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Avoiding Problematic Publishers

Learn what problematic (or "predatory") publishers are, how to identify and avoid them, and how to select reputable journals for publishing your research. No information on this guide should be construed as legal advice.

Problematic Conferences

Akin to problematic or "predatory" publishers, there also are problematic conferences that offer attractive presentation and/or publication opportunities for academics and researchers that are insincere or fraudulent. Much like identifying problematic publishers, identifying problematic conferences can involve considering several different factors.

Signs of Problematic Conferences

Many problematic publishers are increasing their revenue stream by organizing fake conferences to exploit presenters and attendees by charging registration fees. Signs of problematic conferences include:

  1. Uses flattery to convince you to present or attend
  2. Contains spelling and grammatical errors
  3. Invites you to present on a topic outside of your area of expertise

It is worth noting that the rising use of AI tools such as Chat GPT could improve the quality of these emails, but receiving unsolicited requests to present, especially in an aggressive manner, is a considerable red flag.

  1. Looks unprofessional
  2. Contains spelling and grammatical errors
  3. Lacks clear scope and has vague topics or themes
  4. Proceedings from previous conferences are not available or, if available, the sessions and materials do not appear professional
  5. Multiple presentations by a single person at the same conference
  6. No contact information or only a webform
  7. Poorly organized
  1. The conference is not well-known in your field
  2. Your colleagues have not heard of the conference
  3. Conference papers are published in problematic journals
  1. The conference is not sponsored by a professional organization or makes false claims that it is
  2. Organized by a for-profit company
  3. Owners of the organization are omitted
  4. People who serve on advisory boards or organizing committees are unfamiliar 
  5. Uses the names of reputable scholars without their permission
  1. No peer review process or the process is poorly outlined
  2. Promises rapid turnaround time for acceptance
  3. Conference organizer or employees review submissions rather than an independent panel
  1. Fees are higher than other comparable conferences
  2. Charge presenters a higher rate than attendees

Key Takeaways

  1. If a call to present or attend is not from a trusted source, treat it as spam or thoroughly investigate the legitimacy of the conference.
  2. Verify with trusted colleagues if they are familiar with this conference. 
  3. If the conference seems unorganized, unfocused, and lacking information don't trust it.