Case
Journal X was approached by an author who would like to submit an article. The author responded to a request to publish an article in a predatory journal without realizing that it was a predatory journal. The author submitted the article only to receive an unexpected bill and clear evidence of a lack of peer review. The author researched the magazine and then realized its predatory nature.

In order to remove the submitted manuscript from this journal, the author contacted the editorial board by email, telephone, and certified mail, but received no response. Periodically, the manuscript disappeared from the journal's website, only to reappear in the next issue. The author has never signed a copyright agreement and has never paid the journal for publication of the article. The author would like to have the manuscript published in a legitimate journal, but does not wish to be guilty of re-publication.

COPE Advice
Since there was no transfer of copyright, the article could have been published in a legitimate journal, ideally with an editorial note explaining what had happened. Otherwise, the author may have to "write off" this article on experience and lessons learned.

Another suggestion is to threaten legal action – a predatory magazine may back down if threatened with legal action.

Resolution
The author mailed another registered letter to the predatory magazine, but it was returned unopened (because there was no one at the address who could accept the letter). She did not threaten legal action because her university's legal counsel did not support such an approach, and she was unable to get a response from anyone at the magazine by phone, email, or letter to effectively communicate the threat. However, she then sent a message to the publisher of the predatory magazine: “Remove my article from your site immediately. If you don't do it immediately, I'm going to sue.'' In response, the publisher asked her for the title of the article and the associated journal. She will now continue to submit to a legitimate journal, and the editor of the legitimate journal is confident that republishing is no longer an issue.

Source: https://entc.com.ua/uk/2052-vyluchennya-pryynyatoho-rukopysu-z-khyzhatskoho-zhurnalu