Predatory publishers and conferences
Predatory journals and conferences are increasingly common and can harm your reputation and the impact of your research. Understanding the warning signs and knowing where to check venue quality helps you choose safe, credible outlets for your work.
Understanding predatory publishers and conferences
Predatory publishers imitate legitimate journals, mislead researchers into submitting their work, and often charge unexpected fees. They may publish low‑quality or fraudulent research, undermining scholarly integrity and misleading readers.
Predatory conferences operate similarly, often run by the same groups or by for‑profit organisers. They may offer little or no peer review, charge high fees for minimal value, invite speakers outside their expertise or, in some cases, may not take place at all.
How to spot predatory practices
Be cautious if you notice:
- Promises of fast or guaranteed acceptance
- Unclear or nonexistent editorial boards
- Unsolicited emails inviting you to submit or present
- Overly broad or unfocused conference programmes
- Hidden or unusually high fees
- Poor‑quality websites with errors or broken links
- Claims of being indexed in recognised databases when they are not
How to check quality
- Think. Check. Submit. – Guidance on evaluating journal quality
- Think. Check. Attend. – Guidance on evaluating conference quality
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) – Reputable open‑access journals
- Journal Citation Reports – Journal impact metrics
- Scopus/Scimago journal rankings – Quality indicators for indexed journals
You should only consider publishing in journals you’re familiar with. Ideally, maintain a curated list of up to 15 reputable journals in your field and engage with their content regularly. By doing so, you’ll avoid even considering predatory journals, because they won’t be part of your reading list.