Large trade shows such as The PPAI Expo 2025 often attract email scammers who are looking to pose as the organization holding the event for financial gain.

  • Do not engage with these emails.


Below is an example of an email sent to a PPAI employee from an actor pretending to be representing PPAI.

If you receive an email that looks similar to this, disregard it. These are common scams used prior to trade shows and expositions.

Common Trade Show Scams

Email scams are not specific to PPAI or the promo industry. They are a rampant problem, and unfortunately, they are only likely to increase in quantity and sophistication in the future.

When it comes to trade show email scams, a common tactic includes the following steps and motivations:

  • Scammers reach out to potential exhibitors and attendees via email.
  • They fraudulently claim to have the show’s attendee list and offer to sell it.
  • The goal is to deceive attendees and exhibitors into sharing personal and/or financial information for malicious purposes.
PPAI does not share or sell any contact information to third parties. If you receive an email claiming to sell The PPAI Expo attendee list, the PPAI member list or any list related to PPAI, it is a scam.”

Ellen Tucker

VP, Revenue & Expositions, PPAI

Ahead of big events and trade shows, like The PPAI Expo 2025, attendees are inundated with a number of necessary emails about various topics, ranging from various registrations and hotel or flight confirmations to personal and business meetings.

  • Scammers are attempting to prey on potential email fatigue, assuming they will catch victims who hurriedly click through or follow instructions.
  • It is important to stay diligent during the holiday season and end-of-year business when reading and reacting to emails.


Trade shows represent just one area in which email scams occur. PPAI has reported on various cases of scams that have affected the promotional products industry, including:

PPAI’s Stance

PPAI warns all members that if you encounter emails that offer attendee lists or ask something of you that sounds suspicious, do not engage with the sender.

  • Do not respond.
  • Do not even unsubscribe, as that may confirm to the scammer that they have reached a valid email address.
  • PPAI encourages you to follow your organization’s procedures for reporting spam.

“At PPAI, we prioritize the security of our member, attendee and exhibitor contact information,” says Ellen Tucker, CAE, MAS, vice president, revenue and expositions, at PPAI. “PPAI does not share or sell any contact information to third parties. If you receive an email claiming to sell The PPAI Expo attendee list, the PPAI member list or any list related to PPAI, it is a scam.”