‘Pay to publish’ offers rampant in some scientific journals

"Pisanski and three colleagues concocted the fake application—supported by a cover letter, a CV boasting phoney degrees, and a list of non-existent book chapters — and sent it to 360 peer-reviewed social science publications.

In the peer-review process, journals ask outside experts to assess the methodology and importance of submissions before accepting then.

The journals were drawn equally from three directories: one listing reputable titles available through subscriptions, with a second devoted to 'open access' publications.

The third was a blacklist — compiled by University of Colorado librarian Jeffrey Beall — of known or suspected 'predatory journals' that make money by extracting fees from authors.

The number of these highly dubious publications has exploded in recent years, number at least 10,000.

Indeed, 40 of the 48 journals that took the bait and offered a position to the fictitious Anna O. figured on Beall’s list, which has since been taken offline.

The other eight were from the open-access registry. No one made any attempt to contact the university listed on the fake CV, and few probed her obviously spotty experience.

One journal suggested 'Ms Fraud' organise a conference after which presenters would be charged for a special issue.

'Predatory publishing is becoming an organised industry', said Pisanski, who decided not to name-and-shame the journals caught out by the sting.

Their rise 'threatens the quality of scholarship', she added.

Even after the researchers contacted all the journals to inform them that Anna O. Szust did not really exist, her name continued to appear on the editorial board of 11 — including one to which she had not even applied.

None of the journals from the most select directory fell in the trap, and a few sent back tartly worded answers."