{"id":42751,"date":"2025-08-05T18:43:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T13:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pinkcitynow.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/iferp-warns-researchers-beware-of-predatory-journals-in-the-open-access-boom\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T18:43:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T13:13:14","slug":"iferp-warns-researchers-beware-of-predatory-journals-in-the-open-access-boom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pinkcitynow.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/iferp-warns-researchers-beware-of-predatory-journals-in-the-open-access-boom\/","title":{"rendered":"IFERP Warns Researchers: Beware of Predatory Journals in the Open Access Boom"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 5:<\/strong> <\/span>The Institute for Educational Research and Publication (IFERP), a leading global academic and research association, has issued a formal warning to scholars about the <\/span>growing threat of hijacked and deceptive journals<\/span><\/strong>, particularly within the open access publishing model. As the landscape of scholarly communication evolves, so do the tactics of fraudulent operators who exploit unsuspecting academics.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Publishing<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in a hijacked journal can erase years of scholarly effort in a single act,<\/span><\/strong>\u201d stated\u00a0<\/span>Mr. Siddth Kumar Chhajer, MD & Founder, IFERP, Technoarete Group.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0These deceptive platforms threaten the integrity of academic research and disproportionately target early-career researchers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding the Threat: What Are Hijacked Journals?<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Hijacked journals are counterfeit websites designed to mimic legitimate academic publications. These fraudulent platforms use identical journal names, ISSNs, and branding to solicit manuscripts, charge fees, and bypass peer review. In many cases, they resell plagiarized content, publish without proper review, and tarnish authors\u2019 reputations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Real-World Impact: A Case Study<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

In a recent case, cybercriminals cloned a reputable open access journal\u2019s website and sent out mass email invitations to researchers. IFERP\u2019s research integrity team intervened promptly, issuing a public advisory, notifying domain authorities, and assisting affected researchers in redirecting their work to verified journals. This incident underscores the high cost of poor publishing decisions: valuable research can be lost, career progress derailed, and institutional reputations severely damaged. As these threats become more sophisticated, so too must the vigilance of researchers and institutions alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

The High Cost of Poor Publishing Choices<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

The consequences of engaging with hijacked journals go far beyond individual setbacks. Researchers may see their work disappear without a trace, lose hard-earned credibility, and find future publishing efforts questioned. Institutions, too, face repercussions such as compromised academic integrity, strained collaborations, and lower rankings. As the tactics of deceptive publishers evolve, it becomes imperative for both individuals and organisations to adopt a more discerning and proactive approach to scholarly publishing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"IFERP\"<\/p>\n

IFERP\u2019s Five-Point Checklist to Avoid Hijacked Journals<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

To help authors safeguard their work, IFERP recommends a simple but effective five-step process:<\/span><\/p>\n