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Analysis of the publisher's behavior plays a vital role in identifying fraudulent publishers in the pay-per-click model of online advertising. However, the vast amount of raw user click data with missing values pose a challenge in analyzing the conduct of publishers. The presence of high cardinality in categorical attributes with multiple possible values has further aggrieved the issue.

In this paper, gradient tree boosting (GTB) learning is used to address the challenges encountered in learning the publishers' behavior from raw user click data and effectively classifying fraudulent publishers.

The results demonstrate that the GTB effectively classified fraudulent publishers and exhibited significantly improved performance as compared to other learning methods in terms of average precision (60.5 %), recall (57.8 %) and f-measure (59.1%).

The experiments were conducted using publicly available multiclass raw user click dataset and eight other imbalanced datasets to test the GTB's generalizing behavior, while training and testing were done using 10-fold cross-validation. The performance of GTB was evaluated using average precision, recall and f-measure. The performance of GTB learning was also compared with eleven other state-of-the-art individual and ensemble classification models.

The problem of choosing the utmost useful features from hundreds of features from time-series user click data arises in online advertising toward fraudulent publisher's classification. Selecting feature subsets is a key issue in such classification tasks. Practically, the use of filter approaches is common; however, they neglect the correlations amid features. Conversely, wrapper approaches could not be applied due to their complexities. Moreover, in particular, existing feature selection methods could not handle such data, which is one of the major causes of instability of feature selection.

To overcome such issues, a majority voting-based hybrid feature selection method, namely feature distillation and accumulated selection (FDAS), is proposed to investigate the optimal subset of relevant features for analyzing the publisher's fraudulent conduct. FDAS works in two phases: (1) feature distillation, where significant features from standard filter and wrapper feature selection methods are obtained using majority voting; (2) accumulated selection, where we enumerated an accumulated evaluation of relevant feature subset to search for an optimal feature subset using effective machine learning (ML) models.

Empirical results prove enhanced classification performance with proposed features in average precision, recall, f1-score and AUC in publisher identification and classification.

The FDAS is evaluated on FDMA2012 user-click data and nine other benchmark datasets to gauge its generalizing characteristics, first, considering original features, second, with relevant feature subsets selected by feature selection (FS) methods, third, with optimal feature subset obtained by the proposed approach. ANOVA significance test is conducted to demonstrate significant differences between independent features.

This paper aims to explore the applicability of mudharabah (partnership) based crowdfunding as an alternative fund to support the book publishing industry, particularly for self-publishers and small publishers.

This is an exploratory qualitative study whereby the data are obtained from library research and empirical studies. As for empirical data, it is sourced from semi-structured interviews with three types of groups: the book industry, the crowdfunding platform and Shari’ah experts.

The study found that mudharabah crowdfunding could overcome the book publishing industry’s financial problems. However, this requires special requirements for applicants (writers or publishers) to avoid fraudulent cases, as well as committed management in running the platform and a substantial crowd of loyal funders to maintain the platform. Simultaneously, even though mudharabah is a risky instrument, the risk can be mitigated by closely monitoring the progress of the project. As a result, this study proposes a special framework for mudharabah based crowdfunding to fund self-publishers and small publishers in Malaysia.

This is an exploratory study, in which its findings may not be generalised due to the limited number of participants.

A special model for mudharabah based crowdfunding can be established through an online platform to support book publishing in Malaysia.

As this mudharabah crowdfunding model has the potential to support the book industry financially, it could also nurture talented young writers while also preserving knowledge.

This study highlights a fresh and in-depth discussion both in theory and practice in proposing a special Islamic crowdfunding framework based on mudharabah as an alternative fund for the book industry, particularly to support self- and small publishers.

Implementation of research evaluation policies based on neoliberal orientations of performativity has transformed higher education institutions globally, reshaping academic work and the academic profession. Most lately, the mantra of “publish or no degree” has become the norm in many contexts. There has been little empirical research into the unintended consequences of this neoliberal academic performativity for inexperienced researchers. This article focuses on the role institutional research evaluation policies play on doctoral students and early-career doctoral graduates’ publication practices and on their decision to sometimes publish in journals with ethically “questionable” publishing standards in particular through the concept of figured worlds.

The study was conducted in a higher education setting employing a variety of research incentive schemes to boost research productivity where “publish or no degree” policy is the norm. It employs qualitative approach and involves in-depth interviews with nine doctoral students and seven early career academics who have been working part-time or full-time for five years following PhD completion.

Findings demonstrate publishing in journals with ethically “questionable” publishing standards is not always simply the result of naivety or inexperience. Some authors choose these journals in order to retain a sense of self-efficacy in the face of rejection by more highly ranked journals. Under institutional pressure to publish, they are socialized into this “shadow academia” through (existing) academic networks, conferences and journal special issues.

It is often assumed that scholars are trapped into “questionable” journals through the use of unsolicited emails. This paper challenges this assumption by demonstrating the crucial role research evaluation policies based on neoliberal orientations of performativity and contextual dynamics play on the publication practices of doctoral students and early-career doctoral graduates on their decision to submit to journals with “questionable” publication practices. It introduces the concept of unethical publication brokering, an informal network of ties promising fast and easy publication in outlets that “count”.

This study aims to assess the relationship between internal control weakness and different types of auditor opinions in fraudulent and non-fraudulent firms. The study's main objective is to investigate fraud in business firms and analyze internal controls and types of proposed opinions by the auditor about his desired firm. The outbreak of fraud in firms is of utmost importance to a broad spectrum of society. Internal controls and the auditor's role in preventing and detecting frauds should not be taken for granted.

