How to identify predatory journals and publishers

(This document has been translated and simplified from the source below)

signs to identify predatory journals/publishers

We encounter predatory journals every day through email solicitations inviting us to submit manuscripts. Although many of these emails are poorly constructed and easily identifiable as scams, some predatory journals can deceive inexperienced researchers or those under pressure to publish. This article aims to highlight the growth of predatory journals, their increasingly sophisticated strategies to attract authors, and how to identify them.

Predatory journals are publishers that exploit authors. They either do not publish the submitted research at all or publish articles without proper peer review or editorial evaluation, while still charging publication fees regardless of the outcome.

Jeffrey Beall, an American librarian and associate professor at the University of Colorado Denver, became well-known for his blog on Open Access (OA) publishing. He coined the term “predatory open-access publishing” in 2008 (Figure 1). He estimated that at least 25% of OA journals were predatory.

Predatory journals have increasingly thrived due to the “publish or perish” pressure in academia and the harvesting of author information from databases like PubMed/Medline. There is a symbiotic relationship between some academics who wish to publish quickly and these predatory journals.

Beall’s List, first created in 2008, was a continually updated report identifying potentially predatory Open Access publishers. It was officially discontinued in 2017 due to legal threats, but its mission has been continued by successors, such as Cabell’s Blacklist and Whitelist.

Key criteria to determine whether a journal is predatory:

1. Does the website appear professional?

   
   

   Good spelling and grammar reflect high ethical and professional standards. Any errors on the journal’s website should raise concern. Moreover, copying names or even websites of well-known journals is a red flag since journal names should be unique. Watch for unrealistic claims like “leading publisher” for newly launched journals. The website should clearly display separate electronic and print ISSNs.

   
   

2. Is the journal’s credibility verifiable?

   
   

   Check if the journal is affiliated with recognized organizations: DOAJ, Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA), European Association of Science Editors (EASE), International Association of Scientific, Technical, and Medical Publishers, or the World Association of Medical Editors. If unsure, contact these associations directly for verification. These organizations require proper peer review, editorial quality control, and adherence to ethical publishing standards. Also, verify if the journal is indexed in reputable databases like Medline or Web of Science.

   
   

3. Is the contact information cross-verified?

   
   

   Contact information is often overlooked. Confirm that the editorial office and contact details are consistent. Predatory journals may list an office in one country and provide contact info from another. International journals should also have an internationally diverse editorial board. You can check the email timestamps—these should align with working hours of the listed country. Be cautious of fake or incorrect ISSNs. A valid ISSN has only one 'X' at the end; multiple Xs are suspicious. The journal should clearly state its revenue sources on its website.

   
   

4. Impact factor claims

   
   

   Beware of fake or ambiguous citation metrics or impact factors. Never trust high impact factor claims without verifying them. Note that new journals receive an impact factor only after two years of indexing. You can check the Journal Citation Reports for legitimate impact factor and indexation status.

   
   

5. Aggressive solicitation of submissions

   
   

   Scam emails inviting individuals to submit articles or join editorial boards are a common tactic used by predatory journals. Poorly written spam emails, especially those denying that they are spam, are likely from suspicious sources. Another warning sign is the absence of a proper online submission system, with manuscripts requested via a single email address.

   
   

6. Quantity over quality?

   
   

   A hallmark of predatory publishers is the sudden launch of many new journals in a short period. The quality of published research should be paramount; every journal should have clear policies against duplication, plagiarism, and data fabrication/falsification. Publishing ethics must be detailed and prominently displayed on the website.

   
   

7. Free or fee-based?

   
   

   While many legitimate Open Access (OA) journals charge authors or institutions to publish, some dubious journals collect fees before publication. Importantly, all fees should be transparently listed on the website. Remember: no fees should be charged before a paper is accepted. There should be no submission or processing fees paid upfront.