Abhijit - they are called 'predatory' because they often 'prey on' and target the most vulnerable academics/scholars - and often those that feel that they have no choice but to pay for publication when they can least afford it. For instance, scholars based in developing countries, where English is not their native tongue - and whereby there is competition to 'publish or perish' at any cost. Some would argue that these journals are in the business of 'supply and demand' i.e. that they are providing a service that people are willing to pay for. However, they are not usually that concerned with the quality and outcomes of publications for the the authors. They are more in the 'game' to make money while they can.

They give names of eminent persons in the Editorial Board without even taking their consent.

Like good journals they speak of rigorous review system though they practically do not do so.

They tell about false IF.

They are mostly online without proper address.

Several such journals take your money, but do not even read the manuscript - they just accept it when you have paid.

Abhijit - they are called 'predatory' because they often 'prey on' and target the most vulnerable academics/scholars - and often those that feel that they have no choice but to pay for publication when they can least afford it. For instance, scholars based in developing countries, where English is not their native tongue - and whereby there is competition to 'publish or perish' at any cost. Some would argue that these journals are in the business of 'supply and demand' i.e. that they are providing a service that people are willing to pay for. However, they are not usually that concerned with the quality and outcomes of publications for the the authors. They are more in the 'game' to make money while they can.

I expect not to be interested in scientific research and arrangement, but rather take it for money.

Following .....

Check academic profile of Editorial Board before deciding to submit.

I think that this should not be a major problem. Seniors know the journals of interest, and so when a PhD student wonders about where to submit a manuscript, as a supervisor you should know what to aim for.

For universities of EU and Northern America , this may not be a major problem, but for many Asian universities, they have strong requirements for journals: must be in SCI, SCIE, Scopus or something like that. Only PhD students have works satisfying the requirements, they can defend. This puts pressure on PhD students and they must find journals satisfying the requirements. At the same time, to response the need of PhD students, on the market, there are a lot of "predatory journals" satisfying the requirements, but they mainly focuses on getting money. However, there are also many paid journals being decent. They are usually Open Access journals: authors pay and readers are free of charge. So, it is very hard to know which one does not fall in the predatory list. Therefore, authors should check academic profiles of members of the Editorial Board. This is helpful ! For predatory journals, usually you cannot find the academic profiles of Editors or their profiles are low.

Indeed European scholars are also required to publish in good and honest journals - to be just indexed is not enough. We learn that very early on as PhD students. I see no problem whatsoever to orientate in this jungle of journals. In fact it is quite simple.

Yes, because you are an experienced scientist :) All of the above mentioned are only for PhD students and young scientists :)

Dang is bang on target; the rampant PhD producing drive by higher education authorities in Asian universities has exposed the vulnerable academics to the hunting aka predatory journals. The result is more publications and less value addition, and of course more PhDs to quench the statistical thirst of the higher education authorities.

In India, University Grants Commission (UGC) stipulates that a PhD student is required to publish at least one paper in a peer-reviewed journal before thesis submission. Although the regulation has been introduced with a good purpose, it turned out be counterproductive in that it helped mushrooming of predatory journals! Clever students always find a way to circumvent the regulation, and an easy method is to publish in such predatory journals!

After the UGC made paper publication mandatory for thesis submission, the number of predatory journals published in India and the number of papers published in such journals grew exponentially since 2011. Anyway, after recognizing this loophole, the UGC wants to have correction. Recently, a committee constituted by the UGC recommended not to make the paper publication rule mandatory. UGC is expected to approve this recommendation. If the predatory journals lose their preys, I am sure their population would dwindle!