Verify identity outside the invitation
Search the exact title and ISSN in the relevant official source. Compare the publisher and website address with the invitation. A familiar journal title can be used by an unrelated site, so check the actual destination rather than only the email display name.
Read the publishing process
Look for a clear description of editorial screening, peer review, charges, corrections and contact arrangements. Examine recently published articles for fit and basic editorial consistency. An implausibly broad scope or a guaranteed decision without assessment deserves further investigation.
Separate cost from legitimacy
Charging an article processing fee does not by itself make a journal questionable, and having no fee does not establish quality. The issue is transparency, editorial practice and whether claims can be verified. Confirm the fee and payee through the official publisher channel.
Keep a decision record
Record the checks completed and unresolved discrepancies. Discuss institutional recognition requirements with your supervisor or research office. If the identity, indexing claim or payment destination remains unclear, pause the submission until it can be resolved rather than relying on a deadline in a promotional message.