ResearchGates.info is a fake academic network sending unsolicited emails
ResearchGates.info is not the legitimate ResearchGate platform. It is a separate domain used to send bulk unsolicited emails that impersonate academic networking or research collaboration. The emails typically claim you have a new message, a citation, a profile view, or an invitation to join a research project — but the sender has no real connection to you and the links lead to phishing pages or malware.
The domain researchgates.info (note the "s" at the end) deliberately mimics ResearchGate.net, the real academic social network. This similarity is intentional. Scammers use the confusion to make the email look legitimate at a glance, especially to researchers who actually use ResearchGate and expect notifications from it.
These emails are spam. They are sent in volume to harvested email lists, not to you personally. The sender does not know your name, your research, or your institution — they are testing whether your address is active and whether you will click a malicious link.
Key Takeaways
- ResearchGates.info is a fraudulent domain that mimics the real ResearchGate.net platform by adding an "s" to the domain name.
- Emails from researchgates.info claiming new messages, citations, or research invitations are unsolicited bulk spam, not genuine notifications.
- The links in these emails lead to phishing pages designed to steal your login credentials or to sites hosting malware.
- You should delete these emails when ready and never click links or read attachments, even if the message appears to come from someone you know.
- Reporting the email to your email provider and marking it as spam trains your filter to catch similar messages in the future.
How to identify a ResearchGates.info spam email
The sender address is the first thing to check. Legitimate ResearchGate notifications come from addresses ending in @researchgate.net (no "s"). If the email says it is from researchgate.net but the actual sender address shows researchgates.info, researchgates.com, or any variation, it is spam.
The message itself often uses generic language that could explore to any researcher. Phrases like "You have a new message," "Someone cited your work," or "Join our research collaboration" do not reference your actual papers, your real collaborators, or your institution by name. Legitimate ResearchGate notifications are specific — they name the person who messaged you or the exact paper that was cited.
The email may also ask you to "verify your account," "confirm your identity," or "update your profile information" by clicking a link. ResearchGate does not ask you to do this via email. Any email asking you to re-enter your password or personal details is a phishing attempt, regardless of how official it looks.
What happens if you click the link
Clicking a link in a researchgates.info email typically takes you to one of two places. The first is a fake login page that looks like ResearchGate but is actually controlled by the scammer. If you enter your username and password, the attacker now has your credentials and can access your real ResearchGate account, your email, and any other accounts where you use the same password.
The second destination is a malware distribution site. These pages may appear to load slowly or show an error, but in the background they are downloading malicious software onto your computer. This software can steal banking information, capture keystrokes, display unwanted advertisements, or lock your files until you pay a ransom.
Even if you do not enter information or read anything, visiting the page may expose your device to browser exploits — code that takes advantage of security gaps in your web browser to install malware without your knowledge.
Steps to take if you received a ResearchGates.info email
Do not click any links or read any attachments. If you have already clicked a link, do not enter your password or any personal information on the page that loaded. Close the browser tab when ready.
Delete the email. Most email providers have a delete button or trash folder. After deleting, empty your trash so the email is permanently removed.
Mark the email as spam or junk. In Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and most other providers, there is a "Report spam" or "Mark as junk" button. Clicking it tells your email provider that this sender is unwanted and trains the filter to catch similar messages in the future. It also helps the provider identify spam campaigns and block them at the source.
If you entered your password on a fake login page, change your ResearchGate password when ready. Go directly to researchgate.net (type the address yourself, do not click a link), log in with your old password, and change it to something new. If you use the same password on other accounts, change those too.
How to prevent these emails from arriving
Email filters are your first line of defense. Most email providers automatically catch obvious spam, but researchgates.info emails sometimes slip through because they mimic a legitimate service. Marking them as spam when they arrive teaches your filter to recognize the pattern.
Be cautious about where your email address is published. If your address appears on a university directory, a department website, or a public research profile, it is easier for spammers to find. You cannot remove your address from the internet entirely, but you can limit what is publicly visible on platforms you control.
Do not reply to spam emails, even to say "remove me from your list." A reply confirms that your address is active and monitored, which makes you a more valuable target. Spammers sell active addresses to other spammers.
Use a strong, unique password on ResearchGate and any other account that holds personal or professional information. If one account is compromised, a unique password prevents the attacker from accessing your other accounts.
The difference between ResearchGate.net and ResearchGates.info
ResearchGate.net is a legitimate platform founded in 2008 where researchers share papers, collaborate, and discuss their work. It is a real company with offices in Berlin and a large user base across academia and industry. Notifications from ResearchGate.net are genuine and come from addresses ending in @researchgate.net.
ResearchGates.info (with an "s") is not affiliated with ResearchGate in any way. It is a domain registered by scammers specifically to impersonate the real platform. The similarity in names is deliberate — it exploits the fact that many researchers use ResearchGate and expect emails from it.
Other variations you may see include researchgates.com, researchgate.info, or researchgate.online. None of these are legitimate. If you are unsure whether an email is real, log into your ResearchGate account directly (by typing researchgate.net into your browser, not by clicking a link) and check your messages there. If there is no message waiting, the email was spam.
What to do if you think you have been compromised
If you entered your password on a fake login page, change your ResearchGate password and any other passwords you use on the same account or similar accounts. Consider running a malware scan on your computer using Windows Defender (built into Windows), Malwarebytes, or another reputable antivirus tool.
Monitor your email and bank accounts for suspicious activity over the next few weeks. Scammers sometimes wait before using stolen credentials, hoping you will not notice the breach. If you see unfamiliar login attempts, password reset requests, or charges you did not make, contact your bank and email provider when ready.
If you believe your ResearchGate account has been accessed without your permission, contact ResearchGate support directly through their official website. Do not reply to any email claiming to be from ResearchGate support — go to the real site and find the contact form there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ResearchGate sending me these emails?
No. ResearchGate.net does not send emails from researchgates.info. The real platform sends notifications from @researchgate.net addresses only. If the sender address shows researchgates.info or any other variation, it is not from ResearchGate and you should delete it.
What if the email mentions my actual research or a real collaborator?
Scammers sometimes harvest information from public profiles, university websites, or published papers to make spam emails look more credible. Mentioning your real research does not make the email legitimate. Check the sender address first. If it is not @researchgate.net, it is spam.
Can I unsubscribe from these emails?
Spam emails often include an unsubscribe link, but clicking it confirms that your address is active and monitored, which makes you a more attractive target for future spam. Do not click unsubscribe. Delete the email and mark it as spam instead.
Will my computer get a virus if I just open the email?
Opening an email and reading it is usually safe. The danger comes from clicking links or downloading attachments. If you opened the email but did not click anything, you are likely fine. If you are concerned, run a malware scan on your computer.
What should I do if I already gave them my password?
Change your ResearchGate password when ready by logging in at researchgate.net directly. If you use the same password on other accounts, change those too. Monitor your email and bank accounts for suspicious activity and consider running a malware scan on your computer.