Notify the academic's or researcher's institution. All universities and research institutions have a policy against research fraud and other misdeeds involving research. Start by searching the organization's website for "Academic fraud and misconduct." This information could be located in the organization's sponsored programs webpage, but it could also appear on the Institutional Review Board website or even the human resources department's webpage. Follow the policy outlined on the site to notify the organization.
Contact the publishing body, if applicable. If the misdeed involved plagiarism, falsified sources or unethical research design, write to the academic journal or book publisher's editor-in-chief and detail the problem you found with the work. Include copies of any evidence you have to support your claim. Provide your contact information in case the publisher needs to get in touch with you about the problem.
Report the research to the authorities if you believe it is harmful or illegal, such as unauthorized medical experiments or if participants are being sexually exploited during the research process.