Stay Away From OMICS’ Conferences
In earlier blog posts I’ve described and documented examples of OMICS Group’s unethical practices, including sending personal invitations to potential authors to submit manuscripts without informing them of the author fees, only to invoice them after their papers get quickly accepted. This was also reported in an article published by the Chronicle of Higher Education called “‘Predatory’ Online Journals Lure Scholars Who Are Eager to Publish.”
Now new evidence has surfaced revealing that OMICS, which is also in the business of organizing scientific conferences, has been 1) using the names of scientists, oftentimes without their permission, to invite participants to their meetings, 2) promoting their meetings by giving them names that are deceptively similar to other well-established meetings that have been held for years by scientific societies, and 3) refusing to refund registration fees, even if their meetings are cancelled.
First, OMICS implies that its editorial board members are conference organizers by placing their names and photographs on their conference web pages, and by sending email invitations to their meetings which are “signed” by members of the editorial boards. However, many of these people never agreed to be meeting organizers, and some have never even agreed to be become OMICS editorial board members.
For example, one scientist who does not wish to be named wrote the following to OMICS:
“I have requested/demanded resignation from this Editorial board several times, via emails and phone calls. I have also been promised that my name would be pulled off the Editorial Board and all forms of events associated with OMICS. I am extremely disappointed and outraged to learn that you still list me as a member. Here, I request again, take an immediate action to remove my name from the editorial board!”
Finally, after several phone calls, the scientist’s name was removed and she was assured that it would no longer be used. However, just four days later OMICS sent email invitations to one of their meetings which included her name as one of the signers, implying the invitation came from her and other editorial board members.
Second, the web pages for OMICS meetings list names and photographs of their “Organizing Committee Members,” but many of the scientists that appear on these pages never agreed to be participants, and some were reportedly shocked to see themselves represented as such. One scientist, who was surprised to see that OMICS had posted his name and photo on their website, along with other “organizers,” determined that OMICS did so after a colleague had mistakenly submitted a presentation to an OMICS meeting. After the submission was received, OMICS presented both of them as meeting organizers without their knowledge.
Next, OMICS intentionally gives its conferences names that are similar to the names of longstanding, authentic conferences held by scientific societies. For example, OMICS uses the name Entomology-2013 for one of its conferences, the same name (minus the hyphen) that the Entomological Society of America (ESA) uses for its annual meeting. Moreover, ESA plans to host the International Congress of Entomology (ICE) in 2016 in Orlando, Florida. Coincidentally (or not?), OMICS uses a very similar name, the “International Conference of Entomology,” for its meeting, also to be held in Orlando.
This has led to obvious confusion among entomologists, some of whom believe they are participating with ESA meetings after receiving solicitations from OMICS. The scientists mentioned above, who were listed as OMICS organizers without their permission, wrote in an email:
“I think we were duped into thinking this was the ICE meetings. Dr. [XXX] in Switzerland asked me to co-host a session so I think this is where it originated from … Dr. [XXX], I suggest you look at the links below and you will see that we were indeed duped. The folks who contacted you about a session in FL in 2013 are NOT associated with ICE.”
Assembly line of conferences.
Sometimes OMICS improbably organizes multiple conferences at the same hotel at the same time. For example, the screenshot above shows four conferences that were held simultaneously from December 3-5, 2012 at the same hotel in Philadelphia.
Also, a close look at OMICS’ conference registration policy shows that they never grant refunds for registration fees — even if they themselves cancel or postpone the conference. Instead, they grant a credit for other OMICS conferences.
I strongly recommend, in the strongest terms possible, that all scholars from all countries avoid doing business in any way with the OMICS Group. Do not submit papers. Do not agree to serve on their editorial boards. Do not register for or attend their conferences.
Also, be aware that OMICS has established a separate brand called SciTechnol that operates much the same as OMICS. OMICS may be experimenting with additional web brands designed to funnel people to the OMICS web pages.
I’ve just received 2 emails from “SJP” requesting that I send ‘original research paper…’ I’ve just forwarded a copy to your email.
