International Biographical Centre facts for kids

The International Biographical Centre (IBC) was a company that published special books about people's lives. It was owned by Melrose Press Ltd. They created publications like Dictionary of International Biography and Great Men and Women of Science. The company was located in Ely, Cambridgeshire, in the United Kingdom.

Some government groups and consumer experts described the IBC's offers as not being very good or even misleading. For example, if someone used an award from the IBC to help get a special visa for talented people in the US, a company called Oracle Corporation warned that these were like "awards you buy" and not real achievements. They also reminded people that using false information for visas could lead to serious problems.

In 2007, a consumer expert named Jan Margosian from the Oregon Department of Justice warned people about companies like the International Biographical Centre. She said these companies were "pretty tacky" and suggested that they put people in their books mainly to get them to buy the books. She advised people to be careful and understand how these companies were trying to sell their products.

How the Centre Operated

A typical IBC certificate

When it was still active, the International Biographical Centre offered various "awards" and "medals" to many people. In 2004, one of these awards could cost a person around US$495 or £295. By 2010, a special medal might cost US$395, and a laminated certificate could be US$440. People paid money to receive these items.

The Department of Commerce in the Government of Western Australia stated that the Centre's offers created a false idea about how important the organization was. They also said that the letters sent to people wrongly suggested that they had been specially chosen because of their work and skills. This meant that the awards were not based on a true selection process.

Related Topics

• Who's Who scam
• American Biographical Institute