Twelve tips for identifying and avoiding predatory journals

Research publications have become a defining metric for medical careers and institutional prestige. While publications are mandatory for faculty selection and promotion, institutional rankings are increasingly driven by research output. This intense, metric-driven environment has inadvertently created fertile ground for the rapid proliferation of predatory journals, leaving medical researchers-especially in the digital era-vulnerable to exploitation. In response to this growing concern, I present twelve practical and experience-based tips aimed at equipping researchers to recognize and avoid predatory journals. These insights are intended not only for early-career researchers navigating the pressures of 'publish or perish', but also for experienced faculty members who may be encountering, for the first time, the increasingly sophisticated strategies employed by predatory publishers.