In a disturbing revelation, Laura Schaefer, a professor of mechanical engineering at Rice University, discovered her name falsely attributed to four scientific papers in areas unrelated to her expertise (https://retractionwatch.com/2024/08/09/violated-engineering-professor-found-her-name-on-four-papers-she-didnt-write/#more-129786). This incident, unveiled while updating her ORCID profile, exemplifies the broader issue of fraudulent authorship plaguing academic publishing.
A recent study estimated that fraudulent publications have increased by over 300% in the past decade, pointing to a significant integrity crisis in academia (https://theweek.com/science/rise-of-fake-science-fraudulent-papers). The problem is exacerbated by predatory publishers, whose journals are often absent from recognized scientific indexes like Clarivate’s Web of Science. Such publishers exploit the academic pressure to publish, leading to a surge in dubious articles that compromise the quality of scholarly communication.
In Schaefer’s case, the papers were published by AnaPub, a Kenyan publisher not recognized by major indexes. Despite Schaefer’s demands for removal of the articles and an acknowledgment of the error, AnaPub’s response was insufficient, falsely claiming another individual under her name as the author.
This incident reflects a concerning trend where an estimated 15,000 fake articles are published annually, as noted by a 2021 report (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1912444117). These cases not only mislead readers but also damage the reputations of established academics unknowingly involved.
To safeguard against fraudulent publications and ensure academic integrity, researchers can utilize various reliable resources designed to verify the credibility of journals. The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ – https://doaj.org/) provides a comprehensive list of open access, peer-reviewed journals that adhere to high-quality standards. The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE – https://publicationethics.org/) offers guidance on publication ethics and misconduct handling. For those wary of predatory publishers, Beall’s List and its successors (https://beallslist.net/) serve as a vital tool for identifying suspect journals. Additionally, databases like Scopus (https://www.scopus.com/) and Clarivate Analytics’ Journal Citation Reports (https://clarivate.com/products/scientific-and-academic-research/research-analytics-evaluation-and-management-solutions/journal-citation-reports/) offer detailed analyses of journal impact and credibility, while PubMed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) ensures inclusion of journals that meet rigorous publishing standards. Utilizing these resources helps researchers and academics avoid dubious publications and contributes to maintaining the sanctity of scholarly communication.
This incident reflects a concerning trend where an estimated 15,000 fake articles are published annually, as noted by a 2021 report (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1912444117). These cases not only mislead readers but also damage the reputations of established academics unknowingly involved. To safeguard against fraudulent publications and ensure academic integrity, researchers can utilize various reliable resources designed to verify the credibility of journals. The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ – https://doaj.org/) provides a comprehensive list of open access, peer-reviewed journals that adhere to high-quality standards. The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE – https://publicationethics.org/) offers guidance on publication ethics and misconduct handling. For those wary of predatory publishers, Beall’s List and its successors (https://beallslist.net/) serve as a vital tool for identifying suspect journals. Additionally, databases like Scopus (https://www.scopus.com/) and Clarivate Analytics’ Journal Citation Reports (https://clarivate.com/products/scientific-and-academic-research/research-analytics-evaluation-and-management-solutions/journal-citation-reports/) offer detailed analyses of journal impact and credibility, while PubMed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) ensures inclusion of journals that meet rigorous publishing standards. Utilizing these resources helps researchers and academics avoid dubious publications and contributes to maintaining the sanctity of scholarly communication.
