"Predatory publishing", "piracy" or "fake journals" are dubious business models by publishers and magazines, that charge authors fees for publishing services they do not provide. Quality controls such as a peer review process are provided inadequately or not at all . This dubious publishing practice runs the risk that unchecked, perhaps erroneous, research results (half-truths or corporate advertising) will be published and referenced in scientific texts. This calls into question the reliability of scientific literature.
Please check journals by the following criteria:
- Does the journal fit in with your own department / subject area?
- Is the title very similar to a well-known journal?
- Does an ISSN exist and is this registered?
- What is the layout like? Is the publisher`s website consistent or copied from other sites?
- Does the website address the readers or authors?
- Can you find the journal in: Journal Citation Reports, DOAJ, Scimago, Scopus?
- Is the publisher a member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA) or Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)?
- Does a publisher appear in several journals that differ in themes?
- Are there any unrealistic dates regarding the completion of the peer review process?
- Do the contractual agreements leave a respectable impression (rights of use, publication fees, etc