A new scam targeting Chinese academics has emerged, focusing on exploiting the pressure to publish research for career advancement. Researchers are being tricked into submitting papers to nonexistent academic conferences, with victims including university lecturers like Liu Xia in Wuhan. The scam preys on the requirement for conference publications as part of professional evaluations. While scams traditionally targeted other demographics, this represents a shift towards a more sophisticated approach. Details of the fraudulent conferences are often presented online, appearing legitimate to busy academics. Authorities have not yet commented on the scale of the problem, but the incident highlights vulnerabilities within the Chinese academic publishing system. This new type of fraud raises concerns about the integrity of academic credentials and the potential for wider exploitation.