Education is Crucial

Letter to the Editor regarding the article Predatory Journals What Can We Do to Protect Their Prey? by Christine Laine, Dianne Babski, Vivienne C. Bachelet, Till W. Bärnighausen, Christopher Baethge, Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Frank Frizelle, Laragh Gollogy, Sabine Kleinert, Elizabeth Loder, João Monteiro, Eric J. Rubin, Peush Sahni, Christina C. Wee, Jin-Hong Yoo, and Lilia Zakhama in issue 2/2025

A recent editorial (1) outlined actions that authors, institutions, and journals can take against predatory journals, which deceive less-experienced authors by mimicking legitimate journal names (2), soliciting submissions via e-mail, and defrauding them.

This resembles the “It’s me” phone scam (“Ore-Ore scam”; “Ore” means “me” in Japanese) that has plagued Japan, especially older adults, for 20 years. In these scams, a swindler impersonates a family member, uses the phone (instead of e-mail) to claim, for example, “It’s me, your grandson. I need $10,000 urgently,” and steals money. In 2023, the total amount stolen was estimated at more than $80 million. To combat this, the Japanese government broadcasts daily warnings, and banks have set ATM withdrawal limits for older adults to prevent large transactions. Despite these efforts, the method preys on older adults, whose unfamiliarity with the scam leaves them vulnerable. However, recently the number of Ore-Ore scams has decreased: society education aimed at older adults may have brought this about.

The Ore-Ore example could provide some strategies against predatory journals. Institutional and editorial measures seem unable to fully block them. Institutes, journals, and publishers, rather than focusing on identifying predatory journals, should prioritize educating less-experienced authors. For example, country-wide lectures at medical schools or at the beginning of young doctors’ residency could be considered.

Drawing on the Japanese scam, I propose prioritizing authors, just as the focus in Japan has been on educating older adults. Less-experienced authors matter most. Swindlers avoid wasting time on savvy targets.

DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2025.0187

Shigeki Matsubara, MD, PhD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University,

Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan

Conflict of interest statement

The author declares that no conflict of interest exists.

The authors of the original article have decided not to publish a reply.

References

1. Laine C, Babski D, Bachelet VC, et al.: Predatory journals: What can we do to protect their prey? Dtsch Arztebl Int 2025; 122: 31–2.

2. Matsubara S: Possible confusion caused by journals with similar names. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2024; 84: 282–3.