Predatory publishing describes a fraudulent business model used by supposedly scientific publishers. These publishers claim to publish reputable scientific journals, but their primary motive is commercial self-interest. Articles in these journals are often published without any quality control or not at all. This behaviour is detrimental to scientific quality and integrity. The journals in question are referred to as predatory journals.

Typical characteristics of predatory journals

• Aggressive advertising and contact, mainly by email
• Impersonal salutation or salutation with an incorrect academic title
• Advertising emails with poor grammar and spelling
• Questionable or incomprehensible contact addresses and contact persons
• Unrealistic promises, e.g. for fast publication and high visibility
• Missing or inadequate peer review process
• Non-transparent or hidden publication fees
• Unprofessional website, e.g. without an imprint

Possible consequences for researchers

• Loss of reputation in the professional community
• Loss of submitted research results
• Financial burdens

Recognising predatory journals

• The Think.Check.Submit. checklist can help evaluate scientific journals and identify predatory journals
• The DOAJ serves as a whitelist of quality-assured open access journals
• Cabell's Predatory Reports serves as a blacklist and lists journals with quality deficiencies