Is Who’s Who in America a Scam? 

If you’re thinking of engaging with Who’s Who in America, you need to know if it’s safe. Is Who’s Who in America a scam? 

Below, we explain whether Who’s Who in America is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when engaging with this company.  

What Is Who’s Who in America?

Who’s Who in America, also known as Marquis Who’s Who, is a reference book that lists notable people in the U.S. 

It was first published in 1899 by A.N. Marquis & Company.

Who’s Who is essentially a directory of influential or accomplished individuals (past and present) across various fields, including politics, business, academia, the arts, science, and more. 

Each entry typically includes details such as birth date and place, education, career history, achievements, awards, publications/works, affiliations, and memberships. 

Is Who’s Who in America a Scam?

No, Who’s Who is not a scam, but being included in it is not the honor it once was. 

When Who’s Who in America started more than a century ago, being included in it really did mean that the person had achieved national recognition in their field. The editors chose people based on merit, awards, or public impact, and you couldn’t buy your way into being featured in it.

Over time, the selection process became less exclusive, with the company sending invitations to apply for inclusion in the latest edition of Who’s Who in America to hundreds of people.

Inclusion no longer means you’re top of your field. It just means you responded to the invitation. 

On internet forums like Reddit, many people claim to have been invited to apply for inclusion in Who’s Who.

One person said, “It looks like they go through LinkedIn profiles. I get an invite every 6 months or so. I believe is you respond you will be asked to pay something.”

Another said: “There’s no criteria. There’s no selection process.”

People who claim to have worked for the company are particularly critical of Who’s Who in America. 

On the Better Business Bureau website, Who’s Who in America gets a 1.21 out of 5.0 stars rating (from 20 reviews).

One commentator described being contacted by a New Submissions Director for a supposed Who’s Who biography, only to be pressured into buying expensive subscriptions and plaques despite claims that the listing was free.

Marquis Who’s Who responded by saying that inclusion in its registry is free and based solely on merit, with optional paid commemorative products. 

Marquis Who’s Who is not Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited. (See our review of whether the BBB is a scam.) The company has received 13 complaints in the last 3 years, 5 of which have been closed in the past 12 months. 

Who’s Who in America scams

Because the term “Who’s Who” is in the public domain, scammers frequently exploit its prestige by posing as Marquis Who’s Who or inventing fake directories, according to the American Association of Retired Persons. 

In one case, a Long Island woman pleaded guilty to a $1.5 million fraud scheme targeting older adults with non-existent biographical honors. 

Snopes also warns to watch out for fake Who’s Who nominations coming from suspicious email addresses (e.g., info_iytDUQfx4l@loykffthgo.linenight.com) not associated with Marquis Who’s Who. 

Who’s Who in America Privacy

As per Marquis’ terms and conditions, by submitting your biography, you grant the company permission to publish, edit, distribute, and republish it in any format (e.g., print, online, or forms “yet unknown”) without compensation.

Also, if they misprint or misstate something about you, their only obligation is to correct it in the next print edition or online update. They limit their total liability to the lesser of $100 or what you paid them, even if their actions cause significant harm to your reputation or finances.

If you upload any other content (photos, posts, etc.), you grant the company a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to sell it, modify it, create derivative works, and distribute it in any form without crediting or paying you.

It can also share your information with third parties for marketing (postal and email), which could lead to spam or unwanted solicitations.

In its privacy policy, Marquis says that by providing your phone number, you give consent under the Amended Telemarketing Sales Rule (ATSR), even if you’re on the national Do Not Call list.

The company can call/text you (or have partners do so) for marketing until you revoke consent, and they may share that permission with their advertisers. Opt-outs only stop future sharing; existing shared data stays out there.

If you’re a “listee” (profiled in their directory), the company can keep your information forever as part of your “complete biographical history.”

So, Should You Engage with Who’s Who in America?

Depends on your goals.

If your goal is visibility or networking, it may (or may not) be worthwhile. 

However, being featured in Who’s Who in America is no longer the prestigious or selective honor it used to be, and participating comes with significant privacy trade-offs and upselling. 

How to Engage with Who’s Who in America Safely and Privately

• Use a separate email when responding to invitations. This will help you keep your primary inbox free of marketing emails. 
• Avoid giving your phone number (if possible). If you must, use a VOIP or Google Voice number you can silence or block.
• Be wary of telephone consent. If you give Marquis your number, it counts as marketing consent under U.S. telemarketing law,  even if you’re on the Do Not Call list. If you get calls you don’t want, explicitly revoke consent in writing and keep proof.
• Provide minimal biographical details. Share only what you’re comfortable being public forever. Remember, Marquis can keep listee information indefinitely.
• Avoid surprise costs. Inclusion is supposed to be free, so decline upsells for plaques, books, “feature articles,” or memberships unless you truly want them.
• Ask for everything in writing. Especially whether any online profile will expire after a set time, what’s included without payment, what’s optional, and the exact cost. If you feel pressured on the call, politely say you need to review details by email first.
• Control how Marquis shares your data. Opt out immediately of third-party marketing and keep a record of your opt-out request (email copy or call log). Opt-out stops future sharing only. Data already sent to others can still be used.
• Verify you’re dealing with the real Marquis. Watch for scam imitators using the “Who’s Who” name – the term is public domain. Only respond to emails from Marquis addresses, not generic or strange domains. If in doubt, call Marquis’ main listed number to confirm the invitation is genuine.
• Manage your public profile. Use their free listing as a supplement, not your main professional presence.