{"product_id":"new-years-resolution-say-no-to-fake-journals-and-conferences","title":"New Year's Resolution: Say No to Fake Journals and Conferences","description":"\u003cp\u003eObesity specialists warn that fake \"predatory\" journals and conferences are becoming increasingly common scams that exploit researchers, harm scientific integrity, and ultimately mislead patients looking for trustworthy health information. This editorial explains how these fraudulent operations work, presents alarming statistics about their rise—including nearly 8,000 predatory journals publishing 420,000 articles in 2014—and provides practical advice for both researchers and the public to recognize and avoid these deceptive practices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch1\u003eNew Year's Resolution: Say No to Fake Journals and Conferences\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#ddn-key-points\"\u003eKey Points\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#background\"\u003eWhy This Editorial Matters to You\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#what-are-they\"\u003eWhat Are Predatory Journals and Conferences?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#how-they-work\"\u003eHow These Scams Recruit Victims\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#real-example\"\u003eA Real-Life Example of a Sham Conference\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#scale\"\u003eThe Explosive Growth of Predatory Publishing\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#harms\"\u003eThe Many Ways These Scams Harm You\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#legal-action\"\u003eLegal Action: The FTC Takes On OMICS Group\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#what-to-do\"\u003eHow to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#limitations\"\u003eA Note of Caution\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#ddn-faq\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source\"\u003eSource Information\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- ddn:keypoints:start --\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"ddn-key-points\"\u003eKey Points\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePredatory journals and conferences are scams that skip peer review and exploit researchers for profit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNearly 8,000 predatory journals published about 420,000 articles in 2014 alone, growing rapidly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlawed research in fake journals can be cited by sellers of unproven pills and supplements, misleading patients.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe FTC sued predatory publisher OMICS Group in 2016, but predatory publishing continues to thrive.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck if a journal is in PubMed or DOAJ and be skeptical of grand, rushed, or poorly written research invitations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- ddn:keypoints:end --\u003e\n\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"background\"\u003eWhy This Editorial Matters to You\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou've probably seen them yourself: emails with grand titles like \"13th Annual Global Investigations on Obesity and Metabolomics\" or invitations to submit research to the \"International Journal of Weight Loss Research\" with guaranteed acceptance within 48 hours. These solicitations may look impressive, but they are actually traps set by what the authors call \u003cstrong\u003epredatory journals\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003epredatory conferences\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou might be thinking, \"I'm not a researcher, so why should I care?\" The answer is simple: these fake publications and meetings are designed to make money by publishing research—any research—without proper quality checks. This means that questionable studies can appear legitimate, sometimes even ending up cited in news articles or used to sell weight-loss pills and other products. For anyone trying to make informed health decisions, this is a serious problem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"what-are-they\"\u003eWhat Are Predatory Journals and Conferences?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003epredatory journal\u003c\/strong\u003e is a scam online publication that \"publishes\" articles for a fee. The authors call them \"scam online publications that swindle researchers to publish for payment.\" They will accept anything, no matter how flawed, and they skip standard procedures like peer review (the process where experts check the quality of the research) and indexing in legitimate databases (like PubMed). These journals are profit-generating businesses that only pretend to be scholarly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003epredatory conference\u003c\/strong\u003e is a bogus event that poses as a scientific meeting. These are organized by profit-driven companies, not by professional societies or accredited universities. Their main goal is to collect registration fees. Even when they organize an actual physical gathering, it is a makeshift, poorly run event that has little to do with real science.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth types of fraud exploit the academic world's need to publish and present research. They use aggressive email marketing and misleading spam to lure busy professionals and sometimes, the public.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-they-work\"\u003eHow These Scams Recruit Victims\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe emails often arrive with odd writing—broken English, inconsistent fonts, and grandiose language. They may copy the names of well-known journals to look official, like creating a publication called \u003cem\u003eObesity: Open Access\u003c\/em\u003e to imitate the real journal \u003cem\u003eObesity\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese operations \"recruit via aggressive marketing and misleading spam emails, with no intention of following through on their false promises.\" They add respected researchers' names to editorial boards without consent, list \"organizing committee\" members who never agreed to serve, and invent connections to famous professors to build trust.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne shocking anecdote from the editorial describes a colleague who was tricked into allowing her name and university affiliation to appear on a predatory conference's organizing committee. She was recruited through a spam email that falsely claimed a senior colleague of hers had been a prior speaker and editorial board member—both were made up. The conference location was also abruptly changed from the UK to Spain without notice, and it's unclear whether anyone ultimately attended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"real-example\"\u003eA Real-Life Example of a Sham Conference\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors share a first-hand account from a researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) who unknowingly attended a predatory conference. This person called it \"a total sham of a meeting.