{"id":57012,"date":"2025-11-28T13:44:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T07:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/?p=57012"},"modified":"2026-05-08T07:19:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T07:19:47","slug":"when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/","title":{"rendered":"When Peer Review Fails: The Challenges of Detecting Fraudulent Science and Its Aftermath"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- Introduction Section --><\/p>\n<p>A growing number of high-profile corrections and mass retractions has put <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a> squarely in the spotlight: when the gatekeeping system fails, the consequences extend beyond a single retraction to public trust in science, policy, and researcher careers. A <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8216989\/\">review<\/a> of retraction causes found that <em>fake or manipulated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a><\/em> became a major reason for withdrawal of articles since the 2010s, and recent publisher investigations continue to uncover large-scale manipulation in special issues and submission streams.<\/p>\n<p><!-- What peer review is and why it matters Section --><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/#What_peer_review_is_and_why_it_matters\" >What peer review is and why it matters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/#When_and_how_peer_review_fails\" >When and how peer review fails<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/#What_happens_when_peer_review_fails_immediate_and_downstream_consequences\" >What happens when peer review fails: immediate and downstream consequences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/#Real-world_examples_that_illustrate_differing_failure_mechanisms\" >Real-world examples that illustrate differing failure mechanisms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/#How_failures_are_detected_and_how_the_record_is_corrected\" >How failures are detected and how the record is corrected<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/#What_is_changing_publisher_and_system-level_responses\" >What is changing: publisher and system-level responses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/#Practical_guidance_what_researchers_reviewers_and_editors_can_do_now\" >Practical guidance: what researchers, reviewers and editors can do now<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/#A_short_checklist_for_immediate_action_for_researchers_and_journal_offices\" >A short checklist for immediate action (for researchers and journal offices)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/#Points_to_note_and_common_mistakes\" >Points to note and common mistakes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/articles\/when-peer-review-fails-the-challenges-of-detecting-fraudulent-science-and-its-aftermath\/#Conclusion_restoring_trust_through_layered_defenses_and_good_practice\" >Conclusion: restoring trust through layered defenses and good practice<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_peer_review_is_and_why_it_matters\"><\/span><strong>What peer review is and why it matters<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Scholarly <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a><\/em> is the process by which manuscripts are evaluated by experts before publication to assess validity, originality, and fit for a journal. It serves as a quality-control filter and a community endorsement mechanism that supports reproducibility, guides editorial decisions, and signals credibility to readers. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peer review<\/a> is not infallible: it relies on volunteer expertise, editorial oversight, and systems that can be exploited.<\/p>\n<p>Traditional pre-publication <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a> remains central, but the landscape now includes stronger preprint discussion, automated screening tools, cross-publisher intelligence and more active post-publication scrutiny. These layers aim to distribute responsibility across the research lifecycle rather than concentrating it solely at editorial triage.<\/p>\n<p><!-- When and how peer review fails Section --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_and_how_peer_review_fails\"><\/span><strong>When and how peer review fails<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<!-- INLINE SERVICE CARD: Plagiarism Checker -->\r\n    <div class=\"svc\">\r\n    <div class=\"svc-body\">\r\n      <div class=\"svc-cat\">Research Integrity \r\n        <!