The Trap of Predatory Journals

Guest Author – Azizul Haque
Assistant Professor, Yeungnam University.

The biggest problem in today’s research landscape is the widespread presence of predatory or fake journals. Every day, researchers receive hundreds of emails from various so-called journals, offering enticing deals such as APC waivers, fast-track publication, invitations to submit, and more. These offers are often so attractive that early-career researchers easily fall into the trap, publishing their valuable work in these fake journals—which can lead to serious harm to their future careers.

A common tactic of predatory journals is to collect email addresses found online and then send out massive numbers of automated emails. Experienced researchers can often spot these predatory journals at a glance. But newer researchers, or those not yet familiar with these scams, are often easily deceived. Most predatory journals even create their own fake impact factors.

These days, many people publish their research in predatory journals and share it on social media, where others—often unknowingly—offer congratulations and praise. This can create the illusion that the researcher has accomplished something significant. In reality, they may have just damaged the reputation of their future research career.

Additionally, some people become reviewers or editorial board members of such journals and showcase this on social media to present themselves as accomplished researchers. This confuses early-career researchers and attracts them to predatory journals. However, these positions do not carry any scientific prestige, but are instead a symbol of worthlessness.

For new researchers, predatory journals are a serious trap. If someone mistakenly publishes in such a journal today, it can create major problems for their research career in the future. So always verify reliable information, stay cautious, and publish your research in reputable journals.

Note: Collected from Facebook.