Polite invitation turns out to be fraudulent – CCRN&M (critresnurse.org)
Polite invitation turns out to be fraudulent
For the second time I received a nice email from “Dr. Kateryna Bielka, M.D”. She says complementary things about one of my published papers and, in a highly personalised manner, asks if I would consider publishing in an esteemed journal that she is working for. Like many academics my email in box is peppered with highly standardised invitations to publish in open access journals. Most are clever enough to parse one of my article titles into the email text they send out but this invitation appears much more human. And the journal in question is called Medical Research Archives
However, human it isn’t. In fact it is the second one I have received from this ‘person’. When you search for the name of the journal and couple it with ‘predatory open access’ you get a very informative account from the Scholarly Open Access blog at. https://scholarlyoa.com/2016/08/04/about-those-manipulative-spam-emails-from-internal-medicine-review/
You learn that the journal in question will charge between $1250 and $3000 to place your work, that it is closed access, and that the journal appears to have no subscribers at all. Not a very attractive proposition.
108 thoughts on “Polite invitation turns out to be fraudulent”
Editorial Committee
Medical Research Archives
European Society of Medicine
ISSN: 2375-1924
NLM (PubMed) ID: 101668511
"
ChatGPT
The organization and journal you mentioned, "Medical Research Archives" by the "European Society of Medicine," seem legitimate at first glance, but verifying whether something is a scam involves a few steps:
Journal Verification:
The ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) provided, 2375-1924, can be checked in the ISSN database or other reputable databases like PubMed.
Indexing Check:
The journal claims to have an NLM (PubMed) ID. You can search for the journal or articles from it on PubMed to verify if it's truly indexed.
Editorial Board:
Check the journal's website for a list of editorial board members. Look up these members independently to ensure they are recognized experts in their field.
Journal Reputation:
Investigate whether the journal is listed in reputable directories like DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) or indexed in databases like Scopus.
Check for Red Flags:
Be cautious if the journal requests high publication fees, has a quick peer-review process, or has generic email addresses.
If you want, I can look up specific information about the ISSN or the journal’s indexing status for you.
here it is: European Society of Medicine
ChatGPT
The email address provided, editor@medicalresearcharchives.com, aligns with the domain name of the journal "Medical Research Archives," which is associated with the "European Society of Medicine." However, several red flags can indicate whether it is a legitimate invitation or a potential scam:
Things to Check:
Official Website Verification:
Visit the official website of the "Medical Research Archives" and the "European Society of Medicine" to see if the email domain matches the contact information provided on the site.
Journal Indexing:
Verify the journal's inclusion in reputable academic databases like PubMed, Scopus, or Web of Science.
Solicitation Practices:
Be cautious if you received an unsolicited email inviting you to join the editorial board, especially if you don't have a strong publication record or connections in that specific field.
Editorial Board:
Check the names of the editorial board members listed on the website. Cross-reference their credentials and affiliations with independent sources like LinkedIn or university websites.
Previous Experiences:
Search for reviews or experiences from other researchers regarding the "Medical Research Archives" or the "European Society of Medicine." Often, online forums or academic communities discuss journals that engage in predatory practices.
What You Can Do:
Email Response: If you're still unsure, you can respond to the email with questions about the journal's indexing, the role they envision for you, and any potential fees. Genuine journals typically provide detailed information.
Google Scholar & ResearchGate: Search for papers published in this journal and see if they are cited or recognized by other researchers.
If you want, I can look further into the journal's reputation and indexing status.
Please look further into the journal's reputation and indexing status
ChatGPT
Searched 5 sites
The "Medical Research Archives" is associated with the European Society of Medicine, and while it is an open-access journal that publishes peer-reviewed articles, there are significant concerns regarding its reputation. Several users have reported experiences suggesting it may operate as a predatory journal. For instance, the journal has been accused of charging unusually high fees for publication and exhibiting other behaviors typical of predatory journals, such as aggressive solicitation of manuscripts.
Despite listing an ISSN and claiming PubMed indexing, there are doubts about the legitimacy of these claims. Some users have specifically called it a scam, mentioning instances where links provided by the journal were non-functional and fees were unreasonably high? (European Society of Medicine -)?? (MedSci)?.
Given these red flags, it would be wise to approach with caution, especially if the journal requests payment for publication. You might want to verify the journal's claims directly through trusted databases like PubMed or consider submitting your work to a more established and reputable journal.
strange: "This site can’t be reachedwww.medsci.cn took too long to respond.
Try:
Checking the connection
Checking the proxy and the firewall
Running Windows Network Diagnostics
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT"
ChatGPT
The error you're encountering, "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT," indicates that the website you're trying to access (medsci.cn) is either down, experiencing issues, or is being blocked by your network. This is unrelated to the journal's reputation but does prevent you from accessing specific information on that site.
If you're looking for information on the legitimacy of the "Medical Research Archives" and the European Society of Medicine, you can rely on the other sources and checks mentioned earlier:
Indexing Verification: You can verify the journal's inclusion in major databases like PubMed directly through their official websites.
Reputation Checks: Reviews and discussions in academic forums can provide insights into others' experiences with the journal.
Red Flags: Be cautious of unsolicited invitations and requests for high publication fees.
If you'd like, you can try accessing the MedSci site later, or I can help you explore alternative ways to verify the journal.
is it legitimate? "I hope all is well. I’m wondering if we might be able to collaborate on a tissue engineering project which I am working on together with the European Society of Medicine.
Your work on “Stem cell of heart diseases: Potentials and challenges” caught my attention and I thought that it was a rather insightful article. Are you still working in this area?
I was thinking that your work would fit well into a special theme issue on Tissue Engineering which I am organizing, and that maybe you would be interested in writing a new article for the theme issue.
The issue will be published in the official journal of the European Society of Medicine, near the end of this year.
Would you be willing to explore this idea?
Sincerely,
Biomedical Engineering Section editor
Editorial Committee
Medical Research Archives
European Society of Medicine
ISSN: 2375-1924
NLM (PubMed) ID: 101668511
"
ChatGPT
The email you received raises some concerns about legitimacy. Here are the key points to consider:
Red Flags:
Unsolicited Contact: If you did not previously engage with the European Society of Medicine or submit an inquiry, an unsolicited invitation can be a sign of a predatory journal or scam.
Lack of Specifics: The email praises your work but doesn't provide details specific to your research or how it relates to their project, which is a common tactic used by predatory journals to appear personalized.
Association with the European Society of Medicine: As previously discussed, the Medical Research Archives and the European Society of Medicine have been flagged by some as potentially predatory. Reports of questionable practices, such as high publication fees and dubious indexing claims, further raise concerns.
Publication Fees: Predatory journals often solicit articles by flattering the recipient and then charge high fees for publication. If this is the case here, it would be a significant warning sign.
Verification Steps:
Check Journal Indexing: Verify whether the journal is indeed indexed in PubMed or other reputable databases.
Research the Editor: Look up the Biomedical Engineering Section editor and other members of the editorial board to ensure they are legitimate researchers in the field.
Contact Colleagues: Ask colleagues if they've had any interactions with this journal or society.
Conclusion:
Based on the information available, this email is likely part of a predatory solicitation. Proceed with caution, and thoroughly verify all details before considering collaboration. If you prefer not to engage with this journal, it might be better to submit your work to a more established and reputable publication.