Predatory Journal or Not? Check Scopus Indexing in 3 Minutes

False Peer Review Claims: These journals advertise that they are peer-reviewed but fail to provide the promised level of peer review. Some may use generic templates for peer review reports, without real evaluation of the manuscript.

Unverifiable Impact Factor: Predatory journals often advertise an Impact Factor or other citation metrics that cannot be verified or are outright false.

Unrealistic Publication Timelines: These journals may promise to publish articles in an unreasonably short time frame, which is often a sign of low editorial standards.

Accepting All Articles for an APC: Many predatory journals will accept any article as long as the author pays an Article Processing Charge (APC). These journals may publish low-quality or irrelevant content, sometimes without proper subject matter expertise.

Grammatical Errors: Articles in predatory journals often contain many grammar mistakes and lack thorough copyediting, making them look unprofessional.

Fake or Unqualified Editorial Boards: The editorial boards of these journals may include people who either don’t exist or lack the necessary credentials and affiliations. In some cases, real academics may be listed without their consent.

Imitating Well-Known Journals: Predatory journals often mimic the names and websites of established, reputable journals to confuse authors into submitting their work.

Aggressive Solicitation: Predatory journals frequently target authors through unsolicited emails, encouraging them to submit their work for publication.

Fake Contact Information: These journals may list offices in one country, but the contact details or the actual location might be in another country, raising suspicions about their legitimacy.

Lack of Transparency: Authors may not be aware of the full publication fees until after their article is accepted. Some journals also require authors to give up copyright at the time of submission.

Refusal to Remove Articles: Some predatory journals publish articles before the authors sign an agreement and may refuse to remove the article even if the author withdraws it.

Removing Articles Without Notice: Certain journals may remove articles or even entire journals from the web without informing authors or giving any prior notice.