Cloned Journals: A Growing Threat to Academic Integrity
Introduction
In the evolving landscape of academic publishing, researchers constantly strive to disseminate their findings in reputed journals. However, the rise of cloned journals—fraudulent copies of legitimate academic journals—poses a significant threat to academic integrity. These deceptive platforms not only mislead researchers but also undermine the credibility of scientific publications. In this blog post, we will explore what cloned journals are, how they operate, the risks they pose, and how researchers can identify and avoid them.
What Are Cloned Journals?
Cloned journals are fraudulent websites that impersonate legitimate, reputable academic journals. They often:
Copy the name, ISSN, logo, and other branding elements of real journals.
Use web domains similar to the official journal’s website (e.g., replacing
.orgwith.com).Accept and publish papers without rigorous peer review.
Charge hefty article processing fees under the pretense of being an open-access journal.
Unlike predatory journals, which are openly unethical but operate under their own brand names, cloned journals directly hijack the identity of established journals, deceiving unsuspecting authors.
How Cloned Journals Operate
The modus operandi of cloned journals follows a predictable pattern:
Fake Website Creation: Fraudsters create a website mimicking a real journal, sometimes with minor URL modifications.
Deceptive Calls for Papers: They aggressively solicit submissions via email, social media, and even through direct messages to researchers.
Rapid Acceptance and Fake Peer Review: Submitted papers are often accepted within days, bypassing rigorous peer review.
Publication and Monetization: Authors are asked to pay publication fees, and their work is uploaded onto the fake website, sometimes with DOI-like identifiers that are non-functional.
Vanishing Act: Some cloned journals disappear after collecting fees, leaving researchers with no trace of their work.
Risks and Consequences of Publishing in Cloned Journals
Publishing in a cloned journal can have severe repercussions for researchers:
Loss of Credibility: If an institution or funding agency discovers that a researcher has published in a cloned journal, their reputation may suffer.
No Real Indexing: Cloned journals falsely claim indexing in databases like Scopus, Web of Science, or PubMed, but the papers are never actually indexed.
Legal and Ethical Issues: Some cloned journals may misuse an author's work for plagiarism, self-promotion, or even illegal sales.
Wasted Time and Resources: Once an article is published in a cloned journal, reputable publishers will likely reject it, leading to lost opportunities.
How to Identify and Avoid Cloned Journals
Researchers can protect themselves by following these key steps:
1. Verify the Official Website
Always cross-check the journal’s official website with the publisher’s website.
Use the official publisher’s directory (e.g., Elsevier, Springer, Wiley) to find authentic journal URLs.
2. Check ISSN and Indexing
Visit the ISSN Portal (https://portal.issn.org/) to verify if the ISSN matches the official journal.
Search for the journal in Scopus (https://www.scopus.com/) or Web of Science (https://mjl.clarivate.com/) to confirm indexing claims.
3. Look for Unrealistic Acceptance Times
If a journal guarantees peer review and publication in just a few days, it is likely fraudulent.
Genuine peer review takes weeks or months.
4. Inspect the Contact Information
Verify editorial board members and their affiliations.
If contact emails use generic domains (e.g.,
gmail.comoryahoo.com) instead of institutional emails, be cautious.
5. Review DOIs and Citations
Check whether the DOI is functional by searching it on https://doi.org/.
If previous papers in the journal have no citations, the journal might be fake.
6. Use Blacklists and Whitelists
Consult blacklists like Beall’s List (https://beallslist.net/) to check for predatory or cloned journals.
Refer to DOAJ (https://doaj.org/) for verified open-access journals.
List of Known Cloned Journals
For an updated list of identified cloned journals, refer to the spreadsheet: Cloned Journals List.
You can also watch this informative YouTube video explaining cloned journals in detail: Watch Here
What to Do If You Have Published in a Cloned Journal?
If you have unknowingly published in a cloned journal, take the following steps:
Stop citing the article in future research.
Report the journal to relevant authorities (universities, indexing bodies, COPE).
Try to withdraw the paper, although most cloned journals do not allow retraction.
Inform your institution and discuss alternative publication options.
Conclusion
The rise of cloned journals is a serious challenge for academic publishing. Researchers must be vigilant and conduct due diligence before submitting their work. By following best practices in journal selection and verification, the academic community can collectively combat this growing menace and preserve the integrity of scholarly research.
Stay Informed, Stay Safe! Share this post with fellow researchers to spread awareness and protect academic publishing from fraudulent practices. If you have encountered a cloned journal, feel free to share your experience in the comments!
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