KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Hijacked journals imitate legitimate publications, misleading researchers into paying for non-peer-reviewed work.
- To combat hijacking, publishers should secure their websites and regularly check the accuracy of online listings. Researchers can use tools like Think Check Submit and Retraction Watch’s Hijacked Journal Checker to confirm journal authenticity.
Journal hijacking, in which fraudulent websites impersonate legitimate journals, is an ongoing threat to academic publishing. Hijacked journals deceive researchers into paying fees to publish work that is not peer reviewed, risking reputational damage for both the researcher and the legitimate journal that has been targeted. But what, if anything, can be done? A recent Nature Index article by Jackson Ryan delved into the issues.
The scale of the problem
Economist Anna Abalkina has tracked more than 250 hijacking cases for Retraction Watch over the past 4 years. The tactics used by hijackers include:
- taking over expired domain names to create fake journal websites
- using fake URLs that closely mimic legitimate journals
- creating a website to steal the identity of a journal that lacks an online presence.
Victims across academic publishing
Ryan describes the impact of hijacking on researchers and publishers alike. While duped researchers can see their academic reputation and careers damaged, publishers that fall victim to hijacking can be forced to expend large amounts of time trying to correct the record. The journal International Development Planning Review (IDPR) was hijacked in late 2023. Despite the publisher’s efforts to have the fake site delisted by Google, it remained in top search results for months. In another case, the Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems was hijacked by hackers altering its URL on Scopus. By the time the URL was corrected, hundreds of fake articles had been published under the journal’s name. A common theme among affected publishers is frustration with slow responses from tech companies and online platforms.
A common theme among affected publishers is frustration with slow responses from tech companies and online platforms.
What can we do?
Ryan outlines the debate among experts as to whether much can be done to prevent journal hijacking. Dr Dan Hammett, co-editor of IDPR, is sceptical that it can ever be avoided. However, he and others believe that implementing stronger security measures could significantly reduce the risk. Publishers are urged to strengthen website security, register alternative domains themselves to prevent hijackers from exploiting them, and regularly check journal listings on search engines and platforms such as Scopus. Meanwhile, researchers are encouraged to use tools like Think Check Submit and The Retraction Watch Hijacked Journal Checker to confirm journal authenticity.
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