Fake websites designed to defraud academic conference organizers and attendees are on the rise in the USA. In the scam, fraudsters claiming to represent medical and scientific societies or partner companies offer registration and accommodation at massively discounted prices. The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer warned about a company called Global Travel Experts Team, which approached potential participants of its 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer, held in San Diego in September. The company registered an email domain similar to the conference’s, despite having no connection to the event.
In a statement, the American Society of Hematology also told attendees of its annual meeting, which will take place in San Diego in December, to be wary of websites and travel agencies that “aggressively pursue attendees to register them for the meeting and book their guest rooms at supposedly significant discounts.” A spokesperson for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, whose annual conference has been victim to this type of deceit, told Oncology News Central that the scams are getting more realistic. “It is easy for attendees to click on a fake site recommended by Google, thinking they are booking through us.”
The story above was published with the title “Scammers pose as scientific conference organizers” in issue 344 of October/2024.
Republish