A Web site promotion announced "The Supremes 40th Anniversary featuring Shantel Baker."

Pat Benti had one question about the promotion: "Shantel who?"

"I've never heard of this woman," said Benti, executive director of Friends Against Musical Exploitation of Artists Inc.

Mary Wilson, one of the three original Supremes, is a co-founder and vice president of FAME and alerted Benti to the Shantel Baker version, which is set to perform March 31 at McMenamy's in Niles, Ohio.

FAME, based in Revere, Mass., is a non-profit organization formed in 1998 to help current and former recording artists battle the loss or misuse of their names by counterfeit groups or individuals.

The Supremes promotion goes on to say, "They represent the best in the Motown sound ... producing six consecutive Number 1 songs, not even topped by the Beatles! Featuring Shantel Baker they will take you back to 'Where Did Our Love Go' and 'Come See About Me.'"

"Talk about misleading the public," Benti said. "To think that these three women recorded those hits and had those No. 1 songs is misleading."

Ms. Wilson, in a visit to Sharon some years ago, lamented that there are several groups calling themselves the Supremes, but who feature women who never sang with the group in any of the forms that made the Supremes the biggest girl group of the '60s and early '70s, and launched the solo career of Diana Ross.

"A lot of promoters don't care about the history of a group," Benti said. "They care about making a dollar."

The Supremes' problem is compounded because Ms. Wilson does not own the group's name. Benti said he believes the Motown record label owns the name. Ms. Wilson often bills herself as Mary Wilson of the Supremes.

Howard Harlib, manager of the Shantel Baker-led group, said Motown has allowed him to use the Supremes' name.

He added that Ms. Baker will be performing with Ms. Ross in a summer European tour of the Supremes.

Ms. Ross' American tour of the Supremes two years ago failed part way through. Ms. Wilson did not participate after failing to reach a contractual agreement.

Joe DiRusso, the promoter of the Niles show, at first denied that the promotion was misleading.

"Everyone knows that they're a phony group," said the president of J.B. Promotions Inc., Wickliffe, Ohio. "It's like a tribute to the Supremes. Everyone in their right mind knows they're not the Supremes."

But, later, DiRusso acknowledged the promotion "probably" is misleading.

He said he followed the advice of Harlib.

"He said, as long as I put '40th anniversary' of the Supremes, we're OK," DiRusso said. "I didn't realize there was anything wrong."

The negative response to the group has led DiRusso to say that Harlib "sounds like a phony," and noted that his telephone had been disconnected, but is since back up.

DiRusso has canceled three shows by the group in the Cleveland area, but cannot cancel the Niles show because of a contractual obligation. He said he spoke to Ms. Wilson, but she did not accuse him of misleading the public and agreed to pass on information about her group when it comes through town.

A message left for Ms. Wilson was not returned.

Harlib said he had worked with Ms. Wilson in the past, but no longer does.

DiRusso, who has regional shows coming up featuring Pat Boone, the Kingston Trio, the Osmond Brothers and Ray Price, said he pulled the Web page.

"Not only are the original fans getting ripped off, but so are the diehard fans," said Benti.

But according to DiRusso, few people will get ripped off by the Shantel Baker-led group in Niles. Ticket sales have been poor, he said.