How to Check Fake SCOPUS Journals - Alert for Research Scholars
How to Check Fake SCOPUS Journals
Many researchers fall into fake or predatory journals believing they are SCOPUS indexed. Publishing in such journals can waste money, time, and may damage academic credibility. This article explains clear and reliable methods to verify whether a journal is truly indexed in SCOPUS.
1. Check in Official SCOPUS Source List
The only trusted way to verify a SCOPUS journal is through the official SCOPUS database (Elsevier).
- Go to Scopus Sources (Elsevier official site)
- Search using:
- Journal Title
- ISSN (recommended)
- If the journal is not found in the SCOPUS list, then it is NOT a SCOPUS journal.
2. Match ISSN Carefully
- Fake journals often copy the name of real journals.
- Always verify:
- Print ISSN
- Online ISSN
- The ISSN shown on the journal website must exactly match the ISSN shown in SCOPUS.
- If ISSN is missing or different, it is a fake claim.
3. Check Publisher Name
- Verify the publisher listed in SCOPUS.
- Compare with the publisher mentioned on the journal website.
- If both are different, the journal is suspicious.
4. Beware of Guaranteed Acceptance
- "100% Acceptance Guaranteed"
- "Publication in 3 days"
- "Fast SCOPUS publication"
Such claims violate academic review standards and usually indicate predatory journals.
5. Check Peer Review Process
- Real SCOPUS journals clearly explain:
- Peer review type (single-blind / double-blind)
- Review time (2–8 weeks normally)
- Fake journals show:
- Very fast review (1–3 days)
- No reviewer comments
6. Check Editorial Board
- Real journals list:
- Editors with university affiliation
- Profiles that can be verified
- Fake journals:
- Show fake names
- No affiliations
- Copied photos
7. Check Website Quality
- Poor grammar
- Broken links
- No archive pages
- No DOI information
These are strong warning signs of fake journals.
8. Check Indexing Proof
- Fake journals show:
- SCOPUS logo only
- No direct source link
- Real journals show:
- Source link to SCOPUS page
- Indexed year information
9. Verify Through SJR or SNIP
- Check the journal in:
- SCImago Journal Rank (SJR)
- Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP)
- If the journal is missing, it may not be indexed.
10. Avoid Email Invitations
- Spam emails inviting for paper submission
- Unknown conferences + journals
- Unprofessional email IDs (Gmail, Yahoo)
Conclusion
To confirm whether a journal is truly SCOPUS indexed, always rely on official SCOPUS source list and ISSN verification. Never trust journal websites or email claims alone. Publishing in fake journals can permanently affect academic reputation.