Characteristics of Predatory Publishing Solicitation in Ophthalmology

Abstract

Purpose : To evaluate email communication from predatory publishers to ophthalmology faculty across subspecialties.

Methods : Emails received by participating United States ophthalmologists from unsolicited publishing sources during May 2021 were collected. Email contents were analyzed for characteristics including spelling, grammar, and soliciting strategies.

Results : Fourteen ophthalmologists received 1,813 emails, of which 522 (28.8%) were related to ophthalmology. Most emails solicited article submissions to open-access journals (79.5%), of which 953 (66.2%) were from publishers identified on Beall’s List. Publishing characteristics included rapid publication (18.1%) and discounted submission fees (9.9%). Most emails referenced previous publications by the recipient (14.3%), and contained errors related to spelling and grammar (48.6%) and the recipient’s name (20.0%).

Conclusions : Article solicitation by predatory publishers resulted in a large volume of emails, of which only one-quarter were pertinent to the specialty. Red flags for unsolicited communication included errors in spelling, grammar, and the recipient’s name.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.