Journal Guardians

(Image credits: https://www.inc.com/) 1. Have you checked the indexing of the journal in reliable databases? Before submitting to a new journal, make sure that the indexing agencies are reputed one. Just give a visit to well reputed publishers such as IEEE, Springer, Elsevier, etc to confirm the reputed indexing service providers. 2. Are you aware of the journal's impact factor and how it compares to other reputable journals in your field? Before submitting to a new journal, make sure that the impact factors (IF) are reputed one. In market many fake IFs are exists in the form *IFs. Once again give a visit to well reputed publishers such as IEEE, Springer, Elsevier, etc to confirm the reputed indexing service providers. 3. Does the journal claim to have an unusually fast publication process compared to other reputable journals? For a journal that follows standard review process definitely it takes some amount of time to identify suitable expert reviewer in the respective area then n...

How fake/bogus journals are working? (Image credits:  https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-0bd2e3d6538e09a3898ac26c5dabff37 ) Fake or bogus journals operate through deceptive practices designed to mimic the structure and appearance of legitimate scholarly publishing. Here's how they typically work: Deceptive Websites: These journals often create websites that mimic the look and feel of legitimate academic journals. They may use similar layouts, logos, and formatting to give the appearance of professionalism. Solicitation: Predatory journals often send unsolicited emails to researchers, enticing them to submit articles or serve as editors or reviewers. These emails may claim that the journal is reputable and indexed in well-known databases. Fast-Track Publication: One of the attractive features fake journals offer is rapid publication. They claim that submitted manuscripts will be published quickly, sometimes within days or weeks, which can be enticing to authors looking for ...

Why there is no review process followed in fake/bogus journals  (Image credits: Actual peer-review process  https://www.openacessjournal.com//assets/blog/What-is-peer-review.jpg ) Irrespective of reviewers and editorial members' knowledge, publisher publishes the contents submitted by authors. They are using copyright form as a weapon based on that publisher make authors completely responsible for their contents.  The following are some of the points due to this there is no rigorous review process followed by fake/bogus journals. Profit Motive: Fake journals are primarily motivated by financial gain rather than the advancement of knowledge. They often charge authors publication fees without providing legitimate editorial and peer review services. By avoiding the costs associated with rigorous peer review, they maximize their profits. Lack of Editorial Oversight: These journals typically lack a qualified editorial board or experienced editors. This absence of exper...

List of Engineering Colleges that adopts/accepts fake Journal Publications (Image Credits:  https://blog.lnct.ac.in/ ) Why don't Engineering Colleges take action against staffs and faculties who publish in fake/bogus journals?  If there is rule in Engineering Colleges not to publish in fake/bogus journals then surely their staffs/faculties will not approach such a fake/bogus journals to publish their research work. If Engineering Colleges gives warning against the faculties/staffs who publish in fake/bogus journals, one can avoid fake/bogus/predatory journals. Here by Engineering Colleges are requested to encourage their staffs/faculties to publish in internationally reputed journals. We are in the process of preparing a list of Engineering Colleges from where staffs/faculties published in fake/bogus journals.  We will update the list then and there once there is a publication in fake/bogus journal by their staffs/faculties from  Engineering Colleges. We will remov...

List of Universities that adopts/accepts fake Journal Publications (Image Courtesy:  https://admission.aglasem.com/ ) Why don't Universities take action against staffs and faculties who publish in fake/bogus journals?  If there is rule in Universities not to publish in fake/bogus journals then surely their staffs/faculties will not approach such a fake/bogus journals to publish their research work. If Universities gives warning against the faculties/staffs who publish in fake/bogus journals, one can avoid fake/bogus/predatory journals. Here by Universities are requested to encourage their staffs/faculties to publish in internationally reputed journals. We are in the process of preparing a list of Universities from where staffs/faculties published in fake/bogus journals.  We will update the list then and there once there is a publication in fake/bogus journal by their staffs/faculties from Universities. We will remove the name of Universities from the list once the publi...

