In short: Predatory journals, also called pseudo-journals, charge publication fees without providing genuine peer review or editorial checks. ICMJE editors say no current, comprehensive and accurate list of predatory journals exists, so you need to check each journal yourself. Watch for unsolicited invitations, promised acceptance, unclear fees, unverifiable indexing claims and copied journal names, and ask your supervisor, a senior colleague or your library when in doubt.
By On Time Publication Editorial Team · Last updated 15 October 2026
The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) describes predatory publishing as "the systematic for-profit publication of purportedly scholarly content ... in a deceptive or fraudulent way and without any regard for quality assurance". It names three common features: hidden or unclear author fees, a lack of quality peer review by experts, and the guarantee of acceptance or the promise of very fast publication (COPE).
The ICMJE adds that these journals accept and publish almost all submissions, often tell authors about fees only after acceptance, claim to perform peer review but do not, may use names similar to well-established journals, and may falsely claim to be ICMJE members or to follow ICMJE, COPE and WAME recommendations (ICMJE). The World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) suggests "pseudo-journals" may be the more accurate name, since some authors choose them knowingly (WAME).
Not a reliable one. In a January 2025 editorial, ICMJE members wrote that no current, comprehensive and accurate list of predatory journals is available, and that creating one is infeasible because new entities keep appearing and disappearing (ICMJE editorial).
Treat any list as a starting point and check the journal itself.
| Warning sign | Who flags it |
|---|---|
| Formulaic email invitations that do not mention your actual work | WAME |
| Acceptance promised, or review and publication times that seem too good to be true | COPE, WAME, Think. Check. Submit. |
| No clear information on fees, fees revealed after acceptance, or unclear withdrawal charges | ICMJE, ICMJE editorial, WAME |
| Peer review not described in the instructions for authors | WAME, Think. Check. Submit. |
| A name very similar to a well-known journal | ICMJE, WAME |
| Little information about the editors, or board members who do not know they are listed | WAME |
| Deceptive metrics or indexing claims you cannot verify | COPE, ICMJE editorial |
| No clear publisher name, address or way to make contact | WAME, Think. Check. Submit. |
No single sign is proof: WAME notes that an unfamiliar journal may be a legitimate new or regional one, and that signs can be absent even in a predatory journal.
The ICMJE editorial warns that predatory journals may fabricate indexing and citation metrics, and that some may have slipped through vetting and be indexed. Scopus also discontinues titles: Elsevier's source title list, updated monthly, includes a list of discontinued sources (Scopus content). Check the current status, not an old screenshot, and make sure the website is the real journal rather than a hijacked copy: see how to check Scopus and Web of Science indexing and the Retraction Watch Hijacked Journal Checker.
For a full shortlisting method, see how to choose a journal.
Whether you are in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan or elsewhere, check which journals your university, hospital or promotion committee counts before you submit. The ICMJE editorial warns that publishing in a predatory journal may have financial and professional consequences that interfere with publishing in legitimate journals, and that early-career authors under pressure to publish are particularly vulnerable. WAME says such journals fall short of the kind of publication that serves as evidence of academic performance. Be wary of anyone who offers acceptance in a named journal for a fee: only the journal's editors and reviewers can decide. Our Saudi Arabia and GCC page and Jordan page explain how we support researchers there.
Through journal submission support, our team of qualified researchers and subject-specialist editors with publishing experience builds a shortlist and checks each journal against the official Scopus and Clarivate lists. You choose the journal. Acceptance is always decided by the journal's editors and peer reviewers. We work in Gulf and Jordan business hours, with Arabic support. We give a custom quote based on word count, field and deadline after a free assessment, and we agree turnaround per quote. You can pay by Stripe, PayPal or bank transfer in USD, GBP, SAR, AED, JOD and other currencies; itemised invoices are available on request.
Independence: On Time Publication is not affiliated with Elsevier/Scopus, Clarivate/Web of Science, COPE, the ICMJE, the US National Library of Medicine (NLM), WAME, Think. Check. Submit., Retraction Watch, DOAJ or any journal or publisher named on this page. We have no office in the GCC or Jordan. We link to public guidance so you can check it yourself.
A journal that charges publication fees without providing genuine peer review or editorial checks. COPE names hidden or unclear fees, a lack of quality peer review and promised acceptance or very fast publication as common features.
No. ICMJE members wrote in January 2025 that no current, comprehensive and accurate list exists, and that creating one is infeasible because new entities keep appearing and disappearing.
Not on its own. Its website was taken down in January 2017, and WAME says it mistakenly listed some legitimate journals. WAME cautions against using it as the only way to judge a journal.
It can happen. The ICMJE editorial says some may slip through vetting and be indexed, and Scopus discontinues titles. Check the journal's current status in the official lists.
No. The ICMJE editorial notes that legitimate open access, author-pays journals exist, and that predatory journals have made some academics wary of them. Think. Check. Submit. suggests checking that the journal explains what its fees are for and when they are charged.
Check that the email address and links match the real journal's website. The ICMJE editorial suggests forwarding a doubtful invitation to the legitimate journal and asking whether it sent it.
Do not pay further fees. Ask the journal in writing to withdraw the manuscript, keep copies and talk to your supervisor or library. If it was published, tell any new journal.
Yes. Through journal submission support we check each journal on your shortlist against the official Scopus and Clarivate lists. You choose the journal, and the journal decides on acceptance.
We link to official sources so you can check the rules yourself. Always follow your target journal's and institution's current instructions.
Not sure a journal is genuine? Send us its name and website, your target index and any university rules for a free assessment.
Pricing: custom quote based on word count, field and deadline. See how pricing works or contact us.
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