\" Although the event was billed as a major international conference, fewer than two dozen people actually attended. The researcher only discovered that his name was on the \"organizing committee\" for marketing purposes after the fact—he had never been asked for input. In addition, fewer than half of the scheduled speakers even showed up, and many had likely never committed to speaking at all. Every attendee received a fabricated award, which tells you just how meaningless such honors are.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"scale\"\u003eThe Explosive Growth of Predatory Publishing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePredatory publishing has grown at an alarming pace. One widely used blacklist (a list of known or suspected predatory publishers) counted nearly \u003cstrong\u003e2,000 predatory publishers and journals\u003c\/strong\u003e in 2016. A longitudinal study, published in \u003cem\u003eBMC Medicine\u003c\/em\u003e in 2015, identified nearly \u003cstrong\u003e8,000 predatory journals\u003c\/strong\u003e that together published an estimated \u003cstrong\u003e420,000 articles in 2014\u003c\/strong\u003e alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo put that number in perspective, this is an \u003cstrong\u003eorder of magnitude larger than in 2010\u003c\/strong\u003e—that is, about 10 times more. The authors warn that given this growth rate, we are likely approaching \u003cstrong\u003e1 million articles published by predatory journals today\u003c\/strong\u003e. That is an enormous amount of potentially unreliable research flooding the scientific landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"harms\"\u003eThe Many Ways These Scams Harm You\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese predatory operations cause harm in several significant ways, all of which eventually affect patients like you. Here are the key harms described in the editorial:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey steal opportunities:\u003c\/strong\u003e Predatory conferences lure unsuspecting learners away from legitimate meetings, and predatory journals distract researchers from submitting their work to reputable, peer-reviewed outlets. This impedes real education and scientific progress.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey rip people off:\u003c\/strong\u003e The editorial cites a study showing an average publication charge of \u003cstrong\u003e$178 per article\u003c\/strong\u003e, but many accounts describe far higher fees. One researcher was charged \u003cstrong\u003e$2,700\u003c\/strong\u003e—and only learned about the fee structure after his article was already accepted.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey act as a vanity press:\u003c\/strong\u003e These journals happily print weak or illegitimate research without any academic control or integrity. This gives an air of credibility to work that would never pass a proper review.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey pollute the scientific literature:\u003c\/strong\u003e When flawed articles are published online without peer review, their quality is highly questionable. Even worse, if an author refuses to pay the unreasonable fees, the journal can \"hijack\" the work, making it impossible to publish elsewhere. And if a genuinely good article is published in a predatory journal, it may not be indexed in important databases, so it becomes lost to the scientific community.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey exploit reputations:\u003c\/strong\u003e Many researchers and organizations are added to editorial boards without ever being asked. This gives an undeserved sheen of legitimacy to the predatory publication and misleads others.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey give snake-oil salesmen fuel:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is perhaps the most direct harm to patients. When consumers, journalists, and other non-scientists see \"published research,\" they often accept it as solid evidence. Predatory journals make it easy for people selling dubious pills, potions, and supplements to cite \"science\" that was never properly vetted.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"legal-action\"\u003eLegal Action: The FTC Takes On OMICS Group\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn August 2016, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against OMICS Group, one of the most notorious predatory publishing companies. The FTC charged that OMICS had \"scheme[d] researchers out of millions of dollars,\" ignored peer review, listed editorial board members without their consent, hid publication fees until after articles were accepted, and held research hostage until fees were paid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis lawsuit was a landmark step. However, the authors express skepticism that it will have much lasting effect. Their prediction is that predatory publishers will simply shift their practices to skirt the regulations. The editorial was published in 2017, and history has shown that indeed, predatory publishing continues to thrive in various forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"what-to-do\"\u003eHow to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven though this advice was written for researchers, it holds valuable lessons for everyone. In general, be skeptical of anything that looks too grand or too easy. Here are actionable steps you can take:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFor patients:\u003c\/strong\u003e When you see a claim that something is \"proven\" by research, ask whether the study appeared in a reputable, well-known journal. Check if the journal is listed in major scientific databases like PubMed or the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Be suspicious of studies cited by weight-loss product sellers unless they appear in recognized medical journals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFor researchers and clinicians:\u003c\/strong\u003e If you receive an email requesting a submission or inviting you to speak at a conference, look it over carefully. Is the writing professional? Does it make impossible promises like guaranteed acceptance in 48 hours? If the sender has a comically grand title like \"Sir Jim Davis,\" be wary. The authors advise: \"Don't respond, and highlight it as spam.