Architects: Fraud alert!

An architect is unexpectedly contacted by an unknown foreign client proposing a contract to develop a major project. If you think that sounds too good to be true ... you're probably right!

Architect Miguel Correia from FAT – Future Architecture Thinking tells us how he was recently approached by a fake company (HBAA-Construction) proposing a partnership to develop a project in Bahrain

"We received an email from a director of the company to find out if we would be interested in developing a preliminary design for an auditorium for approximately 1000 spectators and an estimated budget for construction of 66 million USD. Of course we were interested. "

Although it was an unexpected contact, the email stated that the Bahrain company had decided contact the Portuguese studio after seeing their project for the House of Arts in Miranda do Corvo, published in several magazines and international architecture websites. The work would have impressed one of the construction company directors that wanted to build an auditorium in a 7500 m2 site in Manama, capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Website of the fake construction company from Bahrain

"We received a formal offer with detailed program, defining areas, location and limits of the intervention area. They asked us to send some reference data and a proposal with our terms and fees, so that they could assess the feasibility of our collaboration on this project, "explains Miguel Correia.

"Should they reached an agreement, this construction company of Bahrain would handle all the elements needed for a contract formalization and site visit, supporting our necessary expenses, including travel and stay for some of our team members. They just asked us to make sure we filled all the necessary requirements in order to carry out an architectural project in the Kingdom of Bahrain, including getting a professional register in the country, indispensable for a foreign architect to practice in this country, without which the company could not require our visas. "

Miguel Correia reveals that it was at this point that he decided to investigate: "This was an unprecedented requirement in more than 17 years of internationalization, along which we developed projects for 25 countries. We always establish local partnerships to ensure the development of our projects according to physical, cultural characteristics and regulations existing in each country. "

A data crossing search enable to realize that mail stated that the Bahrain company HBAA-Construction 

website had been registered less than two weeks ago and included images of people and projects stolen from other companies, including its founder and directors, with different names and features.

Yet it was still difficult to understand why anyone would bother to create a whole context so elaborate that, in addition to the fake company and website, including fake offers, a detailed architectural program and even the definition of an intervention site.

Website of false architect accreditation entity in Bahrain

"Through an internet search, we found a few reports from other architects (NL Architects and KOZ architectes) also victims of this type of scheme, which I confess I was unaware. What I had not suspected was that the very site of the Bahrain Royal Architects was also fake!” states architect Miguel Correia.

The aim is to make foreign architects to register for a license that would allow developing a project in this country. Obviously this register has to be paid, according to a table found on the website but, oddly, via Western Union or Money Gram transfer.

Architect Miguel Correia explains that, after reporting the case to the authorities, his biggest concern was to disclose the incident to prevent any possible victims. "It's a very elaborate scam to be immediately understood, but after some research it can be easily detectable."

The problem is that the crisis in domestic and international markets, coupled with the lack of experience in internationalization among some architects, helps these scammers, who collect information about their victims before contacting them, offering them attractive contracts for booming areas of the world whose buildings seem to compete in scale and boldness.

Website of false architect accreditation entity in Qatar

Over the last couple of years many alerts have been disclosed for false projects orders for the Middle East in order to extort foreign architects the amount required to register in the presumed professional organizations, such as Architect's Accreditation Registration Council of Qatar which appears as the website of the supposed official organization regulating this profession in Qatar.

At a time when architectural projects are globally disseminated through websites, blogs and social networks, it is important that architects remain alert to such scams, increasingly creative and elaborate, which may knock on our door anytime.

Architects should always confirm that these professional organizations of architects are, in fact, included in the official of entities listed by the UIA – International Union of Architects.