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Predatory Publishers & Conferences

How to identify predatory publishers and conferences

Predatory Conference Warning Signs

Conferences that may be fraudulent tend to have several of the following characteristics.

  • Associated with a suspected predatory journal

  • Conference details are vague except for payment methods

  • Little to no peer-review process

  • Poor quality websites (images are skewed or blurry, broken links, editors' images and bios do not include links for reaching out, etc.)

  • Unusually broad in scope

  • Committee or editorial board composed of unsuspecting academics or fake names

  • Multiple "conferences" held at the same location, in the same city, on the same day

  • Odd sponsors, unrelated to the conference topic

Predatory Journal Warning Signs

Predatory journals tend to have several of the following characteristics.

  • Clearest information available is about how to make a payment
  • Little to no copyright or OA policy
  • No preservation/archiving statement
  • Little to no information about peer-review process
  • Many poor quality articles
  • Automatic or speedy publication
  • Expedited peer-review
  • Inappropriate invitation to serve on editorial board
  • Unsolicited, poorly written email full of flattery
  • Misleading claims about the publisher's business, such as a false location
  • Cite fake or non-existent impact factors
  • Falsely claim to be accepted by DOAJ
  • Aggressive recruitment messages
  • Website imitates a legitimate journal