This page provides resources explaining what are predatory journals and conferences as well as how to determine if a journal or conference is predatory.
(Grudniewicz et al., 2019)
Grudniewicz, A. Moher, D., Cobey, K., Bryson, G., Cukier, S., Allen, K., Ardern, C., Balcom, L., Barros, T., Berger, M., Ciro, J., Cugusi, L., Donaldson, M., Egger, M., Graham, I., Hodgkinson, M., Khan, K., Mabizela, M., Manca, A., & Lalu, M. (2019). Predatory journals: no definition, no defence. Nature. 576. 210-212. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-03759-y
Example of an email from a predatory publisher.
Check Cabells List - Available on the UWI Campus Libraries A-Z list of databases. Cabells Predatory Reports Criteria
Check if the journal's publisher is listed on Beall's List of Predatory Publishers.
Check if the journal is listed on Beall's List of StandAlone Journals.
Check if the journal is listed on the Web of Science Master Journal List or in the Web of Science Journal Citation Reports. Look for the Journal Impact Factor.
Check the Journal Guide.
Check Scopus Preview.
If the journal claims to be a member of the following reputable organisations that adhere to high publishing standards, it may not be predatory.
Check if the journal is in the Directory of Open Access Journal (DOAJ).
Check if the journal/publisher is on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Check if your journal's publisher is a member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA), INASP Journals Online or the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical (STM) Publishers.
Check Ulrich's Web: Global Serials Directory (available on the UWI Campus Libraries A-Z list) to see if a journal is peer-reviewed (refereed) and where the articles may be indexed.
Predatory Conferences invitations come via email. They tend to be poorly organised and low quality, with little or no peer review.
See the following resources:
What are predatory conferences and how to avoid them?
Identifying and Avoiding Questionable Conferences
Warning: Conmen and Shameless Scholars Operate in the Area
Nonsense paper written by iOS autocomplete accepted for a conference
Think, Check, Attend - choosing the right conference to attend.