Predatory journal warning signs matter because the wrong venue can waste months and leave a lasting mark on your record. These outlets often copy the look of serious journals while cutting corners on peer review, transparency, or indexing claims. This page helps you spot common red flags before you submit. For shortlisting help, see our journal selection support and Scopus publication support. Publish With Scopus does not guarantee acceptance, and we do not work with guarantee-based brokers.
Warning signs to take seriously
1. Guaranteed acceptance A promise of acceptance in days, or acceptance for a fee, is a reason to stop.
2. Payment before a clear review process Serious journals explain peer review before they ask for money.
3. Vague or unverifiable indexing claims If you cannot confirm Scopus or Web of Science coverage on the official sources, do not rely on the claim. Our guide to how to choose a Scopus journal shows where to check. If you are comparing the two databases, read Scopus vs Web of Science.
4. Unclear peer review Claims that the publisher will handle review for you, or no description of the review process at all, are warning signs.
5. Weak editorial transparency Missing contact details, copied text from other journals, or an editorial board that looks invented deserve a closer look.
6. Spam invitations Emails that invite any manuscript regardless of topic are common in risky outreach. Unsolicited offers to publish a book or chapter in weeks deserve the same caution; see academic book publication support.
7. Surprise fees Charges that appear only after soft acceptance language should be questioned before you agree to anything.
One sign alone does not prove a journal is predatory. Several together are a good reason to step back. Clinicians comparing case-report venues should also read case report publication support.
What to do instead
Our free Scopus indexed journal readiness checklist puts these steps in order.
- Read the aims and scope on the publisher’s own site.
- Verify indexing on official sources, and check again near submission.
- Compare two or three recent articles with your contribution.
- Keep a short shortlist with a reason for each journal.
- Walk away from offers that promise results instead of describing a process.
Fit matters as much as safety. A legitimate journal that does not match your paper can still end in a desk rejection, so also read why research papers get desk-rejected.
How we can help
We help authors build an ethical shortlist and avoid risky venues as part of journal selection and manuscript readiness. We are UK-registered in London. We are not a publisher. We do not guarantee acceptance or indexing outcomes.
A ten-minute check before you submit
1. Write down the journal’s exact name, publisher and ISSN, and check that they agree on the journal’s own site.
2. Find the editor-in-chief and a few board members. Search their names with their stated institution to confirm they exist and appear to be connected with the journal.
3. Search the title or ISSN on the official Scopus Sources page and, for open access titles, in the Directory of Open Access Journals. Note what you find and the date.
4. Read three recent articles. Are they coherent, edited and on topic for the journal?
5. Open the fees page and the copyright or licence page. Charges and rights should be stated before submission, not after.
6. Ask your librarian or research office. They often know which titles have caused problems for colleagues.
An invented invitation email, annotated
“Dear Esteemed Professor, we invite you to publish your valuable research in our International Journal of Advanced Global Studies. Impact factor guaranteed. Peer review in 48 hours. Acceptance assured. A small processing fee is payable now.”
- The greeting and the flattery are generic, and nothing connects the invitation to a paper you wrote
- A promised impact factor is a claim, not evidence, and it can be checked only with the official provider
- A review in two days leaves no time for a real review
- “Acceptance assured” is a reason to stop at once
- Payment requested before any review is described reverses the usual order
If you have already submitted or paid
- Stop. Do not pay anything further or sign a copyright form
- Write to the editor to withdraw the manuscript, and keep a copy of the message
- Keep every email, invoice and payment record
- Do not send the paper to another journal until the withdrawal has been acknowledged, because simultaneous submission is a breach of publishing ethics
- Tell your co-authors and your research office or library
- If a payment was made by card, ask your bank whether a dispute is possible
We cannot recover fees or force a journal to remove an article. We can help you understand your options and plan a fresh submission to a suitable journal.
Where to check independently
Use the official Scopus Sources page, the Directory of Open Access Journals, and the Think. Check. Submit. checklist, which was produced by publishing organisations to help authors judge a journal. The Committee on Publication Ethics lists its member journals and publishers on its own site, and membership is one more signal, though not a guarantee. None of these replaces reading the journal yourself.
Call to action Email info@publishwithscopus.com Call +44 330 001 1136 Message us on WhatsApp
Frequently asked questions
Does a high article processing charge mean a journal is predatory?
Not by itself. Many legitimate open access journals charge fees. Hidden process and false claims are bigger warning signs.
Can you guarantee that a journal is safe?
No. You should still verify indexing and scope yourself on official sources.
What if I already submitted to a risky journal?
Pause before you pay further fees or sign away rights. Contact us with the journal name and any emails you received.
How do I get shortlisting help?
Email info@publishwithscopus.com or call +44 330 001 1136 with your abstract and field.
Is every new journal predatory?
No. A new journal may be legitimate but have no track record. Check the publisher, the editorial board and the openness of its process. Be cautious if your institution needs indexing, since new journals are usually not yet indexed.
Are open access journals riskier?
No. Many respected journals are open access and charge fees. The question is whether the process and the claims are honest, not whether the model is open.
Can a journal be removed from Scopus?
Yes. Coverage can end if a title no longer meets the database’s standards, which is why you should check the status close to submission.
Important answers
Do you guarantee acceptance or Scopus indexing?
No. Journals and indexes decide. We help with readiness, selection, submission preparation, and reviewer responses in an ethical way.
Are you a journal or publisher?
No. We are a UK-registered consultancy based in London.
Who is this for?
Professors, doctors and clinician-researchers, and PhD researchers who want practical, ethical support.
How should indexing claims be checked?
Use official sources and the publisher’s own pages. Social graphics are not enough.