Thanks for posting about them. I posted awhile back about how they were blog spamming blog posts about Open Access. http://dougsarchaeology.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/predatory-open-access-publisher-omics-publishing-group-hits-new-low-in-blog-spamming/ and here as well http://dougsarchaeology.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/predatory-open-access-publisher-omics-publishing-group-now-blog-spamming/ I actually get a fair amount (10-15 day, a lot for me) of visitors typing into google “OMICS scam” on those posts. Several people have left comments there about the conferences e.g. “OMICS Group Comferences are a SCAM
You are invited to speak, but have to pay for registration.
They ask for multiple payments, claiming they didn’t get it.
Hotel has no record of the conference.
Couldn’t get in touch with organizers after they got the money, except by phone to someone who said they would get back to me but never did (multiple times).
Luckily I canceled beforehand, but of course no refunds.
Avoid OMICS Conferences!”
That was from over a year ago, so they have been at this at least that long.
Unfortunately it seems that the confusion is all too easy to perpetuate, because a quick Google search shows that there are many people who gave talks at the real ICE meetings but list it on their website/CV as the “International Conference of Entomology”.
“I strongly recommend, in the strongest terms possible, that all scholars from all countries avoid doing business in any way with the OMICS Group. Do not submit papers. Do not agree to serve on their editorial boards. Do not register for or attend their conferences.” J. Beall, Jan. 2013. Allow me to translate in simple English: BOYCOTT. Boycotting is legal. Calling for boycotts is legal and organizing or exercising boycotts is legal. Provided that no illegal methods are called for, no criminal activity is conducted against those against which a boycott is called, and provided that the reasons for the boycott are clear and public, it is 100% legal. As a scientific community, we need to start stripping down the walls of stigmas and taboos, especially those that are unfounded, illogical, or uncalled for. A boycott is an excellent way of financially crippling a predator. I have often said that the scientific community is the corner-stone of the profits, and thus the existence, of the predators, even those who hunt in sheep’s clothing. Thus, to boycott one or more aspects of their business would not only be sending a strong and powerful message that the academic community is not on their side, but would also cripple their finances into oblivion, and show share-holders that scientists mean “business”. I support Mr. Beall’s call for a boycott against OMICS (all aspects of their business).
Robin Hood (I firmly believe this name is bogus) has made the statements of Dr.Beall very complex, ironically, in the name of making them simple. Dr.Beall has appropriately used the term ‘avoid’. “Avoid predatory publishers” is the best way to describe how a scholar should deal with them. Possibly the term ‘ignore’ may replace it. These terms reflect the kind of treatment the predators deserve. I feel the term ‘boycott’ is unnecessary and is a ‘misfit’. It sounds uncivilized to see anyone who tries to put his words into others mouth. Learn to learn from others. By the way, what is that ‘walls of stigmas and taboos’ – too much of jugglery of words! Try to share what you know, try not to teach. If you inow more about predatory OA, that is no licence to treat others as kids.
Ok, what is the difference between ignore and boycott. You ignore somebody existence and you do not do business with them. It sounds like boycotting to me.
OMICS (I think it stands for Oh My Ignorant Crazy Schmucks) are that bad and do whatever you think is right, ignore them or boycott them and make sure to spread the word among your colleagues about them.
I have ignored many invitations to serve in these predators and a few are from OMICS too. About a year ago, one of my colleagues boasted in the department meeting that he is serving as editor in many international journals. I was surprised, yet felt happy for him. He however, did not mention the names of the journals. But, when I read an article by Dr.Beall on predatory OA, I could connect his statements to predatory OA and since got interested. I have introduced Dr.Beall’s name among my colleagues, and have suggested them to read his criteria. I never miss an opportunity to talk about predators and Dr.Beall. When a ‘slut’ approaches, what do you want me to do? avoid? or ignore? or boycott? I am particularly concerned because, when someone is right, correcting them wrongly is unacceptable.