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCheck blacklists and whitelists:\u003c\/strong\u003e To verify a journal or conference, consult published blacklists (for example, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/scholarlyoa.com\/individual-journals\/\"\u003escholarlyoa.com\u003c\/a\u003e) which list potential or probable predatory journals, and whitelists such as the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doaj.org\/\"\u003eDirectory of Open Access Journals\u003c\/a\u003e, which lists vetted open-access journals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread awareness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Share this information with students, colleagues, family, and friends. The more people know about these scams, the harder it is for the scammers to succeed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"limitations\"\u003eA Note of Caution\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis editorial is based on the professional experience of the authors and on data available in 2016. Since then, the landscape of predatory publishing has changed considerably. Although the numbers cited (e.g., 8,000 journals and 420,000 articles in 2014) were accurate at the time, the exact number of active predatory journals today is difficult to estimate because these operations frequently appear, disappear, and rebrand. Also, not all journals on any blacklist are equally bad; some may have acceptable practices, which is why experts recommend checking multiple sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors are guest editors of \u003cem\u003eObesity\u003c\/em\u003e, a legitimate peer-reviewed journal. Their standpoint may be influenced by a desire to protect the reputation of the legitimate publishing industry. Nonetheless, their warnings are consistent with independent research and official actions by government agencies like the FTC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- ddn:faq:start --\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"ddn-faq\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat are predatory journals and conferences?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePredatory journals are scam online publications that accept articles for a fee without proper peer review or quality checks. Predatory conferences are bogus events that pose as scientific meetings but mainly collect registration fees. Both exploit researchers and can mislead patients by making unreliable research look legitimate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy should patients care about fake scientific journals?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFake journals can make weak or flawed research appear credible. When you see a claim that a product or treatment is 'proven,' the study might have been published in a predatory journal without review. This can mislead you into buying unproven pills or supplements, harming your health decisions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat harm do predatory journals cause to patients?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePredatory journals pollute scientific literature with unvetted research, allowing sellers of dubious pills and supplements to cite 'science' that was never properly reviewed. This tricks patients and journalists into accepting false claims. They also exploit researcher reputations and charge hidden fees, but the main harm to patients is misleading health information.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat did the U.S. Federal Trade Commission do about predatory publishers?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn August 2016, the FTC filed a lawsuit against OMICS Group, a major predatory publisher, charging they schemed researchers out of millions of dollars, ignored peer review, listed board members without consent, hid fees, and held research hostage. The authors were skeptical it would have lasting effect, noting that publishers might shift practices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow can I protect myself from being misled by fake research?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you see a research claim, ask whether the study appeared in a reputable, well-known journal. Check if the journal is listed in PubMed or DOAJ. Be skeptical of 'research' cited by product sellers. Spread awareness about these scams so others are less likely to be deceived.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAre all open-access journals or blacklisted journals equally bad?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Not all journals on blacklists are equally bad; some may have acceptable practices. Experts recommend checking multiple sources. The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a whitelist of vetted open-access journals. However, predatory journals skip peer review and standard quality checks, so always verify a journal's reputation before trusting its research.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShould I get a second opinion before trusting a treatment that cites research from a journal I've never heard of?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePredatory journals publish research without proper peer review, so claims based on their articles may be unreliable. If a recommended treatment, especially a weight-loss product, cites a study from a journal you do not recognize, seek a second opinion before proceeding. Ask your clinician to verify whether the study appeared in a reputable journal listed in databases like PubMed or the Directory of Open Access Journals. A second opinion can help you determine whether the evidence is trustworthy and whether the treatment is actually appropriate for you. Diagnostic Detectives Network provides independent expert second opinions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- ddn:faq:end --\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"source\"\u003eSource Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Article:\u003c\/strong\u003e \"New Year's Resolution: Say No to Fake Journals and Conferences\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Scott Kahan, MD, MPH (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; George Washington University School of Medicine \u0026amp; Health Sciences) and Robert F. Kushner, MD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eObesity\u003c\/em\u003e, Volume 25, Number 1, January 2017, pages 11–12. DOI: 10.1002\/oby.21738\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Obesity Society \/ Wiley\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis patient-friendly article is based on peer-reviewed research and editorial content. It is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DiagnosticDetectives.Com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47494448808092,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"RUB","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/diagnosticdetectives.ru\/products\/new-years-resolution-say-no-to-fake-journals-and-conferences","provider":"DiagnosticDetectives.Com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}