"Who's Who in America" scams involve imposters or vanity publishers preying on professionals' egos to sell overpriced directories, plaques, or "featured" spots. While the original Marquis Who's Who is a legitimate, century-old publisher, the term "Who's Who" is in the public domain, allowing scammers to create look-alike publications.
A Scam Email
About the Who's Who Scam
- The "Vanity" Model (Legitimate but questionable): Companies like Marquis "honor" individuals, then use high-pressure sales tactics to sell expensive books, plaques, or digital memberships (ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars).
- Imposter Phishing/Emails: Scammers impersonate Marquis Who's Who, sending emails about being "selected" that contain malware or links to fake sites designed to steal personal information (PII) or credit card numbers.
- The "Verification" Scam: Scammers call businesses pretending to verify information for a directory. If the employee confirms, the business is subsequently sent a bill for a listing they never intended to buy.
- Imitation Publications: Other companies use names like "The Remington Registry" or variations of "Who's Who" to trick people into paying for meaningless recognition.
How to Spot One
- You are asked to pay: Legitimate, prestigious directories do not charge for inclusion.
- Unsolicited notification: You are contacted out of the blue about being "nominated" or "selected".
- High-pressure sales tactics: Phone representatives pressure you to buy a plaque or book immediately.
- Suspicious links/sender: Emails come from generic domains or contain links to non-Marquis websites.
- Typos and poor quality: Communications contain errors or look unprofessional.
Protect Yourself
- Do not pay to be honored: Inclusion in a reputable, merit-based directory should be free.
- Verify the source: Ensure you are dealing with the official Marquis Who's Who (MarquisWhosWho.com) and not an imitator.
- Avoid clicking links: Do not click links or download attachments in unsolicited emails.
- Ask for written confirmation: Demand all terms and costs in writing before agreeing to anything over the phone.
- Report the scam: If you are targeted, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you have already paid or given personal information, contact your bank to dispute the charge and consider signing up for identity theft protection.