In the vast landscape of academic publishing, a deceptive and troubling phenomenon has persisted for years: hijacked journals. These scam websites impersonate legitimate research journals, preying on unsuspecting researchers and sowing seeds of doubt in the integrity of scholarly publishing.
Understanding Hijacked Journals
Hijacked journals are fraudulent platforms that clone the websites of reputable scientific journals, creating near-identical replicas with subtle domain name (URL) changes. These websites often possess hijacked International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSNs) and may even appear in mainstream databases like Scopus or Web of Science. The scam sites collect author fees without providing proper peer review processes or guaranteeing publication. Unwary researchers, often driven by the pressure to publish or lured by an email to publish, may unknowingly submit their manuscripts to these journals, paying author fees and unknowingly compromising the reliability and validity of their work.
Implications and Risks
The implications of hijacked journals extend beyond financial loss. The dissemination of non-peer-reviewed research as legitimate work can mislead policymakers, researchers, and medical professionals, potentially endangering public health and wellbeing. Inaccurate or fabricated findings, presented as authoritative research, erode trust in the scientific community and undermine the foundation of evidence-based decision-making.
Combatting the Threat
To check a site’s legitimacy, go to Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory, type in the journal title and check the URL address. Do not rely on an ISSN as they can be hijacked also. If the URL address does not match that listed in Ulrich, the site is a fake. Retraction Watch provides a spreadsheet which lists over 150 allegedly hijacked journals and their associated web addresses. It is a useful tool and a good starting place when you are unsure whether a site is fake.
By utilising resources like Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory and Retraction Watch, researchers can navigate the publishing landscape with greater confidence. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a journal site, contact library staff who can provide expert guidance.
Want to know more? Read a Nature article on how scammers cloned the websites of two European science journals.
