Predatory practices ‘costing research world billions’

Global network of national academies calls for action as bad practices risk becoming “engrained”

Predatory businesses have extracted billions of dollars from researchers globally in recent years, according to a study conducted by national academies around the world.

Predatory journals offer rapid publication of research papers but normally lack robust peer review, and their main aim is to collect fees from researchers. There is also an increasing trend towards predatory conferences, which present as standard scientific meetings but have little quality control over presentations and can charge extortionate attendance fees.