-- <span class=\"svc-free\">Free<\/span> -->\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"svc-row\">\r\n        <div class=\"svc-ic\">\r\n          <svg viewBox=\"0 0 200 200\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\r\n            <g clip-path=\"url(#cp-plag-inline)\">\r\n              <path d=\"M140.26 34.7119H35.7568V39.9202H140.26V34.7119Z\" fill=\"white\"><\/path>\r\n              <path d=\"M82.7998 56.3525H35.7568V61.5609H82.7998V56.3525Z\" fill=\"white\"><\/path>\r\n              <path d=\"M66.8388 77.9932H35.7568V83.2015H66.8388V77.9932Z\" fill=\"white\"><\/path>\r\n              <path d=\"M163.778 180.88V195.262H155.411H20.5653H12.1983V4.7379H20.5653H155.411H163.778V128.595H168.011V0H155.411H20.5653H7.99805V200H20.5653H155.411H168.011V180.88H163.778Z\" fill=\"white\"><\/path>\r\n              <path d=\"M142.756 99.0334C138.521 95.029 134.41 90.706 129.718 87.4296C120.459 80.9679 110.327 78.1465 99.4068 81.2864C88.3203 84.4718 79.5175 91.5706 72.002 100.854V102.446H75.8635C77.3999 104.267 79.2684 106.724 81.4276 108.908C87.5729 115.142 94.9639 118.692 103.227 119.966C103.601 120.011 111.49 120.011 111.947 119.966C118.133 119.42 124.03 117.509 129.054 113.595C133.372 110.228 137.234 106.132 141.428 102.264H144.002C143.587 101.172 143.462 99.716 142.715 99.0334H142.756ZM107.711 115.643C95.9189 115.643 86.6179 109.818 79.7667 99.3065C96.6248 80.1033 117.677 78.9201 136.32 99.2155C129.386 110.137 119.711 115.643 107.711 115.688V115.643Z\" fill=\"white\"><\/path>\r\n              <path d=\"M107.601 92.0023C103.648 92.0472 100.184 95.5428 100.007 99.7106C99.8289 104.237 103.293 107.912 107.867 108.002C112.175 108.046 115.817 104.685 115.994 100.383C116.172 95.8565 112.219 91.9575 107.556 92.0023H107.601ZM107.956 105.671C104.714 105.626 102.227 103.027 102.36 99.8003C102.494 96.8424 104.936 94.3776 107.734 94.3327C111.02 94.3327 113.818 97.0665 113.729 100.293C113.596 103.341 111.02 105.761 107.956 105.671Z\" fill=\"white\"><\/path>\r\n              <path d=\"M185.519 165.491L148.322 128.293C154.504 120.06 158.201 109.845 158.201 98.7903C158.201 71.5725 136.057 49.4287 108.839 49.4287C81.6214 49.4287 59.4775 71.5725 59.4775 98.7903C59.4775 126.008 81.6214 148.152 108.839 148.152C119.894 148.152 130.076 144.456 138.342 138.273L175.539 175.47L185.519 165.491ZM64.2154 98.7903C64.2154 74.1599 84.2423 54.133 108.873 54.133C133.503 54.133 153.53 74.1599 153.53 98.7903C153.53 123.421 133.503 143.448 108.873 143.448C84.2423 143.448 64.2154 123.421 64.2154 98.7903ZM143.08 134.274C143.517 133.871 143.92 133.468 144.323 133.031C144.659 132.661 145.029 132.359 145.365 131.989L178.866 165.491L175.539 168.817L142.038 135.316C142.408 134.98 142.71 134.61 143.08 134.274Z\" fill=\"white\"><\/path>\r\n            <\/g>\r\n            <defs><clipPath id=\"cp-plag-inline\"><rect width=\"177.52\" height=\"200\" fill=\"white\" transform=\"translate(7.99805)\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs>\r\n          <\/svg>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <h4>Submit with complete integrity \u2014 every time.<\/h4>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <p class=\"svc-desc\">Powered by iThenticate and checked against 47 billion web pages, 190 million paywalled articles, and 200+ million open access works \u2014 the most comprehensive check available before submission.<\/p>\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/plagiarism-checker\/\" class=\"svc-btn\" target=\"_blank\">Get Plagiarism Report \u2192<\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n    \n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fake or manipulated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a><\/strong>: Authors or third parties supply fabricated reviewer identities or hijack editorial workflows so that bogus, favorable reviews reach editors. This tactic has been repeatedly linked to mass retractions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Paper mills and generated content<\/strong>: Organized entities produce manuscripts or data that mimic legitimate research; these submissions can pass cursory checks and reach publication if reviewer scrutiny or screening tools are insufficient.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conflicted or inappropriate reviewers<\/strong>: Reviewers with undisclosed conflicts, competing interests, or insufficient subject expertise can miss flaws or skew assessments. Editors sometimes struggle to verify reviewers\u2019 independence.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Editorial process failures<\/strong>: Guest-edited special issues, rushed handling during surges of submissions, or poor verification of suggested reviewers create vulnerabilities. There have been <a href=\"https:\/\/retractionwatch.com\/2023\/06\/20\/deplorable-imaging-journal-to-retract-nearly-80-papers-for-compromised-peer-review\/\">documented cases<\/a> where special issues produced dozens or hundreds of problematic papers.<\/li>\n<li>Limitations in Detecting Fraud: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peer review<\/a> rarely uncovers fabricated raw data or covert manipulation; it is designed to evaluate plausibility, methodology, and interpretation not always to detect deliberate fraud.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- What happens when peer review fails: immediate and downstream consequences Section --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_when_peer_review_fails_immediate_and_downstream_consequences\"><\/span><strong>What happens when peer review fails: immediate and downstream consequences<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions<\/strong>: Journals may issue an expression of concern while investigating, and retract papers when evidence shows the findings are unreliable or the review process was compromised. COPE guidance outlines when and how these actions should be taken to protect the record.