Scientists are increasingly encountering problems with dishonest practices in publications. The most common types of unscrupulous publications include predatory journals, clones, and fakes. They damage the reputation of researchers and undermine trust in scientific databases. Understanding the differences between dishonest journals helps scientists avoid pitfalls and publish their work exclusively in reputable publications. In this article, we will look at the key characteristics of each type, as well as the consequences of publishing in them.
Predatory journals: how to recognise them?
Predatory journals often masquerade as reputable publications, which may even be temporarily indexed in reputable scientometric databases such as Scopus or Web of Science. This is because journals are not checked immediately, but after a certain period of time, sometimes several years. The monitoring process can be accelerated by sending a complaint or inquiry about suspicious activity.
The main goal of such journals is to maximise profits. They charge for publication but ignore standards of quality and scientific ethics. As a result, instead of careful peer review, editors publish a huge number of articles – for example, dozens of issues per year with thousands of articles.
Many of these works do not meet international standards. Often, entire publishing networks are behind such journals, creating several similar platforms to increase revenue. As a result, authors receive a ‘publication’ but without any real scientific value.
Clone journals: complete copying for deception
Unlike predatory journals, clone journals do not create anything new, but completely duplicate authoritative publications that already exist. They copy everything:
- website design
- ISSN
- editorial board composition
- rules for submitting materials
- privacy policy and other aspects
Their goal is to make the copy so similar to the original that authors cannot easily distinguish the fake. Fraudsters often choose to clone journals that are difficult to find in search engines, such as those belonging to large publishing houses. They create a fake website, collect payment for ‘publication’ on behalf of the real journal, but as a result, the article is not indexed anywhere. As a result, researchers lose not only their time but also their money.
Fake journals: characteristics that reveal manipulation
Fake journals are the most primitive among dishonest publications. They are usually not indexed in any database. In addition, they do not pay enough attention to the content of their website. For example, such journals may lack information about the editorial board, the review process, or publication ethics. Fraudsters may also ignore mandatory sections altogether, which makes the website suspicious at first glance.
However, there are a number of aspects that indicate that you are dealing with a fake journal. What should you take into account? Additional signs of fakes include illogical URLs that do not correspond to the subject matter, or minor changes in the title (e.g., adding/deleting a single letter or word), logo, or website address.
Many such platforms are based on the free Open Journal System (OJS) because it is easy to set up and accessible to all users.
What is the danger of publishing in unscrupulous journals?
Regardless of the type of journal, publishing in such publications can have long-term consequences for a scholar's reputation and career. What exactly?
- Loss of academic reputation. Publishing in a predatory journal can undermine the trust of colleagues, academic institutions, and grant-giving organisations in the researcher. Such journals are often associated with low quality or fraud, which can lead to doubts about the author's professional competence.
- Lack of recognition. Articles published in predatory journals are usually not taken into account when evaluating scientific activity, for example, when defending a dissertation, obtaining grants or academic positions.
- Financial loss. Most predatory journals charge publication fees but offer no guarantees. Researchers may spend significant amounts of money without gaining any benefit for their careers.
- Limited visibility and impact. Articles in predatory journals are rarely read or cited by the scientific community because these publications are not indexed in reputable databases. This reduces the potential impact of the research and its contribution to science.
- Legal and ethical issues. In some cases, authors may unknowingly violate ethical standards by publishing in journals that ignore standards of academic integrity. As a result, this can lead to accusations of misconduct.
- Waste of time and resources. Preparing an article for publication requires considerable effort, and if the journal turns out to be unethical, this effort is wasted. In addition, the review and peer review process in such journals is often superficial or non-existent, which does not contribute to improving the quality of the work.
Understanding the differences between predatory, clone, and fake journals is key to protecting your academic career. Before submitting an article to an editorial office, carefully check the publication's indexing, read reviews from other scientists, and analyse its website. If you find signs of malpractice, submit a complaint to the database. This way, you will not only avoid reputational damage, but also help prevent others from falling prey to fraudsters.
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