The present study's statistical population includes 179 listed firms on the Stock Exchange selected as the study sample using the systematic elimination method during 2012–2019. As the study's dependent variable (the type of auditor’s opinion), research hypotheses were analyzed using the Logit regression model.

The results show that the relationship between internal control weakness and opinion type is significantly different in fraudulent and non-fraudulent firms. Moreover, the relationship between internal control weakness and type of auditor opinion in fraudulent firms and the relationship between internal control weakness and type of auditor opinion in non-fraudulent firms are significant.

By assessing the related literature, the authors have found no study to directly assess the comparative relationship between internal control weakness and the type of auditor opinion, which can be named as the main objective of the study.

This guide is compiled in order that banks may see the extent of the overall problem of fraud and money laundering in documentary credit transactions. It also contains advice on how banks and bankers may protect themselves and their staff from the consequences of fraudulent attacks against the system.

Academic corruption and fraudulent practices have become problematic in recent years. Governments around the world have introduced dedicated higher education commissions to regulate higher education providers. The purpose of this paper is to design a system for the detection and prevention framework of fraudulent behaviour in higher education.

This paper performs a survey on academic misconduct practices and expands the survey by analysing the accreditation process. This study further identifies common corrupt practices in the accreditation process with reference to particular accreditation standards or laws. If the accreditation process is as thorough as, this paper is led to believe, a higher institute may stop being compliant immediately after the accreditation process. playing a catch-me-if-you-can at the next accreditation cycle. The survey of the accreditation process and identification of corrupt practices lead to an identification of preventative and detective measures.

The review of accreditation procedures and conditions identifies that fraudulent practices can occur at every part of any policy and procedure. The framework prevents repudiation and allows for spontaneous investigations internally and externally. The blockchain prevented changes to the system and allow for auditing of changes. A system such as this could suppress accreditation fraud and minimise its corrupt impact. Not to mention identify with relative ease the severity and life of corrupt practice.

Contributions are made in the framework for detecting and preventing corrupt practices in Higher Education using blockchain immutable transactions. This enables real-time accreditation compliance checks and monitoring of conditions. External complaints or reviews can be conducted with minimum interactions from higher education providers.

Until the late 19th century, the controls on advertising in Britain and the US depended on complying with laws relating to defamation and on the ethical values of advertisers and media proprietors. During the 20th century, concerns about public safety from dangerous products or services, recognition of the need to safeguard people from misleading or untrue claims, and attempts to strike a balance in the interests of fair trading have led to movements for both self‐regulation, as well as some legal restrictions on marketing and advertising practices. Differences in British and American practices have arisen from the nature of the legal systems and the cultural mores of the respective societies.

Food fraud as intentional deception for economic gain relies on a low-tech food value chain, that applies a ‘paper-and-pencil approach’, unable to provide reliable and trusted data about food products, accompanied processes/activities and actors involved. Such approach has created the information asymmetry that leads to erosion of stakeholders and consumers trust, which in turn discourages cooperation within the food chain by damaging its ability to decrease uncertainty and capability to provide authentic, nutritional, accessible and affordable food for all. Lack of holistic approach, focus on stand-alone measures, lack of proactive measures and undermined role of customers have been major factors behind weaknesses of current anti-fraud measures system. Thus, the process of strong and fast digitalisation enabled by the new emerging technology called Industry 4.0 is a way to provide a shift from food fraud detection to efficient prevention. Therefore, the objective of this chapter is to shed light on current challenges and opportunities associated with Industry 4.0 technology enablers' guardian role in food fraud prevention with the hope to inform future researchers, experts and decision-makers about opportunities opened up by transforming to new cyber-physical-social ecosystem, or better to say ‘self-thinking’ food value chain whose foundations are already under development. The systematic literature network analysis is applied to fulfil the stated objective. Digitalisation and Industry 4.0 can be used to develop a system that is cost effective and ensures data integrity and prevents tampering and single point failure through offering fault tolerance, immutability, trust, transparency and full traceability of the stored transaction records to all agri-food value chain partners. In addition, such approach lays a foundation for adopting new business models, strengthening food chain resilience, sustainability and innovation capacity.

This paper aims to systematically review over two decades of academic articles on romance fraud to provide a holistic insight into this crime and identify literature gaps.

More than two decades of peer-reviewed academic journal articles from 2000 to 2023 were systematically reviewed using multiple search engines and databases for relevant papers, identified through searches of paper titles, keywords, abstracts and primary texts.

The findings reveal 10 themes: i) the definitions and terminology of romance fraud; ii) romance fraud’s impact on victims; iii) the profile of romance fraud criminals and victims; iv) romance fraud methods and techniques; v) why victims become susceptible to romance fraud; vi) the psychology of romance fraud criminals; vii) the links between romance fraud and other crimes; viii) the challenges of investigating romance fraud; ix) preventing romance fraud and protecting victims; and x) how romance fraud victims can be supported.

The paper reveals implications regarding the future direction of policy and strategy to address the pervasive low reporting rates and narratives of shame bound with victims of this crime.

Romance fraud is a serious crime against individuals with impacts beyond financial losses. Still, this fraud type is under-researched, and the literature lacks a holistic view of this crime. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic literature review providing a holistic view of romance fraud. It combines evidence across the academic landscape to reveal the breadth and depth of the current work concerning romance fraud and identify gaps in the understanding of this fraud crime.