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Waste of resources and reproducibility harms<\/strong>: Time and funding are squandered by teams trying to build on unreliable results; follow-on work can propagate error into meta-analyses and policy. <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s41073-022-00125-x\">Efforts to limit inadvertent citation of retracted work<\/a> are now a community priority.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reputational damage and career consequences<\/strong>: Individuals and institutions connected to retracted work face scrutiny; some cases have led to dismissals, revoked degrees, and lasting reputational harm (for example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aps.org\/apsnews\/2022\/08\/september-2002-schon-scandal-report\">the Sch\u00f6n scandal<\/a> illustrated how fraud that passed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a> caused broad fallout in disciplines).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Erosion of public trust<\/strong>: High-visibility failures especially in health or policy-relevant fields can undermine public confidence in science and slow uptake of legitimate findings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- Real-world examples that illustrate differing failure mechanisms Section --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Real-world_examples_that_illustrate_differing_failure_mechanisms\"><\/span><strong>Real-world examples that illustrate differing failure mechanisms<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fake-review mass retractions<\/strong>: Several publishers have retracted dozens or hundreds of papers after investigations found coordinated reviewer fraud and manipulated submissions; special-issue workflows were particularly vulnerable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Scientific fraud detected post-publication<\/strong>: The Jan Hendrik Sch\u00f6n affair (physics) and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/dutch-university-sacks-social-psychologist-over-faked-data\">Diederik Stapel case<\/a> (social psychology) show how fabricated or manipulated data can survive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a> until replication attempts, whistleblowing, or formal inquiries reveal the truth leading to multiple retractions and institutional investigations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- How failures are detected and how the record is corrected Section --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_failures_are_detected_and_how_the_record_is_corrected\"><\/span><strong>How failures are detected and how the record is corrected<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Detection occurs through multiple channels: editorial audits, cross-publisher screening tools, whistleblowers, post-publication <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a> platforms (e.g., PubPeer), and independent sleuthing by researchers. Once concerns are credible, journals follow COPE flowcharts and <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC2802086\">retraction guidelines<\/a> to issue expressions of concern, corrections, or retractions, and to notify indexing services so the scholarly record reflects the change. Recent industry collaborations and tools seek to catch problems earlier.<\/p>\n<p><!-- What is changing: publisher and system-level responses Section --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_changing_publisher_and_system-level_responses\"><\/span><strong>What is changing: publisher and system-level responses<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Publishers and industry consortia are building shared defenses. <a href=\"https:\/\/stm-assoc.org\/what-we-do\/strategic-areas\/research-integrity\/integrity-hub\/\">The STM Integrity Hub<\/a> and related screening tools are designed to spot indicators of paper-mill output, duplicate submissions, or reused reviewers across multiple journals and platforms creating an early-warning system that can block suspicious manuscripts before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a> progresses. These ecosystem-level responses complement COPE policies and editorial best practice.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Practical guidance: what researchers, reviewers and editors can do now Section --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practical_guidance_what_researchers_reviewers_and_editors_can_do_now\"><\/span><strong>Practical guidance: what researchers, reviewers and editors can do now<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3>Researchers<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Use transparent reporting and data sharing<\/strong>: Make raw data, code, and protocols available where appropriate (links, repositories). This strengthens reproducibility and reduces the chance that honest errors are mistaken for misconduct.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Avoid third-party submission services of uncertain provenance<\/strong>; if using external support, document what was outsourced and ensure full author oversight.