title: We read spam a lot: prospective cohort study of unsolicited and unwanted academic invitations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the amount, relevance, content, and suppressibility of academic electronic spam invitations to attend conferences or submit manuscripts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Email accounts of participating academics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five intrepid academics and a great many publishers, editors, and conference organisers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unsubscribing from sender's distribution lists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number of spam invitations received before, immediately after, and one year after unsubscribing from senders' distribution lists. The proportion of duplicate invitations was also assessed and the relevance of each invitation graded to the recipient's research interests. A qualitative assessment of the content of spam invitations was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, recipients received an average of 312 spam invitations each month. Unsubscribing reduced the frequency of the invitations by 39% after one month but by only 19% after one year. Overall, 16% of spam invitations were duplicates and 83% had little or no relevance to the recipients' research interests. Spam invitations were characterised by inventive language, flattery, and exuberance, and they were sometimes baffling and amusing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Academic spam is common, repetitive, often irrelevant, and difficult to avoid or prevent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grey
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bolland
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dalbeth
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.affiliation: Women's Health, Auckland District Health Board, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sadler
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data