Predatory Journal Checker

Verify if a journal is legitimate before submitting your research paper

What are Predatory Journals?

Predatory journals exploit the open-access model by charging publication fees without providing legitimate peer review, editorial services, or indexing. They damage your academic reputation and the credibility of your research.

No real peer review Not indexed in Scopus/WoS Rapid acceptance (days) Misleading impact factor claims

Check a Journal

10 Warning Signs a Journal May Be Predatory

Before submitting your paper anywhere, check for these red flags:

1. Unsolicited Invitation Emails

Flattering, generic emails inviting you to submit a paper — often sent in bulk to thousands of researchers.

2. Unrealistically Fast Peer Review

Acceptance within 24-48 hours. Legitimate peer review takes weeks to months, not days.

3. Name Mimics a Prestigious Journal

Journal name sounds like a well-known publication (e.g., "American Journal of..." or "European Journal of...") but has no real affiliation.

4. Hidden Article Processing Charges

No clear information about APCs upfront, or surprise fees after acceptance.

5. Fake or Stolen Editorial Board

Board members listed without their knowledge, or entirely fabricated credentials.

6. Poor Website Quality

Spelling errors, broken links, unprofessional design, or missing journal policies.

7. False Indexing Claims

Claims to be indexed in Scopus, PubMed, or Web of Science — but is not actually listed there.

8. No ISSN or Fake ISSN

Missing ISSN, a fake ISSN, or a duplicate ISSN shared with another journal.

9. Overly Broad Scope

Catch-all scope covering every possible topic — a sign the journal will accept anything for a fee.

10. Misleading Location Claims

Publisher claims to be based in US or UK but actually headquartered elsewhere with a high volume of predatory journals.

Hijacked Journals: A Growing Threat

A newer form of academic fraud involves "journal hijacking" — where scammers clone the website of a legitimate, reputable journal and use the same or a very similar name to collect submissions and fees.

Known Hijacked Journals:

Adalya Journal

Aegaeum

ARCTIC Journal

BOREAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH

FOURRAGES

High Technology Letters

International Medical Journal

Journal of Engineering Technology (JoET)

Journal of Southwest Jiaotong University

Journal of Talent Development and Excellence

Journal of University of Shanghai for Science and Technology

Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology

Journal of Xidian University

Opcion

Paideuma Journal of Research

POLISH POLAR RESEARCH

Preslia Journal

Technology Reports of Kansai University

TEST: Engineering & Management

Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Tip: Always check the exact URL before submitting. Hijacker websites often differ from the legitimate version by just one letter, a hyphen, or a different domain extension.

About Our Data Source

We have not created this predatory journal list ourselves. Our database is based on Beall's List — the most widely referenced resource for identifying predatory journals, originally compiled by Jeffrey Beall, an academic librarian at the University of Colorado Denver.

The original list was taken down in 2017, but a community-maintained archived version continues at beallslist.net, which regularly updates with new entries and corrections.

Beall's List beallslist.net Jeffrey Beall

How to Verify a Journal

Check Scopus / WoS

Search for the journal on Scopus or Web of Science Master Journal List. If it's not listed, be cautious.

Verify the ISSN

Check the ISSN on the ISSN Portal (portal.issn.org) to confirm the journal actually exists and matches.

Contact an Editor

Predatory journals list fake editors or use real names without permission. Contact an editor to verify they are real.

Check Review Timeline

Legitimate journals take weeks to months for review. Acceptance in 24-48 hours is a major red flag.

Search DOAJ

The Directory of Open Access Journals (doaj.org) lists vetted OA journals. Check if the journal is registered.

Verify Impact Factor

Only Clarivate assigns official Impact Factors. "Global Impact Factor", "Universal IF" etc. are all fake metrics.