Every year, researchers lose time, money and credibility to predatory journals — publications that charge fees but skip genuine peer review. A related risk is publishing in a journal that is later discontinued from Scopus or Web of Science, which can affect how your paper counts for promotions, PhD requirements or grants.

Red flags of a predatory journal

  • Unsolicited emails praising your work and inviting a submission
  • Promises of acceptance or publication within days or "guaranteed Scopus indexing"
  • A very broad scope ("all fields of science, engineering and management")
  • Fees that are hidden until after acceptance
  • Editorial board members who cannot be verified, or who did not agree to be listed
  • A name or website that closely imitates a well-known journal
  • Fake or unverifiable impact metrics

How to verify indexing yourself

  1. Scopus: search the journal title or ISSN in the Scopus Sources list. Check that coverage is current and not marked as discontinued.
  2. Web of Science: search the Master Journal List by ISSN.
  3. UGC-CARE (India): check the current UGC-CARE list for the journal.
  4. DOAJ: for open-access journals, check whether the journal is listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals.
  5. Match the details: the ISSN, publisher and website URL in the index must match the site you are submitting to.
Never rely on an "indexed in Scopus" logo on the journal's own website. Always check the index directly.

Beware of hijacked journals

A hijacked journal copies the name and ISSN of a legitimate journal and runs a fake website. The best defence is to reach the journal's website through the link given in Scopus or the publisher's official site — not through an email or a search ad.

What about discontinued titles?

Indexing databases review journals regularly and discontinue those that no longer meet quality standards. Articles published before the discontinuation date generally remain in the database, but new content is not indexed. Before submitting, check that coverage is ongoing and look for warning signs such as a sudden jump in the number of papers published.

A quick pre-submission checklist

  • Have you or your colleagues read articles in this journal?
  • Is the peer-review process described clearly?
  • Are the fees stated openly before submission?
  • Is the journal a member of recognised bodies such as COPE?
  • Does the editorial board include verifiable experts in your field?

The bottom line

Spend 15 minutes verifying a journal before you submit. It is far easier than trying to withdraw a paper from a predatory or de-indexed journal later.