Universität Bonn

Open Access Service Center

Predatory Publishing

Not sure if the journal you want to publish in is reputable? We’ll tell you what to look out for, how to recognize predatory publishers, and which websites and tools can help you

What is Predatory Publishing?

Predatory publishing refers to questionable publishers (predatory publishers) that charge fees to publish scientific articles without conducting proper quality checks, such as peer review. These publishers often lure inexperienced researchers who want to publish quickly and charge high publication fees without meeting scientific standards.

In contrast to reputable open-access publishers, predatory journals do not provide reliable peer review, which endangers scientific integrity. To avoid this, you should carefully examine the journal in which you submit your work.

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© cdd20, Unsplash

How do I recognize predatory journals

Identifying predatory journals is becoming increasingly difficult. The following steps can help assess journals:

Ask others!

If you are planning a scientific publication, you should first seek advice from colleagues in your field – for example, from your faculty or the head of your research group. In third-party funded projects, there are often guidelines from the funders. It’s best to read the funding conditions of the project.

Check the publisher's memberships!

Is the publisher a member of the Open Access Scholarly Association (OASPA)?
Does the publisher belong to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)?
Is the publisher part of the International Association of Scientific, Technical & Media Publishers (STM)?

Use Tools!

The Tool Think – Check – Submit provides a checklist for reviewing journals. The Compass To Publish of the University of Liège offers a set of questions that help you identify predatory journals using a color scale.

Research in directories!

If you are publishing in an open-access journal, check whether it is listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) or in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). Only journals from trustworthy publishers with transparent peer-review processes are included there."

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© CC BY, Think Check Submit

Predatory Journals Guideline

01.

Good look at the website

Predatory publishers' websites are often poorly organized, with numerous spelling and grammar errors, and lack information about the editorial board or peer review process. The fees (APCs) should be clearly stated and only charged after the article is accepted. Be cautious if fees are demanded upon submission!

02.

Ignore promotional emails

Spam emails with publication offers are sent without any prior article submission, or you may receive an invitation to contribute to a "Special Issue" on a topic that has little to nothing to do with your own work.

03.

Check contact information

Reputable journals have verifiable contact information that matches their listed location. Predatory journals often provide false or misleading addresses and contact details. The "official" location is often stated as being in the USA or Europe, but frequently under a false or mailbox address.

04.

Look up the editorial board

Check if well-known researchers are listed without their consent or if fictitious individuals are included on the editorial board. Verify the online profiles of the listed members. Journal titles often refer to the European or American region ("European/American Journal of ..."), yet frequently have no representatives from these regions on their editorial boards.

05.

Question the peer review process

A legitimate peer review process requires time and thorough evaluation by independent experts. Fast publication times can be an indication of a lack of diligence.

06.

Browse previous issues

The quality and relevance of the published articles provide insight into the journal's standards. Predatory journals often publish articles that are off-topic or contain numerous errors.

    Still have doubts? Feel free to contact us!


    What are predatory/fake conferences?

    In recent years, alongside predatory journals, so-called predatory conferences have emerged. These conferences may appear legitimate at first glance but aim to generate profit through participation fees without providing any scientific value. Participants are exploited.

    Signs of questionable conferences:

    • Unknown in your field
    • Repeated email invitations, often with keynote requests
    • Negative online reports
    • Unprofessional website
    • Hidden or missing payment details
    • Unclear program
    • Promotion of participants or the conference location
    • Unusual sponsorship
    • No peer-review process

    A tool for checking is Think. Check. Attend. and the Conference Checker it includes.

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    © Mikael Kristenson, Unsplash
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    © CC BY , Think Check Attend

    Links

    • Think. Check. Submit. (Checklist for verifying the legitimacy of journals, books, and book chapters)
    • Think. Check. Attend. (Checklist for verifying the legitimacy of a conference)
    • Compass To Publish (Questionnaire for verifying the authenticity of a journal)
    • OASPA (Open Access Scholarly Association)
    • COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)
    • STM (International Association of Scientific, Technical & Media Publishers)
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