Schmuck. Not such a schmuck, actually! Words of wisdom, I think. Or at least words of reality. I wonder if Schmuck is your REAL name or if Mr. Krishnakumar is just an overly sensitized Indian who can’t tell the difference between critique and euphemisms and who is also going to demand that you reveal your identity while forgetting the importance of anonymity. Anonymity, in this day of Big Brother, Mr. Krishnakumar, is essential to smoke out the frauds from their rabbit holes. Schmuck is correct, no doubt, about what OMICS stands for, and thus I second his opinion to boycott the bunch of schmucks at OMICS. As for Mr. Krishnakumar’s naivety, let me tell you, don’t be fooled by the intentions of the fraudsters in OA predatory publishing: they’re out to GET YOUR money. So, I suggest you re-change your word “ignore” to “counter-attack”, because you are CLEARLY failing to understand who is the victim, but we can understand this mentality within your cultural backdrop. By ignoring a problem does not fix this: psychology 101. Tackling the problems, using forceful means if necessary, is what cleans up the mess. But that is my opinion, of course, using my anonymous name, unless you can indicate where Robin Hood lives, if not in the Sherwood Forest… As for funding that scientists use to attend these fake congresses, we have to start asking the question: whose money is being used to transport and accomodate scientists in these meetings? Dirty money?
Robin, you are free to remain anonymous provided you learn to write respectfully. Me being an indian is a non-issue. It need not be pointed out at all. To remind the readers of the kind of words you used like, ‘royal ass’, ‘dumb ass’, you ought to reveal who you are. How is that you remain ‘under ground’ and exhibit your heroics. I felt you need to be smoked out from the hole. Keep cool and think twice. You also commented on someone’s Ph.D. degree. All these under a fake name! Be brave man. You need to be really brave, Man. Stop revferring to citizenships, try to grow.
I’ve attended two OMICS conferences, and the organizers gave me a speaker discount. Even at some “legitimate” conferences, it is unfortunately not unheard of to pay registration, travel, etc., as a speaker. Since I am a junior faculty member, I found the OMICS conferences to be moderately poorly run and yet low-cost options for getting some speaking experience under my belt, and several productive collaborations have arisen from them. This is in contrast to the well-known megameetings that are often dominated by several key labs and their offshoots, where junior and relatively unknown investigators may have difficulty obtaining talks or making useful connections. So while I deplore OMICS’ ridiculous journals, their post-conference badgering of speakers to submit papers for fees, and the other questionable practices that Dr. Beall exposes, I think that there may actually be a place for lower tier pay-to-play conferences like theirs that bring junior scientists together. It’s really too bad that OMICS hasn’t done a better job of providing a service to this market.
In theory you may be right about there being a place for smaller conferences, although in my experience it’s generally *harder* to get talks in to small ones than megaconferences (like Evolution and both ESAs) because they’re more squeezed for time and space, and they cost more relative to the amount of conference time you get. That said, there are many more reasons to boycott OMICS, notably their grossly bad ethics (which you yourself mention) and devotion to profit rather than science.
since this is the only somewhat positive comments about omics, I would need an advice, I have been invited as speaker at omics conference (they correctly matched tha conference with my profession) and an made almost all preparation to attend it (including fee payment) As Ken said it didnt surprised that even as invited speaker I had to pay the fee, cause I have previously attended low profile conferences (which has grown since) so it was not surprised. I contacted the hotel and they confirmed that there is such conference in that hotel scheduled for that period. Two days ago I accidentally found out about OMICS bad reputation, was shocked and I need advice: throw away 800$ and not go to it or go there what ever it happens. I come from eastern europe and there are several attendees from eastern europe. I was aware that its a low profile conference and would do anything to attract attendees, but that its a complete scam I couldnt imagine. Second question is it possible that most of the listed participants are actually fake?!! As far as the scientific committies are concerned, it is not unusuall even for greater events to put respectable people to it without their knowledge. So Ken, please tell me: to go or not to go? Thank you
Ken, you are the first person that I have read about that actually attended one of their conferences. Which conferences did you attend? They were actually conducted? What about cancellations?
Dr. E.
I also got an invitation from OMICS to come on a conference as a speaker. As I am from Europe and conferece is in California, I requested that OMICS pay me transportation, accomodation and a small fee. Two days ago they informed me that my abstract has been accepted from organizing cometee and they want me to send them picture and a logo of my company… What to do? I mean if they pay me in advance, I am thinking of coming over… What do you think?
I think you should refuse the offer. They will string you along and make excuses. They will use your picture and your company’s logo to attract other attendees. I doubt they will pay any of your expenses in the end.
