A researcher's academic paper has been held hostage by a predatory journal, demanding a hefty ransom for its release. This is a shocking revelation that sheds light on the dark side of scholarly publishing.
Our story begins with a researcher, who wishes to remain anonymous, mistakenly submitting a manuscript to the Academy of Strategic Management Journal. The researcher believed they were submitting to a reputable publication, only to discover the hard way that it was a trap.
The journal's homepage claims it is indexed in Scopus, but this is a lie. In fact, it was delisted in 2021 and is not recognized by Clarivate's Web of Science. A quick glance at its most recent volume reveals a suspicious pattern: five single-author articles from universities that don't exist. No DOIs, no author emails - just a red flag waving in the wind.
When the researcher realized their mistake, they immediately requested to withdraw their manuscript. But here's where it gets controversial: the journal responded with a demand for €1,519 (approximately $1,770) to 'remove your article from our database.' It's like a modern-day digital extortion racket.
Two months of silence followed, and then a curious email arrived. Signed by 'Blessy Mertins,' the journal claimed to be 'working on' the article and asked for revisions. No mention of the withdrawal request, as if it never existed.
The researcher took action, sending a 'cease and desist' letter. As of now, the article remains unpublished, but the damage has been done.
We reached out to the Academy of Strategic Management Journal for comment, but they chose to remain silent. Sang-Bing Tsai, one of the listed editors-in-chief, told us he has no affiliation with this 'fake journal' and has tried to remove his name for years. The other editors, Shawn Carraher and Roberto Cerchione, did not respond to our requests for comment.
The journal is published by Allied Business Academies, a company with a shady past. CBC News and La Presse have reported on their fake conferences and journals. The publisher dissolved in 2024, but not before leaving a trail of controversy.
This story is a stark reminder of the importance of due diligence in academic publishing. It raises questions about the ethics of predatory journals and the need for better protection for researchers. What are your thoughts? Do you think enough is being done to combat these practices? We'd love to hear your opinions in the comments.
