New AI exposes more than 1000 fake scientific journals, raising alarm in the research world

Introduction

Imagine dedicating months or even years to your research, investing time, energy, and resources… only to see your article published in a “scientific journal” that turns out to be a fraud. This is the growing risk of predatory journals — publications that present themselves as legitimate but charge abusive fees without providing proper peer review.

In recent years, the proliferation of these journals has caught the attention of the academic world, and new Artificial Intelligence tools are now helping expose thousands of them, revealing the scale of the problem.

What are predatory journals?

Predatory journals are publications that pretend to operate like legitimate scientific journals, but in reality, they fail to meet basic standards of quality. Their main goal is to profit from publication fees, not to advance science.

Common features:

• High Article Processing Charges (APCs).

• No real peer review process.

• Promises of fast and guaranteed acceptance.

• Names resembling prestigious journals to mislead authors.

• Poorly designed websites with broken links or translation errors.

• Fake claims of indexation in Scopus, Web of Science, or DOAJ.

How do they trick researchers?

Predatory journals exploit the pressure to publish. Many early-career researchers fall into their traps because:

1. Institutional pressure: publications are required for funding, graduation, or promotion.

2. Promises of speed: approval within days is tempting when deadlines are tight.

3. Deceptive names: titles like “International Journal of Advanced Research” sound credible.

4. Personalized invitations: flattering emails inviting authors to submit.

The impact on science

The consequences are severe:

• Academic pollution: low-quality papers enter the citation system.

• Loss of credibility: institutions and researchers suffer reputational damage.

• Wasted resources: public and private funds are misused.

• Social risks: in medicine or agriculture, unreliable data may influence policy and treatments.

How to spot predatory journals

1. Check indexing in Scopus, Web of Science, or DOAJ.

2. Consult Beall’s List, maintained by volunteers.

3. Investigate the editorial board — are the editors real and credible?

4. Read past articles to assess quality.

5. Beware of “too fast” acceptance — real peer review takes time.

How to protect yourself

• Seek advice from supervisors and experienced colleagues.

• Prefer well-known journals in your field.

• Confirm legitimacy using SciELO, DOAJ, Scopus, or Qualis (Brazil).

• Avoid sending papers to journals that approach you via email.

Conclusion

Predatory journals are a silent threat to science. While new AI tools are helping expose them, researchers must remain vigilant. A hasty choice can compromise not only one paper but an entire academic career.