I have had very negative experience with the OMICS Group. I foolishly agreed to be in the Editorial Board of one of their journals. At some point I became suspicious and started calling to their office in Nevada. There is no OMICS office at the address they show. It is an office of some law company, which represents interests of OMICS Group, as well as hundreds of other foreign companies in US. The whole OMICS Group company with all its employees is located in India. They hide themselves behind fake non-Indian names (I communicate via e-mail with Gracia Oliver). It is not much difference between these guys and the criminals who pretend that they were a model and duped a physics professor from North Carolina (there was a fascinating article in NYTimes Magazine about the story: the professor ended up in jail in Argentina convicted for drug trafficking). After finding very damaging posts on the web about the OMICS Group I started bombarding them on all e-mail addresses and phone numbers I could find demanding to remove my name from the Editorial Board. No result. Then I composed an email describing what I learned and sent it to the Editor-in-Cheif of the journal asking him to help me to remove my name from the board. No response. Then I sent email to all board members and cc to all OMICS addresses I could find. This time is worked: they removed my name from their web site. A couple of board members followed me and also quit. But very few.
My advice to everybody: do not deal with the OMICS Group in any form or shape.
PS: I use alias because I still feel ashamed that I allowed to be duped in the first place.
[...] a recent NYT article about the phenomenon was the existence of entire fake scientific conferences. According to Beall, these same predatory publishers spam the email inboxes of scientists — frequently using the [...]
[...] a recent NYT article about the phenomenon was the existence of entire fake scientific conferences. According to Beall, these same predatory publishers spam the email inboxes of scientists — frequently using the [...]
[...] me in a new NYT essay about a phenomenon was a existence of whole fake systematic conferences. According to Beall, these same rapacious publishers spam a email inboxes of scientists — frequently regulating a [...]
I’m really glad I found this information. I’ve been receiving invitations to speak at “Endocrinology-2013″ hosted by OMICS this August in Raleigh, NC (curiously similar to “Endocrinology 2013″ hosted by the very legitimate Endocrine Society, which I attend every few years). Since it would have been a short driving distance from my home institution, I was considering attending, and was close to putting an abstract together, but became skeptical of a few weird details on the conference website (many of which are noted in this article). I also thought the fee was a little steep for a small 3-day conference ($699 registration fee, without accommodations). So I did some Googling and ended up here. Needless to say I won’t be submitting an abstract. However, I would be curious to know if there is any legitimacy to the conferences at all (i.e. how many of them actually happen, and the quality of the talks).
If you do attend the conference, Brian, I would love to hear about it. I was considering one of their invitations to speak at a conference on “Bacteriology and Infectious Disease” in Maryland this fall but I decided to drop it given all of the bad wrap I found online. At least your conference is a short distance from your home. I would have been flying from my home in Hawaii to Maryland, not a short or cheap trip. I have also received invitations to a pediatric conference in China from a different group with identical web messages, and from another group with poor English grammarfor a nutrition conference. All of them appear to be unethical or scams, and seem to have been generated by the publishing of my first journal article on S. aureus infections in children.
aloha, Gayle
I expect the first one was only a coincidence that it matched your field. I’ve received mostly invitations to submit papers or talks based on my “expertise in infectious disease” or such things as protein dynamics, based on my published papers on insect systematics.
OMICS is also spamming existing journals with a proposal to acquire it and to organize conferences in the journals’ area of expertise.
“We would like to congratulate you on your contribution to the scientific community through the dissemination of scientific information and would like to offer you a proposal for acquisition of your Journal: Journal of medical Internet research.
We are currently handling about 250 Open Access Journals with the assistance of more than 20,000 Editorial Members and organizing around 80 conferences worldwide each year.
What OMICS will provide for the Journal after acquisition:
- More viewership (around 2 million) for the articles published, resulting in more citations.
- Multiple language translators for all the articles.
- Conferences organized on the specific journal topic. We are one of the largest publishers which organize conferences with more than 100 conferences each year.”
No thank you.
One of my students had sent a manuscript to them without my information. Unfortunately I was informed after it was accepted (rather quickly) for publication (supposedly I am the corresponding author). I demanded to withdraw the manuscript since I had no permission for publication. They refused to do so. They keep sending me fax and emails asking for outrages processing fee. I am trying to find a way to remove my publication from the Journal. I have no idea how they can publish something without my consent.
[…] Using the names of scientists without their permission to invite participants to meetings, giving their meetings names that are deceptively similar to other well-established meetings, and refusing to refund registration fees even if meetings are cancelled, […]