title: Identity Theft in the Academic World Leads to Junk Science.
abstract: In recent years, identity theft has been growing in the academic world. Cybercriminals create fake profiles for prominent scientists in attempts to manipulate the review and publishing process. Without permission, some fraudulent journals use the names of standout researchers on their editorial boards in the effort to look legitimate. This opinion piece, highlights some of the usual types of identity theft and their role in spreading junk science. Some general guidelines that editors and researchers can use against such attacks are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dadkhah
authors.affiliation: Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. m-lagzian@um.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lagzian
authors.affiliation: Progressive Science Institute, Box 5335, Berkeley, CA, 94705, USA.
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borchardt
mesh_terms: D008192:Deception; D006801:Humans; D063867:Identity Theft / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018973:Intellectual Property; D020407:Internet; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011643:Publishing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D012108:Research Personnel; D012586:Science; D015871:Scientific Misconduct / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
keywords: Academic misconduct; Fake peer review; Identity theft; Junk science