Predatory Publishing

With the rise of predatory behavior in the publishing industry, many predatory publishers have expanded their business models to make additional profits from fake conferences.

At a glance, these predatory conferences can seem like legitimate events. However, be aware that these conferences are actually organized by revenue-generating companies who exploit presenters and attendees by collecting conference registration fees. Many attendees may discover that there are very few participants, a limited number of actual presenters, or that multiple conferences covering a wide range of topics are combined into a single event. Some predatory conferences don't even attempt to organize an actual conference.

Listed below are some common signs of a predatory conference to keep an eye out for:

• Conference solicited you directly via email with poor grammar, incorrect spelling, or awkward language

• Invitation filled with excessive flattery, referring to you as a "prominent," "eminent," or "world-class scholar"

• Conference topics are unfocused or the aims and scope are suspiciously broad

• Generic or vague terms such as "to promote scientific innovation" used to describe the conference purpose

• Conference is not sponsored by a recognizable university, research institution, or professional organization

• Conference website does not appear on the official websites of claimed sponsors

• Conference is supported by unfamiliar or questionable open-access journals

• Advisory board or organizing committee members are unfamiliar, or their participation cannot be verified

• Session topics are not relevant to your specific field

• Keynote speakers are unfamiliar or unrecognized in the field

• Editorial Committee is not listed, or consists of unknown members

• Same conference is offered numerous times a year in many different cities

• Website looks unprofessional with poor spelling, grammar, or unclear/misleading information

• Conference themes are outdated or not current for your field

• Conference proceedings from previous years are unavailable or appear unprofessional

• Contact information is limited to a web form only, with no email, phone, or physical address provided

• Conference is not well known in your field, and colleagues have not heard of or attended it

• Conference papers were published in predatory journals, or organizers and speakers have connections with predatory publishers

• Registration fees are significantly higher or lower than comparable conferences

• Presenters are charged substantially more than attendees