Is predatory publishing a crime?

It depends on the conduct and jurisdiction. Deception, fraud, impersonation, or false advertising may create legal issues.

Should I publicly accuse a journal?

Use factual evidence and careful wording. Ask your institution before making public accusations.

Can I report a suspicious journal?

Yes. Document the evidence and report through appropriate institutional or database channels.

Legal and ethical context

Are predatory journals illegal?

“Predatory journal” is a scholarly-publishing description, not a universal legal category. Whether conduct is unlawful depends on the facts, the country, the contract and the specific behavior involved—such as deception, impersonation, false advertising or misuse of money.

Maintained by the Beallslists.com editorial review team · Evidence reviewed: August 24, 2026 · Current verification cycle: 2026

The label and the conduct are different questions

A journal can have poor editorial practices without necessarily breaking a law. Conversely, a publishing operation may engage in conduct that raises legal concerns even if nobody has formally labeled it predatory.

Examples of conduct that may deserve legal or regulatory attention

Impersonating another journal or organization.
Making materially false claims about indexing or credentials in order to obtain payment.
Using names, logos or identities without authorization.
Taking payment while intentionally failing to provide contracted services.
Using deceptive payment or billing practices.

The legal significance of these examples varies by jurisdiction. This page is general information, not legal advice.

What authors should document

Keep the solicitation email, website screenshots, invoices, payment records, publication agreement and independent database evidence. If the issue involves impersonation, record both the suspicious and authentic domains.

Where to seek help

Depending on the issue, appropriate contacts may include your institution, payment provider, domain/hosting provider, consumer-protection authority, research-integrity office or legal adviser. For scholarly-record issues, journal or database correction/reporting channels may also be relevant.

Sources and further verification

Think. Check. Submit. — researcher-focused journal and publisher due diligence
Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing — journal transparency principles from DOAJ, COPE, OASPA and WAME

Historical records are useful context, but journal ownership, indexing, policies and websites can change. Verify current claims at the original source before making a submission, hiring, promotion or funding decision.