.png)
You’ve heard of fake news—but what about fake conferences?
Also known as predatory conferences, these events emerged from the shadowy world of predatory publishing, where academics desperate to publish their work were targeted by scam journals. Back in 2011, librarian and predatory publishing watchdog Jeffrey Beall identified just 11 of these dubious conferences. Today, that list has ballooned to over 900—and it's still growing.
But here’s the catch: fake conferences aren’t fake in the sense that they don’t happen. They’re real events, often held in hotel ballrooms or international cities. What makes them fake is the deception behind them: questionable peer review, vague programming, misleading affiliations, and high fees for low value.
This isn’t a fringe problem. One study even suggests that predatory academic conferences now outnumber legitimate ones. And it’s not just academia at risk—the broader meetings and events industry is already grappling with challenges like room poaching, suitcasing, and cybersecurity threats. Fake conferences are now another threat on that list, costing attendees time, money, and professional credibility.
In this guide, we’ll break down the warning signs of fake conferences, explain why they’re so harmful to attendees and the events industry, and give you practical tips to help you identify and avoid them—before you waste your time, money, or reputation.
What Is a Fake Conference Like?
Let’s be clear: fake conferences are real events. Unlike outright scams where no event ever takes place, predatory conferences do happen—but they're carefully designed to appear legitimate while delivering very little academic or professional value. While charging money for a non-existent event would be criminal, hosting a poorly organized, low-quality conference isn’t illegal. That’s why the term “predatory” is used—it captures the exploitative nature of these events without necessarily implying criminal fraud.
One of the clearest signs of a predatory conference is the high presenter fee, often far above standard registration costs. These events aren’t designed to educate attendees or foster genuine networking—they’re structured to inflate presenters’ CVs and generate profit. Attendee registrations are treated as secondary revenue streams.
Because their business model depends on quantity over quality, these conferences accept nearly any submission, regardless of relevance or merit. This results in programs packed with disjointed, off-topic presentations. For example, a researcher who attended a so-called political science conference reported fewer than ten people in the room—and a schedule featuring talks on robotics, Islamic finance, and solar energy, all crammed into a single space.
In another account, an attendee described a chaotic registration area, where name badges were scattered across a table with little effort to verify identities. The environment was disorganized and unprofessional. While some events may boast a well-known keynote speaker to lend credibility, these speakers often don’t show up. In one case, four out of nine scheduled talks on the first day were canceled, forcing organizers to move up the lunch break to 10 a.m.
It’s All About the Presenters
As mentioned earlier, predatory conferences exist primarily to serve the presenters—or more accurately, to profit from them. These events are marketed toward individuals looking to pad their résumés with minimal effort, and they have a reputation for accepting any submission, no matter how irrelevant or low-quality, as long as the submission fee is paid.
Perhaps the most infamous example is the case of a professor who submitted a completely nonsensical paper on nuclear physics—written entirely using auto-complete. The paper was accepted without question.
This is possible because most fake conferences lack a legitimate peer review process. There’s no quality control, no scrutiny, and no accountability. Even worse, to boost their appearance of credibility, many predatory conferences falsely list well-known academics as keynote speakers or committee members—without their consent. Their photos, bios, and names are often used without permission, giving the illusion of prestige and legitimacy.
Once a name is added to one of these programs or websites, getting it removed can be extremely difficult. In many cases, the organizers simply ignore requests or move the content to another affiliated event website, continuing the cycle of exploitation.
Is a Fake Conference Piggybacking on Your Legitimate Event?
Event planners might wonder: Isn’t this just a problem for unsuspecting researchers? Unfortunately, predatory conferences don’t just harm individuals—they can also directly impact legitimate meetings and the organizations behind them.
A common tactic used by fake conference organizers is to closely mimic the name of a well-established, credible event. For instance, a respected event titled “49th Conference on Nuclear Physics” might be mirrored by a fraudulent version called the “48th International Conference on Nuclear Physics.” The similarity is intentional, designed to confuse both presenters and attendees.
Even more concerning, there have been documented cases where predatory conferences schedule their events at the same venue and during the same dates as the legitimate conference. This kind of piggybacking can lead to serious confusion, dilute attendance, and even damage the reputation—and revenue—of the legitimate event.
In other words, this isn’t just someone else’s problem. Predatory conferences can directly interfere with your carefully planned event, your brand, and your bottom line.
Fake Conference Red Flags
The good news is that predatory conferences often display obvious signs that something isn’t quite right. Below are some common red flags to help you recognize and avoid these deceptive events:
- Unknown organizers
Is the event hosted by a reputable institution or association? If you've never heard of the organizer before, take time to research them thoroughly.
- Overly ambitious titles
Watch out for buzzwords like “international,” “global,” or “worldwide” attached to conferences with no clear focus or affiliation. These words are often used to add fake prestige.
- Broad, unfocused programs
If the agenda covers a wide range of unrelated topics—especially under the label “interdisciplinary”—it may signal a lack of academic rigor or relevance.
- Guaranteed acceptance
A major red flag is when all submissions are accepted for presentation or publication. Legitimate conferences use a peer-review process to maintain standards.
- High presenter fees
Presenters are often charged much higher registration fees than non-presenting attendees. This pay-to-play structure is a hallmark of predatory events.
- Suspicious URLs and piggybacking
Look for strange or misleading web addresses, including subdomains (like nuclearphysics.conference.com) or domains that resemble legitimate institutions. Some fake events even share dates or venues with credible ones to confuse attendees.
- Low-quality website design
If the website looks like a template reused across dozens of events, with cookie-cutter designs and minimal effort, that’s another warning sign.
- Poor contact information
A missing or vague “Contact Us” page, or the use of personal email accounts like Gmail or Hotmail, suggests a lack of transparency or legitimacy.
- Frequent typos and poor grammar
Sloppy writing in promotional materials, emails, or the website indicates a rushed or careless approach—uncommon in reputable academic settings.
- Suspicious sponsorships
Fake conferences often list well-known sponsors or academic partners who are completely unrelated to the topic—or unaware of their supposed involvement. (Think Pottery Barn sponsoring a nuclear physics conference.)
- Presence on predatory lists
Reputable sources such as Jeffrey Beall’s list of predatory publishers and Caltech’s database of fake conferences regularly track and update known offenders. Always check these lists if something feels off.
As these predatory events grow more common, both researchers and event planners need to stay vigilant. If you’re organizing a legitimate conference, be aware that attendees are increasingly on the lookout for signs of fraud. Now more than ever, it's critical to ensure that your event—especially its online presence—reflects professionalism, trust, and quality.
Need help ensuring your event looks polished and professional? Contact us to learn how we can help ensure your conference is never mistaken for a fake.