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Treat suggested reviewers with caution<\/strong>: provide independent reviewers when asked, and avoid recommending close collaborators without declaring the relationship.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Peer reviewers and editors<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Verify reviewer identity<\/strong>: Use institutional email addresses, ORCID IDs, and editorial-system checks rather than relying solely on author-supplied contact information.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Screen submissions early<\/strong>: Use plagiarism-detection, image-forensics, and paper-mill screening tools where available; flag suspicious clustering of submissions around guest editors or within narrow topic windows.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Apply COPE flowcharts when concerns arise and publish clear, detailed notices to correct the literature promptly.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- A short checklist for immediate action (for researchers and journal offices) Section --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_short_checklist_for_immediate_action_for_researchers_and_journal_offices\"><\/span><strong>A short checklist for immediate action (for researchers and journal offices)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Verify reviewer emails and ORCID records<\/strong> before inviting or accepting reviews.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Run plagiarism and image-analysis checks<\/strong> at submission triage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Maintain transparent data and method availability<\/strong> (repositories, supplementary files).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Publish expressions of concern<\/strong> when investigations are ongoing and retract promptly when findings are unreliable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Join or consult cross-publisher integrity tools<\/strong> (where possible) to detect patterns indicative of paper mills or duplicate submissions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- Points to note and common mistakes Section --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Points_to_note_and_common_mistakes\"><\/span><strong>Points to note and common mistakes<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peer review<\/a> is necessary but not sufficient<\/strong>: it mitigates many errors but does not guarantee detection of deliberate fabrication. Treat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a> as one layer in a broader integrity system.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Over-reliance on author-suggested reviewers increases risk<\/strong>: editor-managed selection and verification reduce exposure to fraudulent reviewer identities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bulk corrections are painful but sometimes necessary<\/strong>: correcting the record even via large-scale retractions is part of maintaining integrity; transparency about reasons helps the community learn.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- Conclusion: restoring trust through layered defenses and good practice Section --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_restoring_trust_through_layered_defenses_and_good_practice\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion: restoring trust through layered defenses and good practice<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peer review<\/a> continues to be a vital mechanism for quality assurance, but it is not a panacea. When <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a> fails, the remedies expressions of concern, corrections, and retractions restore the literature but cannot always undo the lost time, diverted resources, or reputational harm. Researchers should therefore adopt transparent reporting, careful selection of collaborators and services, and proactive data sharing. Editors and publishers should verify reviewer identities, use screening tools and industry collaboration, and follow COPE guidance for clear, timely corrections. Together these steps make <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"26\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a> more resilient and protect the credibility of scholarly communication.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A growing number of high-profile corrections and mass retractions has put peer review squarely in the spotlight: when the gatekeeping system fails, the consequences extend beyond a single retraction to public trust in science, policy, and researcher careers. A review of retraction causes found that fake or manipulated peer review became a major reason for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57949,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-peer-review"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>When Peer Review Fails: The Challenges of Detecting Fraudulent Science and Its Aftermath - Enago Articles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how fake peer review, paper mills, and editorial failures compromise research integrity. 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