In the world of academic publishing, authenticity and credibility are everything. Unfortunately, many researchers—especially early-career scholars—fall prey to colon journals, a deceptive tactic used by fake or cloned publishers to exploit unsuspecting authors. These journals mimic the names and URLs of legitimate ones, making it difficult for researchers to differentiate between genuine and fraudulent platforms. Understanding what colon journals are and how to verify the authenticity of a publication can protect your work, reputation, and academic integrity.
What is a Colon Journal?
A colon journal is a fake or cloned version of a legitimate academic journal. It typically uses a slightly modified web address (URL) to appear authentic. For instance, the original journal might have a web address like https://ajsonline.org, while the colon journal might use https://ajsonline-us.org. These small differences can be easy to overlook, but they are designed specifically to mislead authors into thinking they are submitting to the real journal. Colon journals often copy the genuine journal’s design, name, logo, and even editorial board information to appear legitimate. However, they operate unethically—charging publication fees without proper peer review and publishing low-quality or plagiarized content.
Why Are Colon Journals Dangerous?
Submitting your paper to a colon journal can have serious consequences. Firstly, your research will not gain legitimate recognition, as these journals are not indexed in trusted databases like Scopus or Web of Science. Secondly, your paper may never be accepted by a reputable journal in the future if it has already been published in a fake one. Lastly, your academic reputation can suffer, and you might lose valuable time, money, and effort. Therefore, it is crucial to verify every journal before submission.
How to Check Which Journal is Original
Verifying a journal’s authenticity requires a few careful steps, and there are reliable ways to do it. Below are two effective methods that every researcher should know and use before sending their manuscript anywhere.
🔎 1st Way: Using Scimago Journal & Country Rank (SJR)
Scimago Journal & Country Rank is one of the most reliable platforms to confirm whether a journal is legitimate and indexed. Follow these steps:
1️⃣ Visit https://www.scimagojr.com/
2️⃣ Enter the journal’s name or ISSN in the search bar.
3️⃣ Click Search and choose the correct journal from the search results.
4️⃣ Locate the Homepage option on the journal’s profile.
5️⃣ Click on the link—it will take you directly to the official website of the original journal.
This process ensures you reach the authentic source and not a cloned or fraudulent version.
🔎 2nd Way: Using Scopus and Google Scholar
Scopus and Google Scholar can also help you verify a journal’s authenticity by tracing published articles.
1️⃣ Visit https://www.scopus.com/
2️⃣ Click on Sources and search for the journal by its Title, ISSN, or Publisher.
3️⃣ Once you find the journal, scroll to the CiteScore Tracker section.
4️⃣ Click on any document or article listed under the journal.
5️⃣ Copy the article’s title and search it on Google Scholar at https://scholar.google.com/
6️⃣ Google Scholar will display the article along with the official URL of the journal that published it. This method helps you verify whether the journal’s website you are viewing matches the one associated with indexed articles.
💡 Important Tip:
Always take a few minutes to verify the URL of a journal before submitting your work. Fake journals may appear legitimate at first glance but often have subtle changes like added words, extra hyphens, or extensions (.com, .org, .us, etc.) that differ from the genuine site.
You can read more about colon journals and see detailed examples by visiting: https://pakinkpub.blogspot.com/p/colon-journals.html
Need Assistance?
If you’re unsure whether a journal is authentic, PAK Ink Publications can help you verify it before submission. Protect your hard work by ensuring your research reaches reputable and indexed platforms.
At PAK Ink Publications (PIP), we:
✅ Publish research in HEC-approved W, X, and Y Category Journals, indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.
✅ Offer collaboration opportunities in social sciences, including co-authorship in ongoing research projects.
✅ Provide publication verification, proofreading, and research assistance for scholars across disciplines.
Contact Us:
📩 Email: pakinkpub@gmail.com
🌐 Facebook: @pakinkpub
📸 Instagram: @pakinkpub
Let’s work together for authentic, ethical, and impactful research that truly contributes to academia! 🚀
