Barw Barw Medical Journal 2960-1959 2024 06 21 Predatory Publishing Lists: A Review on the Ongoing Battle Against Fraudulent Actions 10.58742/bmj.v2i2.91 eng Hiwa O. Abdullah Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. hiewaom96@gmail.com Berun A. Abdalla Department of Biology, College of Education, University of Sulaimani, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. berun.anwer95@gmail.com Fahmi H. Kakamad College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. fahmi.hussein@univsul.edu.iq Jafaar O. Ahmed Psychology Department, Faculty of Art, Soran University, Soran, Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq . jaafar.ahmed@gmail.com Hiwa O. Baba Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. hiwa.baba34@gmail.com Marwan N. Hassan Kscien Organization for Scientific Research (Middle East Office), Hamid Street, Azadi Mall, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. marwan.nasih12@gmail.com Rawa Bapir Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. Dr.rawa@yahoo.com Hawbash M. Rahim Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, University of Human Development, Kurdistan Region, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. hawbash.mhamad96@gmail.com Diyar A. Omar Medical Laboratory Technology, Shaqlawa Technical College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Kurdistan, Ira. diyar.omar@gmail.com Suhaib H. Kakamad Collage of Medicine, Department of Immunology and Hematology, Kurdistan University of Medical Science, Sanandaj, Iran. suhaib.kakamad@gmail.com Shvan H. Mohammed Xzmat Polyclinic, Rizgari, Kalar, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. shvanh80@gmail.com Karokh K. Mohammed Smart Health Tower (Raparin Branch), Karukh Street, Ranya, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. karokh12@gmail.com Tomas M. Mikael Kscien Organization for Scientific Research (Middle East office), Hamid Street, Azadi Mall, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. tomas12@gmail.com Fakher Abdullah Kscien Organization for Scientific Research (Middle East Office), Hamid Street, Azadi Mall, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. fakherabdullah1976@gmail.com Dahat A. Hussein Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. dahat.hussein@gmail.com Sasan M. Ahmed Kscien Organization for Scientific Research (Middle East Office), Hamid Street, Azadi Mall, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. sasan0751@gmail.com Sarhang S. Abdalla Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. sarhang.17000584@univsul.edu.iq Hemn A. Hassan Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. hemn.ali@gmail.com Sherko R. Azeez Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. sherko.azeez@gmail.com Shevan M. Mustafa Kscien Organization for Scientific Research (Middle East Office), Hamid Street, Azadi Mall, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. shevan.mustafa@gmail.com Snur Othman Kscien Organization for Scientific Research (Middle East Office), Hamid Street, Azadi Mall, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. Snur.othman@gmail.com 2024 04 08 Predatory journals challenge the scholarly community by muddling the boundary between legitimate and dubious publishing practices. Despite the awareness of predatory publishers, there are no globally accepted criteria for identifying them. Various warning lists have emerged as predatory practices evolve, but they are not impervious to criticism despite their utility. This study reviewed the most common of the predatory lists. Beall's list, the pioneer in exposing predatory publishers, received criticism for its inclusion criteria. It is now anonymously managed and poorly updated. Cabells' list has a broad range of inclusion criteria; however, some have been criticized for redundancy and lack of alignment with predatory practices. Kscien's list shows promise as an alternative for spotting predatory journals and publishers. However, it requires refinement since the included journals, based on their core criteria, are not distinguished from those included using traditional criteria. The Early Warning List of International Journals is a recent compilation with diverse criteria. Despite attracting the scientific community's attention, there are questions about the reliability of its inclusion criteria. However, these lists are crucial in flagging predatory publishers; researchers can depend on them while preparing their manuscripts.