Knowledge Empowerment Foundation's spam and website emphasize that the organization is "registered by Govt. of India (Reg.no.E/11049/Rajkot)" as a non-profit NGO. It uses the domain name kemfo.org, which was registered by Namecheap.com in 2018.
KEMFO is not an open-access publisher. To the contrary, it demands that authors assign their copyright to it on the absurd theory that this benefits authors because it lets this Rajkot firm "negotiate subsidiary licenses to database aggregators and document supply companies, and allows for permission to be given in reproducing articles in books, for library loans, for electronic reserve,etc. in an efficient manner."
The website has a tab for "journal" that led nowhere as of 3/1/21. Within a month, there were four online journals with one or two issues each. A "book store" is stocked with four books costing between $45 and $200. The $200 ones are Why Gesiti? and Why Gesiti 4.0.
The trustees of the foundation are Sharadchandra Jamnadas Mehta, Hasmeetaben Sharadchandra Mehta, Tushar Sharadchandra Mehta, and Gitaben Tusharbhai Mehta.
UPDATE of 4/4/21
Trustee Tushar Mehta wrote me asking "May I know what is illegit or flaky about our foundation or its activity ?" I hope readers understand that the entry for a journal or publisher on this blog is not necessarily an accusation of illegal conduct or even mere flakiness. The blog is a response to the massive quantity of spam solicitations sent to academics. Before going into print, scholars need to separate the wheat from the chaff, as the quality of both bona fide and wannabe publishers varies. Unfortunately, the emails from many publishers and conference organizers do not inspire confidence about their level of quality control and practices for quality assurance.
The Cambridge English dictionary defines "flaky" as "behaving in a way that is strange, not responsible or not expected." To decide whether the Mehtas' foundation is behaving that way, readers may want to check the unsolicited spam for the elements of an "unfair or deceptive act or practice" as defined in Section 5(a) of the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, 15 U.S.C. § 7704(a), to ask whether claims of rigorous peer review by multiple, expert reviewers "usually completed within 15 days of the article's submission" (Analytical Chemistry International Author Guidelines, p. 3) are plausible, to consider whether defining plagiarism as "... or falsification of research results" (ibid., p. 1), is strange, to wonder whether a new publisher can truly claim to have "developed a strong reputation," et cetera.
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Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2023 08:06:36
To: Dhkaye
From: Materials Science Research [emsr@kemfo.net]
Subject: Get Paid for published Research Articles
Hello,
Greetings from the Knowledge Empowerment Foundation! We are a government-registered not-for-profit organization (Reg. no. E/11049/Rajkot), and we would like to invite you to submit your research for publication in our peer-reviewed journal, 'Exploratory Materials Science Research
Our journal focuses on both natural and synthetic materials, striving to deepen the understanding of fundamental theories and create innovative applications. We are particularly interested in high-quality research that has significant potential impact and appeals to public interest.
As an acknowledgment of your invaluable contribution and as an encouragement for your future work, we will reward the corresponding author with a payment of 50 USD for each published manuscript.
Please note that we rigorously enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy against plagiarism, encompassing unauthorized use of published materials and manipulation of research outcomes. Our Ethics and Malpractice statement can be found on our website for your reference.
We are committed to upholding academic integrity and ensuring only high-quality articles are published through our double-blind review process. Furthermore, we do not charge authors any publication fees and provide financial assistance for manuscript publication instead.
We appreciate your consideration of this opportunity and eagerly anticipate your potential contribution to our journal. Wishing you success in all your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Ambaa Mehta
Administration Head
Knowledge Empowerment Foundation - From: Social Science [essrkef@kemfo.net]
To: Dhkaye
Sent: Monday, Aug 21, 2023 at 04:36:34 AM EDT
Subject: Editors invited for non profit social science journal
Hello,
The Knowledge Empowerment Foundation extends a warm welcome to you! We take pride in being a non-profit organization, duly recognized and registered by the Government of India (Registration no. E/11049/Rajkot).
We warmly invite you to become a part of our esteemed team of editors for our newly introduced research journal, Exploratory Social Science Research. As an editor, your pivotal role will profoundly influence and improve the quality of articles featured in our peer-reviewed publication. Our selection process has focused on individuals who demonstrate exceptional expertise and a genuine enthusiasm for social science research. We are confident that your participation would be extremely valuable in furthering knowledge within this domain. Join us on this thrilling adventure as we take meaningful steps toward progress in social science research! To give you a better insight into the role we propose, we have gathered pertinent information regarding our foundation, its objectives, and the research journal. We would like to convey our heartfelt congratulations and genuinely hope that you will accept our offer to occupy the editor position.
About Us and Our Mission:
The Knowledge Empowerment Foundation is a distinguished non-profit organization, officially recognized by the Government of India (Reg. No. E/11049/Rajkot). Our foremost goal is to produce high-quality educational materials that exceed global standards. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence, we endeavor to equip individuals with boundless knowledge. To guarantee premium content, we meticulously choose authors possessing extensive experience in collaborating with non-profit organizations like the Knowledge Empowerment Foundation. Their proficiency ensures outstanding quality and pertinence in every work we publish.
