In the high-stakes world of academia, publishing your research in a Scopus-indexed outlet is often a requirement for graduation, funding, or promotion.
However, as the demand for Scopus publications grows, so does the number of "predatory conferences" and "hijacked journals." These entities falsely claim to be indexed by Scopus, luring researchers into paying registration fees for publications that will never count towards their academic record.
So, how can you protect your research and your reputation?
You must verify the information yourself. Do not rely solely on the conference website's logo. Follow this 3-step guide to verify if a journal or conference is genuinely indexed by Scopus.

Step 1: The Golden Rule – Use the Official Source

The only 100% reliable way to verify indexing is through the official Elsevier Scopus database. You do not need a paid subscription to check the source list; the "Scopus Preview" feature is free.

1. Go to Scopus.com/sources.
2. In the search bar, select "Title" or "ISSN" (for journals) / "Publisher" (for book series).
3. Enter the name of the journal or the conference proceeding series.

Pro Tip: Using the ISSN (for journals) is more accurate than typing the title, as slight spelling variations can lead to zero results.

Step 2: Analyze the "Scopus Coverage Years"

Finding the title in the list is not enough. You must check the Coverage Years.

• Safe: The record shows "from [Year] to Present."

Example: "Scopus coverage years: 2010 to Present"

• Danger: The record shows a specific end year that is in the past.

Example: "Scopus coverage years: 2010 to 2023"

Meaning: This title has likely been discontinued or dropped by Scopus. Do not submit your paper here.

Step 3: Verifying Conference Proceedings 

Verifying a conference is slightly different from verifying a journal. Conferences are usually published as a collection of papers called "Proceedings."
Scopus indexes the publication series, not the individual event website.

How to check a conference:

• Identify the Publisher: Check the conference website. Who is publishing the proceedings? (e.g., IEEE, Springer, ACM, IOP).
• Find the Series Name: Look for the specific series title.

Example: "Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS)" or "IEEE Conference Proceedings."

• Search the Series in Scopus: Go back to Step 1 and search for that series title.
• Ask for the ISBN: A legitimate conference organizer should be able to provide the ISBN of the upcoming proceedings or a link to the previous year's volume in Scopus.

4 Red Flags of a Fake Scopus Conference

1. "Guaranteed Acceptance": No legitimate academic venue guarantees acceptance before peer review.
2. Unrealistically Fast Review: If they promise paper acceptance in 3 days, it is likely a predatory conference.
3. Gmail/Hotmail Addresses: Professional organizers use institutional domains (e.g., @conference.org or @university.edu), not free email services.
4. Hide-and-Seek with Fees: Legitimate conferences are transparent about registration fees.

Summary

Your research deserves a legitimate platform. Always verify the claim before you pay the registration fee.

If you are looking for a verified, peer-reviewed international platform for your work, explore our list of upcoming Scopus-indexed conferences in Computer Science and Engineering. We prioritize transparency and academic integrity.