Here are the screenshots about this fake journal ( Science, Technology and Development Journal ), follows fake ISSN, fake DoI, claims fake UGC-CARE listed. In this post we will see about a fake journal that claims a false UGC-CARE list, fake ISSN, fake DOI. Below is the website.  https://journalstd.com/ Below are the detailed analysis: 1.  Fake UGC claim: ISSN number is not listed in UGC-CARE list 2. Fake title as it is not listed in UGC-CARE List 3. No physical contact address is listed in the website 4. No dedicated and official mail id, any reputed journal will follow a general mail? 5. Uses a fake ISSN number, did a search in the ISSN portal, it displays a UK JOURNAL. 6. Uses fake Digital object identifier (DoI) string, it shows and direct to google drive link. Surely this is not useful for citing this article any more, so authors are requested to away from this fake journal. 7. Uses fake journal title in the published paper! So authors are requested to away from this fa...

List of International Editorial Board Members behind Fake/Bogus Journals  (Image credits:  https://theaggie.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Copy-of-Editorial_CAITLYN-SAMPLEY_AGGIE-696x464.jpg ) In this post, we will discuss about the editorial board members behind in the fake/bogus journals.  Here, we will be uploading the list of editorial board members with their affiliations (still under investigations) from various fake/bogus journals. Moreover, we will remove the name in the list once your name is removed from the respective fake/bogus journal's editorial board. Hereby we request the editorial board members to withdraw your role from the fake/bogus journals. To remove your name from the list that we have in the following form . International Editorial Board Members might become associated with fake or bogus journals for various reasons, although it's important to note that not all editorial board members are aware of or complicit in predatory journal practices. Here...

Why the fake/bogus journals not impacting in real scenario? (Image credits:  https://www.apa.org/images/2022-01-special-fighting-fake_tcm7-300823.jpg ) Fake or bogus journals do have some impact in the real scenario, but this impact is largely negative and harmful rather than contributing to the advancement of knowledge.  The effects of such journals can include: Dilution of Scientific Integrity: Fake journals undermine the credibility and integrity of the academic publishing system. They create an environment where low-quality, unverified, or even plagiarized research can be published, eroding the trust in scholarly communication. Misleading Researchers: These journals often deceive researchers into believing their work has been peer-reviewed and published in reputable outlets. Authors may waste their research funds on publication fees or tarnish their reputation by associating with such journals. Influence on Academia: In some cases, researchers in certain countries may b...

Before submitting your research paper to so-called journals, please go through the guidelines given in this website. (Image source:  https://thinkchecksubmit.org/journals/  ) The journals which have been adopted the fake indexing providers also the fake journals. Check if the journal is available in this fake ISI indexing provider's list . Search and identify the journal is fake are not.

By keeping a old/fake UGC search results, any one can claim it is listed in UGC approved list.  For example click on the below journal page( ijcrt.org ), it shows it is listed in UGC approved list.  Here authors should search whether really it is listed in UGC approved list. For this authors should first visit UGC website( https://ugccare.unipune.ac.in/apps1/home/index ) But the below ( fake ) image listed in their website shows that the journal is listed in UGC approved list. Please click the image below for the verification. In future the image link may be removed, but here we wish to provide awareness to the research community.  How to search or identify a journal is UGC approved in UGC website? First you must register with UGC website for searching a journal in the approved list. Also it is useful for identifying the fake journals.  Select either title of the journal or ISSN of the journal. After entering the title of the journal, the results shows as as follo...

 In this post, we will discuss some bogus/fake impact factors and the agencies. 1. Fake / Non-IF provider: WWW.SJIFACTOR.COM Below is the user experiences shared in online. (Source link: https://www.editage.com/insights/what-is-the-difference-between-sjif-and-if#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20fact%20that,Factor%20(GIF)%2C%20etc. ) So, researchers and students be careful on selecting journals that adopts fake impact factors and indexing services. Conclusion: So based on user experience, if a journal adopts SJIF as an impact factor then surely that journal is a fake journal.  You can do a search for a journal that adopts SJIF impact factor by following procedure. Go to this link http://sjifactor.com/sjif.php  and search a journal's ISSN or title that you want to publish. If the search result shows the journal that you want to publish then definitely it is a fake journal, hence away from that fake/bogus journal.  And the journals that follow this kind of fake impact facto...

"JournalGuardians" is a  discussion forum where authors come together to help each other identify reputable and high-quality journals while staying away from predatory or fake journals.  The forum serves as a platform for sharing experiences, tips, and resources to ensure that authors make informed decisions when choosing journals for their research publications.  Members of JournalGuardians can discuss various aspects of journal selection, such as evaluating peer review processes, assessing indexing and impact factors, and recognizing warning signs of predatory practices.  The goal is to protect the integrity of academic publishing and promote the dissemination of trustworthy research within the scholarly community.