use internet search engines).

No names or demographics have been revealed as far as I can tell. Are you able to work out who I am referring to?

Most likely spam in my opinion.

Does it mention your name, or anything else to suggest they have done some research to identify you as suitable (other than finding you have an association with chess)?

What e-mail address has it come from?

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:50 pm

Most likely spam in my opinion.

Does it mention your name, or anything else to suggest they have done some research to identify you as suitable (other than finding you have an association with chess)?

What e-mail address has it come from?

You and I have come to the same conclusion Ian. I have replied but...

Fingers crossed it is genuine.

Just make sure you cross your fingers on only one hand.

John Upham wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:56 pm

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:50 pm

Most likely spam in my opinion.

Does it mention your name, or anything else to suggest they have done some research to identify you as suitable (other than finding you have an association with chess)?

What e-mail address has it come from?

You and I have come to the same conclusion Ian. I have replied but...

Fingers crossed it is genuine.

Unless you are !00% the email addresses' are genuine
....then it is SPAM!!
Hopefully no Malware attached.

I don't think this is very likely to be malicious spam. In junior events 30-40 years ago, players were often given certificates confirming they had competed. Perhaps his dad still has one he received !

We have been issuing certificates to juniors playing county chess.