Over the past year there have been a quite a few cons that turned out to be total cheap slop fests. Bridgerton, Wonka (technically not a con but same idea), Littlest petshop, Barbie just got a shitcon this year. Even established ones have become vehicles for businesses to peddle cheap ai 3d printed crap. So after observing the patterns here’s what I think are marks of a scam con:

• It’s a brand new con that spung up out of nowhere but is already making grand promises of what events and actors will be present
• It’s a con centered around a specific brand but has no affiliation with the company. That’s not bad on its own, but combined with point 1… beware. They’ll be acting like they have access and funds to stuff they don’t have. (Wait I’m getting a transmission… apparently mattel was involved in the Barbie dreamfest… fucking wow….)
• They charge $100s for some vip tier that makes big bold promises even though this is the first time they’re doing any of this. At this point it’s safe to say you probably shouldn’t be paying more than $100 for a new inexperienced con.

This isn’t going to be 100% plus it’s based on my own observations from going to local cons big and small as well as hearing about the scam cons. I could be way off or I could’ve missed something. I just know that cons have gotten big enough that certain people just see dollar signs when they think of them.