In this article, we've addresses the most common questions about fake conferences, helping you quickly understand risks and learn practical avoidance strategies.

Q1: What is a fake conference?

A fake conference is a fraudulent event organized by a for-profit entity that mimics a legitimate scholarly meeting. Its primary goal is to collect registration fees from researchers. These events lack key elements of a real conference, such as a rigorous peer-review process, credible keynote speakers, and genuine opportunities for academic networking.

Q2: Are all small or newly established conferences fake?

No. Size and age are not reliable indicators. Focus on peer review, organizers' credibility, transparency, and published proceedings.

Q3: What should I do if I've already registered for a fake conference?

• Contact the organizers to request a refund
• Dispute the payment if necessary through your bank or credit card company
• Report the event to academic societies or platforms that track predatory conferences

Q4: How can I quickly tell if a conference is fake?

While there are many red flags, here are the most critical signs to watch for:

• The Invitation: You receive an unsolicited, overly flattering email that is vague about your specific research.
• The Acceptance: Your paper or abstract is accepted within hours or a few days with no meaningful reviewer comments.
• The Website: The conference website looks unprofessional, contains spelling errors, and lists unverifiable information.
• The Theme: The conference covers an impossibly broad range of unrelated topics.
• The Organizers: You cannot easily verify the reputation of the organizing company or its committee members on their own institutional websites.

For a more detailed checklist: 10 Signs of a Predatory Conference.

Q5: Why do fake conferences exist?

They exist for one reason: profit. By eliminating the costs associated with a real academic conference (like proper peer review, quality venues, and respected speakers), organizers can achieve a very high-profit margin on every registration fee they collect. They exploit the "publish or perish" culture within academia.

Q6: What are the consequences of attending or submitting to a fake conference?

The risks go beyond losing your registration fee:

• Damaged Reputation: Listing a fake conference on your CV can harm your credibility with funding agencies and promotion committees.
• Wasted Funds: You lose valuable institutional or personal funds that could have supported legitimate research activities.
• Potential IP Risk: You are submitting your unpublished work to an organization with no academic or ethical standards.

Q7: Is it possible to get a refund from a fake conference?

Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult. These organizations are often based overseas and are unresponsive to complaints. Your best course of action is to immediately contact your credit card company or bank to dispute the charge and request a chargeback, but success is not guaranteed.

Q8: How can I verify that a conference is legitimate?

Verification is your best defense. Take these positive steps:

• Check the Organizer: Is it a well-known scholarly society in your field (e.g., IEEE, ACM, APA)? Or a private company with a generic name?
• Ask a Mentor or Librarian: Senior colleagues and university librarians are often excellent resources for vetting conferences.
• Verify the Speakers: Do a quick search for the keynote speakers. Do they mention the conference on their official university profiles or social media?
• Look for Past Proceedings: Check if proceedings from their past conferences are indexed in reputable databases like Scopus, Web of Science, or Google Scholar.

Q9: Where can I find trustworthy conferences?

Platforms like AIScholar provide curated lists of verified academic conferences, or you can check professional societies and university event listings in your field.

Q10: What should I do if I receive an invitation from a suspected fake conference?

The best response is no response.

• Do not reply to the email.
• Do not click any links.
• Mark the email as spam to help train your email filter.
• Delete and forget.

Conclusion

This FAQ answers the most common questions about fake conferences, helping you quickly spot predatory events and keep your research safe.

Ready to find a reputable conference? Visit AIScholar.com to browse a curated list of trusted academic events in your field.