Predatory journals exploit the open-access author-pays model by charging publication fees without providing genuine peer review or legitimate indexing. Publishing in them can jeopardize academic tenure and grant eligibility.
Top Red Flags of Deceptive Publishers
- Unsolicited email spam praising your past work and guaranteeing acceptance within 48–72 hours.
- Fake or hijacked impact factors (e.g., "Global Impact Factor", "Universal Journal Impact Factor") not found in Clarivate Journal Citation Reports (JCR).
- Editorial board members listed without their consent or containing non-existent scholars.
- Vague, overly broad journal scopes covering everything from dentistry to aerospace engineering in a single volume.
- Lack of digital archiving policies (CLOCKSS, Portico) or clear retraction guidelines.
