Scammers in China have traditionally preyed on young people looking for quick cash or older individuals seeking health and longevity. However, they have found a new target: academics. Liu Xia, a lecturer in economics and management at a private university in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province in central China, is still indignant when she recalls the experience in 2024 of a paper submission-based scam. Needing to publish a conference paper for a professional title evaluation, she found an event...