- E-mailed Direct Solicitations to Submit an Article
- Journals do not commonly need to ask for articles directly
- Email is not well written ( i.e. includes typos or misspelled words; language awkward is or unprofessional)
- E-mail uses flattery to convince you to submit your article or join their editorial board
- Example: "your contribution towards the research is absolutely prominent" or "Dear Esteemed Scholar"
- E-mail comes from a generic contact address (Gmail, Outlook, etc.)
- Journal Name Suspiciously Similar to a Prominent Journal in the Field
- The Name is trying make you believe it is a journal or publisher with which you are already familiar (i.e. Science Huβ, The Science Publishers, etc.) or a well-respected journal (i.e. Science)
- Many predatory publishers create journal titles (and even publisher company names) that are intentionally similar to well respected journals or publishers
- Misleading Geographic Information in the Title
- The journal title might suggest that it is located in America, but the publisher might actually be based in another country
- Outdated or Unprofessional Website Appearance
- Journal Website is
- hard to find
- has an outdated appearance
- has typos, spelling and/or grammatical errors
- has distorted or fuzzy images that are not authorized to appear on the website
- has insufficient or no "About" information
- The journal is not sponsored or produced by a well-known and well-respected organization, association, or academic institution
- False claims of being a "leading publisher" or using boastful language regarding their reputation
- Too Broad Aim & Scope
- Unrealistic or inappropriate aim or scope
- Insufficient Contact Information
- The journal does not provide full contact information, including a physical address, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses; only a web contact form
- Lack of Editors or Editorial Board
- The journal names leading scholars in a field among their editorial boards without their knowledge or consent. Contact journal editors and board members and ask about their experience with the journals
- The members of the journal's editorial board are not listed on the website
- Editors with No or False Academic Credentials
- The people listed are not recognized experts in the field nor are their credentials included
- Unclear Author Fee Structures
- The policies regarding author fees are not easily located on the journals website, not clearly explained, nor comparable to other reputable open access journals
- Article processing charges and other associated publication costs are not mentioned as well as no mention of when fees are due
- Bogus Impact Factors
- Invented Metrics
- Metrics are not standard or other reputable journals do not use these same metrics. Check stated journal impact factor
- False Index Claims
- Journal isn't indexed in reputable places nor can be verified
- Speedy or False Peer Review Process
- Journal's peer review process is unclear or not actually followed
- An expedited peer review process is indication that either no peer-review is taking place or the peer-review is of low quality
- "Instructions for Authors" Information is Unavailable
- No instructions for authors regarding how to submit a manuscript nor information about how manuscripts are handled once submitted
- Manuscripts Submitted via E-mail
- Manuscripts submissions should be via a journal-specific or third party submission system
- Predatory publishers require manuscript submission via e-mail
- No Published Articles Available
- Published articles cannot be evaluated on the site
- Numerous articles were published by the same author(s); titles and abstracts seem inappropriate for the journal; articles not well-researched or based on sound science
- Published articles not written by academics and experts
- Predatory publishers publish papers that are not written by academics or that are pseudo-science
- Articles are reproduced from reputable journals
- Predatory publishers sometimes plagiarize papers that have already been published in other journals without providing credit, claiming the publication as their own
- Negative Reputation for Publisher
- There are documented examples (from inclusion on Beall's List, Cabell's, or exclusion from 'top journal' lists) that the journal or publisher has a negative reputation
- Digital Preservation Information is Lacking or Inadequate
- Prolonged access to articles is not ensured
- No Retraction Policy
- No process for alerting readers or authors about claims of retraction
- No Copyright Information
- No listed copyright information on the site
- No ISSN
- The journal is not uniquely identified as a serial publication
