Navigating the perilous waters of conference invitations

The author recounts receiving a conference speaking invitation that appeared enticing but exhibited multiple phishing/scam red flags, including a non-corporate Gmail sender, suspicious links and attachment, a recently renamed company, and negative online reviews. After internal checks and independent research, they opted not to respond and advise others to perform basic due diligence before committing to travel or sharing information, emphasizing vigilance against potential phishing lures.