Predatory Journals and Publishers
Identification and Avoidance of Predatory Journals and Publishers · Also known as: Predatory Publishing, Fake Journals, Pay-to-Publish Schemes
Predatory journals are fake academic publishers that exploit the open-access model by charging authors publication fees without providing peer review, editorial oversight, or quality control. Coined by librarian Jeffrey Beall in 2010, the term describes publishers that prioritize profit over scientific integrity, accepting nearly all submissions (regardless of quality), using deceptive marketing (claiming high impact factors, faking indexing, using names similar to established journals), and often hosting work that would not survive peer review. Publishing in predatory journals damages an author's credibility and wastes research dissemination efforts.
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When to use it
Before submitting any manuscript to a journal you are unfamiliar with, especially open-access journals or journals from non-English-speaking countries (not to bias, but these are sometimes underrepresented in legacy databases). Use these criteria when mentoring junior researchers or students who are pressure to publish. Apply when evaluating CVs or grant applications—recognize publications in predatory venues as a red flag for research quality.
Strengths & limitations
- Clear, operational criteria for identifying predatory journals allow researchers to self-assess before submitting.
- Resources like DOAJ, Scimago, and Web of Science provide transparent indexing information.
- Awareness of predatory publishing has increased dramatically since Beall's work, making researchers more cautious.
- Legitimate open-access journals (PLOS ONE, eLife, Frontiers) have responded by emphasizing peer review and transparency.
- Predatory publishers constantly adapt, creating new journals or changing names to evade detection lists.
- Some legitimate journals are underindexed or emerging, making criteria imperfect for new journals in developing regions.
- Beall's original list was removed in 2017 (after criticism of false positives), leaving researchers without a single comprehensive resource.
- Boundary between 'marginal quality' and 'predatory' can be fuzzy; not all low-quality journals are deliberately fraudulent.
Frequently asked
Is open access inherently predatory?
No. Many legitimate journals are open access (PLOS ONE, eLife, Frontiers, JMIR). The difference is peer review and indexing. Legitimate open-access journals charge APCs but conduct genuine peer review, have named editors, and are indexed in DOAJ and major databases. Predatory journals charge APCs but skip peer review and use deceptive marketing. Check DOAJ whitelist to verify a journal is legitimate open access.
What is a reasonable APC (article processing charge)?
Legitimate open-access journals typically charge $1,500–$5,000 depending on discipline and journal quality. Publishers should disclose fees clearly on their website before submission. If a journal charges >$2,500 and is not indexed in major databases, it is suspect. PLOS ONE charges ~$1,495; Nature Communications charges ~$6,000. Predatory journals charge $300–$500 or sometimes more to seem legitimate.
How do I know if an editor or editorial board member is real?
Search their name on Google Scholar, institutional websites, and ORCID. Real editors usually have published papers, an institutional affiliation, and a traceable online presence. If you cannot find an editor or they deny affiliation when you contact them, the journal is likely predatory. Most legitimate journals list editor contact information and institutional affiliation.
If I published in a predatory journal, what should I do?
Contact your institution's research office for advice. Some options: (1) If the journal is known to be fraudulent, request a retraction. (2) If the work is solid, publish it in a legitimate journal (the earlier predatory publication is now a mark against you, but honesty about it is better than hiding it). (3) Update your CV to note the publication is not peer-reviewed. Transparency is preferable to silence, and employers respect researchers who learn from mistakes.
Are all journals from non-English-speaking countries predatory?
No. Many legitimate journals are published in non-English countries (e.g., Lancet's regional journals, Nature's country-specific journals). However, they are more likely to be underindexed in English-language databases, so use the same verification steps: check DOAJ, Scopus, Web of Science, editorial board transparency, and peer review evidence. Geography alone does not determine legitimacy.
Sources
- Beall, J. (2010). Predatory Open-Access Scholarly Publishers. The Charleston Advisor, 11(4), 10–17. link ↗
- Beall, J. (2015). Scholarly Open Access: Critical Analysis of Bibliometric Indicators and Journal Quality. PeerJ Preprints, 3, e1481. link ↗
- Lak, A., Sarvari, S. A., Kassaian, N., & Salari, P. (2016). Identifying Predatory Journals. Asian Journal of Transfusion Science, 10(2), 184–185. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Identification and Avoidance of Predatory Journals and Publishers. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/publication-ethics/predatory-journals
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- Article Retraction ProcessPublication Ethics↔ compare
- COPE Guidelines for Publication EthicsPublication Ethics↔ compare
- Open Access Publishing ModelsPublication Ethics↔ compare
- Peer Review ProcessPublication Ethics↔ compare