Protect Yourself from Event Scams
The events industry continues to experience issues with scammers falsely claiming to offer the attendee list, discounted housing, sponsorship opportunities, and exhibitor services.
AREMA will never sell or rent our membership, attendee or Exhibitor contact lists to any third-party vendor that we do not have a contractual relationship with. Our contracts with vendors specifically include language forbidding the sale or distribution of contact information. Additionally, all AREMA members and conference registrants can opt out of sharing their information, ensuring it is never disclosed.
However, scammers are resourceful and can obtain lists from a variety of sources, then falsely claim to represent AREMA.
What You Should Know
- Official Attendee List: AREMA Exhibitors and Sponsors receive a copy of the official Conference Attendee list as part of their paid participation. Attendees can opt out of having their information included during the registration process.
- Verify Communications: If someone calls claiming to represent AREMA, don't rely on caller ID. Research unknown numbers before returning any calls. When in doubt contact AREMA to verify. If you receive an urgent email, don’t directly reply. Instead, call the sender using a known number to verify the request. Email senders can be spoofed.
- Suspicious Emails: Do not forward suspicious emails. Instead, note the contact information and delete the message.
If you have any concerns, please contact AREMA directly at [email protected].
Official Vendors for the 2026 AREMA Conference & Expo are:
- Freeman- General Service Contractor
- eShow- Registration & Lead Retrieval
- Executivevents- Housing
- Personify (A2Z Events)- Exhibitor Portal & Exhibitor HUB
- RainProtection- Exhibitor Liability Insurance
- Kansas City Convention Center- Catering, Internet, Electrical, & Plumbing
- Inspire Solutions- Audio Visual
- AIM Events- Educational Foundation Golf Tournament and Tournament Sponsorships Sales
More information on housing vendor fraud is available on our Policies & Safety page, official vendor details are listed in the Exhibitor Hub.
File a Fraud Report - Help Stop Scammers
If your company has received fraudulent emails or phone calls soliciting you to purchase attendee lists, book hotel rooms, or other products/services - report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
How to file a fraud report:
- Visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Click “Report Now"
- For Question 1: "Is your report about any of these common problems?" Select "An Impersonator"
- For Question 2: "Who were they pretending to be?" Select "Well-known or trusted business"
- Provide as many details as possible and submit your report.
Thank you for helping us report these frauds - with enough complaints, we can work to stop these practices from targeting exhibitors and attendees.
Additional Resources:
Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance Applauds Federal Trade Commission for Finalizing Anti-Impersonation Fraud Rule (February 15, 2024)