Counterfeit journal websites
Hijacked journals
A hijacked journal is a counterfeit website that pretends to be the website of a legitimate scholarly journal. Authors may be invited to submit to the fake site, pay fees, and later discover that the authentic journal has no connection to the submission.
Maintained by the Beallslists.com editorial review team · Last reviewed: June 19, 2026
How hijacking usually works
The counterfeit site borrows a real journal title, ISSN, cover image, editorial history, or indexing record. The domain may look official, but the contact email, submission system, payment instructions, and publisher identity are controlled by the hijacker.
Before submitting to an unfamiliar journal, search the title and ISSN in official records, compare publisher details, and be cautious if multiple websites claim the same journal.
Last updated: December 19, 2016
Update
Last updated December 8, 2021
Useful external references
These links are included because they are practical, public starting points for researchers. They should be used alongside local institutional policies and the current evidence for a specific journal or publisher.