About our Journal:
At the forefront of Exploratory Social Science Research, our primary goal is to disseminate exceptional research adhering to the utmost quality standards. We take pride in presenting completed investigations and pioneering developments in the realm of social sciences. Rely on us to deliver cutting-edge research and ground-breaking discoveries in this field. Submissions to our journal should captivate both laypeople and the scientific community while possessing significant potential for real-world impact. Furthermore, maintaining the highest quality standards is of paramount importance.
We have initiated the launch of a new journal for numerous persuasive reasons:
• A large portion of journals in India and Asia necessitate that authors pay for publishing their articles, which hinders researchers from freely disseminating their work.
• Distinct from other journals, we proudly offer financial backing for research on the articles we publish. We comprehend the significance of investing in quality research and pledge our support to our authors throughout the process.
• Being a non-profit organization gives us the exclusive benefit of maintaining and prioritizing high-quality standards without sacrificing them for financial gain. Our primary objective is to provide exceptional value and create a positive impact while ensuring our services consistently adhere to the highest criteria.
• You can be confident that our journal undergoes a thorough peer-review procedure, safeguarding the credibility and quality of published articles. Additionally, we grant financial aid to authors for each accepted article, acknowledging their crucial input. Moreover, every published article is assigned a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) for easy citation and referencing by readers. Plus, our subscription fees are competitively priced, making our valuable content available to a diverse audience.
Our Invitation to You:
We sincerely value the significance of our work and would be delighted if you contemplate joining our respected journal as an editor. Your knowledge and perspective would immensely support our mission. If you're interested, we kindly ask for an acceptance letter to confirm your dedication to this project. As an editor, you will have a seven-year tenure with us, and after just four years, we provide financial aid for every manuscript you evaluate. Should you need further information about the role and related duties, please feel free to contact us. We are here to assist!
Description of the Role:
The role of the editor is crucial in maintaining the rich tradition of publishing influential social science research articles in Exploratory Social Science Research. Working closely with the Editorial Board and Publisher, they will ensure this legacy continues to flourish. To accomplish this, the editor will undertake various responsibilities, such as:
• Soliciting, receiving, and managing new journal contributions through the peer review process, making sure all involved adhere to the code of publishing ethics;
• Welcoming article submissions from both experienced researchers and emerging talents in their early career stages;
• Offering feedback on all submission aspects, from initial manuscript evaluations to article selection;
• Periodically reviewing and expanding the reviewer pool as needed, considering factors like size, area of expertise, and geographical representation;
• Implementing enhancements to the journal's editorial structure and effectively communicating with board members about reviews, recommendations, decisions, and related matters;
• Leading and directing annual editorial board meetings;
• Evaluating the editorial board at intervals and suggesting any necessary changes.;
• Acting as a representative for Exploratory Social Science Research at public forums, meetings, and conferences; and • Creating and maintaining valuable connections with other journals and relevant organizations.
Our top priority is protecting the journal's reputation and integrity. To achieve this, we kindly ask all editors to adhere to the publishing ethics laid out in the COPE Code of Conduct and the Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors. By following these guidelines, we can uphold exceptional standards of professionalism and ethical conduct throughout our publication process.
If you are interested in this position, please send us an acceptance letter promptly. Should you have any questions or concerns about the journal or our organization, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are available to help you address any inquiries or issues.
We greatly value the time you've taken to contemplate our invitation. It is our genuine hope that you will accept our proposal to become an editor with us. Your experience and involvement would have a considerable impact on our team.
Sincerely,
Ambaa Mehta
Knowledge Empowerment Foundation
- From: K E Foundation [books@kefbooks.website]
Sent: Monday, March 1, 2021, at 3:07 AM
Thursday, March 25, 2021, at 10:31 PM
Subject: Self Book Publication with Not-for Profit Organization
Dear Dhkaye [shortened to "Hello" in the 3/25 email],
We believe strongly in the need for the advancement of knowledge, and we believe that one of the best ways to do this is through the power of books and reading. Knowledge Empowerment Foundation is Not-for-Profit organization registered by Govt. of India (Reg.no.E/11049/Rajkot). At the Knowledge Empowerment Foundation, our mission is to support the furthering of education and dissemination of knowledge. As a not-for-profit publisher, we can put integrity before profit and research before sensationalism. We measure the success of our efforts by the contributions we make to the advancement of ideas from conception through to hands-on implementation.
That is why we founded the Knowledge Empowerment Foundation . We want to help people like you to share your stories and your knowledge to a wide audience that will only benefit the world as a whole.
We have developed a strong reputation by putting our authors first and streamlining the publishing process for both our authors and our readers.
We are reaching out to you as we believe that you have the knowledge within you to share across the world and to support a wide array of readers; and we will love to support you on that.
Do you have a manuscript you would like to put forward?
Our publishing procedure is straightforward! All we ask is to download our Book Publishing Proposal Form and submit it to our expert team for review! We will then be in touch!
All you have to do is click HERE and the first steps are taken!
Of course, if you have any questions please do reply to this email!
We look forward to publishing your work soon,
PUBLISH TODAY
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