einstein (São Paulo). 29/maio/2025;23:eED01663.
Predatory Journals
DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2025ED1663
Why is this phenomenon becoming widespread?
With the increase in open access journals, the publishing industry is losing one of their best funding options: the subscription fees that medical libraries and researchers pay. Publishers have now become dependent on publishing fees. You may have heard the phrase “publish or perish.” Some global institutions pay their medical researchers based on how many papers they aim to publish every year. Some academic medical institutions also judge and decide the researchers’ tenure based on the number of papers published.
Many enterprising individuals have discovered an easy way of making money. Some do the minimal work required to imitate an actual journal, with an eminent-looking reviewing body to dupe you into submitting a paper while evidently charging a hefty fee. Others do not even attempt this: they merely wish to get their hands on your paper and your money, and you will never hear from them again. They will not respond to your questions, and you would be unable to trace them. As P. T. Barnum said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
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