[4][5][6] The Government of Western Australia's ScamNet service considers the American Biographical Institute to be a scam vanity publisher "who appeals to people who want a plaque on their wall or see their name in a book, even if the honour has no real credibility—in effect, they have purchased the honour.
[14] The ABI was the co-host, with the International Biographical Centre, of a yearly World Forum (previously the International Congress on Arts and Communications), which invited a group for a week of professional seminars, artistic displays, and performances, and culture sharing.
In 2007, referring to the International Biographical Centre, the American Biographical Institute, and Marquis Who's Who, Jan Margosian, consumer information coordinator for the Oregon Department of Justice, warned consumers to be wary and called the companies "pretty tacky", adding "I don't know why they would put you in there if they weren't hoping to get you to buy the book.
Most awards were available for between US $195 and $495, payable by the recipient, depending on their level of prestige and the quality of the printing on the certificate and the material in the frame or mount.
The ABI did not provide a consolidated list of all the awards, medals, diplomas, and certificates it issues,[9] but the titles of the honors may be identified through the recipients' use of them in their résumés.