Authors Everywhere Are Getting Scammed - Don't Fall Victim!

[@8762able]

I recently self-published a book in May 2023 with a reputable company. They did a wonderful job creating a front cover design and interior work, and the staff were very courteous and professional. Once the book was available through Amazon, the self-publishing company that worked with me, informed me to be cautious about scammers pretending to be from a literary agency. That same week, I received dozens of phone calls from agencies in California, stating that they loved my book and wanted to make a movie about it. I deleted all the messages and blocked all their phone numbers.

[@livforever8664]

If you are in the US, don’t forget to report any scams to the Federal Trade Commission, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (subdivision of the FBI), or your local consumer protection agency! And if you suspect it’s an international scam, report it to the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network! A complaint can help prevent someone in the future from getting scammed, especially people from vulnerable groups. Edit: You can also report it to the Better Business Bureau as well.

[@zanemarion7211]

I have had three offers from three publishers but dodged the scam by doing research and also making certain everything they sent me was legit. One offer was from a self publishing company offering an advance, moving fees, co-author with another writer in my genre, and a brand new car. Email address was personal and not from the business. That was an immediate red flag. I spoke with them for a while and finally just stopped talking with them knowing they were not legit. Do your homework and never sign anything without doing some digging. Make certain everything lines up. Another one was immediate flag cause offer was no advance and 90% royalties. At that high it is not possible for the publisher to make a dime. Red flag.

[@AFringedGentian]

I don’t care how long it takes. I want an agent to stand between me and these dishonest people. I’m happy to query for years rather than go through this.

[@brotheramartey777]

Agent? There are crooked agents too!

[@angelhuff1026]

Austin Macaulay publishers just recently sent me, Hollie, the only money they ever sent me after publishing my book for years. They did not tell me about some of the copies that I have reason to believe were sold, but even they admitted several were sold. They gave me less than 3$. I put my soul into that book. I hope they go out of business if that is all they can do. Are they trying to ruin Christmas?

[@danohanlon8316]

Wow. Proper diction-and rhythm. Better than most news announcers. It’s so rare. A pleasure to listen to.

[@southerntiger3107]

A lot of self publishing companies love to scam people. The company that I had the biggest problem with is McZell publishing company.

[@waterONTHEsun]

As the saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is." I was suckered into Newman Springs Publishing. All they care about is collecting their publishing fee, and then, they don't give a crap about you or your book. It's too bad, I thought my little children's book was clever and would have done well had Newman Springs Publishing weren't such liars. Example: They claim your book will be in bookstores everywhere. That's a lie. They claim you will receive a 94% of your book sold, then, my Newman Springs Publishing "book project manager" tells me they don't sell books! WHAT THE?!! I found 5 or 6 people selling my book on Amazon. How did they get their copies if not through Newman Springs Publishing?!! They are just liars and crooks. Man, I feel soooo stupid trusting them.

[@shawnmckeegan]

I'm starting to think that book deal I signed with "Nigerian Prince Publishing," might not be on the up and up.

[@ellennewth6305]

I was nearly scammed by one of these fake publishers. But something about their contract didn’t seem legit. I tried to contact some of the authors they supposedly represent and got no response. Once I checked Writer Beware I realized what was going on and deleted the phony publisher’s emails.

[@clintoreilly]

Thanks for the heads-up, Alyssa. You remain to be a star :)

[@Ayshat]

I have, and though I almost fall into the trap, a lot of researching, reading the contract, and asking questions helped. I want to say if you have been querying for a while or a long time, getting these emails can be tempting, but don't be too excited, calm yourself, give yourself some days, and once you are relaxed, you can sense what is legit and what isn't. Don't fall into the trap, it is expensive, and you would have sent more queries or started another book during the headaches.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

This is a well worded warning--be careful out there, authors!

[@UncleIJT]

I’ve had a few attempt to scam me. I was told to get a $10K loan for publishing/marketing purposes. I’ve had one blatantly lie to me. Luckily I knew she was lying.

[@maggiepfob]

Thanks for creating such an open, honest video about this! If I had a dollar for every excited tweet I see about "Oh, wow, I got this offer from a publisher and they only want $2,995.95 to publish my book!" I could... well, I could buy myself a really nice steak dinner, for starters. There are also honest "publishers" out there who don't ask for any money, up front or ever, who mean well but are really just people sitting in their kitchens pushing manuscripts through KDP and taking a cut of the sales. They aren't scammers - they just can't offer you anything you can't do for yourself. I fell for one of these "small press" "publishers" with my first novel and regretted it. These "publishers" can't afford good editors - the most they can do is enlist the aid of a niece who got good grades in English or something. They can't afford a cover artist - they use stock photos and fonts. And they absolutely do not do any marketing whatsoever. Basically they are people who operate KDP for you if you don't feel confident enough to do it yourself. But seriously, if you can operate Word, you can operate KDP! A couple of KZbin tutorials can bring you up to speed (and you'll probably do better than my first "publisher" did!) A good way to tell one of these schmublishers from a real, albeit small, press is to ask who their distributor is. If they don't know what you even mean, or if they just say "Amazon," keep querying. The thing that irks me most, though, is that these so-called "small publishers" try to convince you to go with them because "Well, authors have to do all their own marketing these days anyway, even those published by the Big Five." This - and please excuse my shouting but it needs to be heard: THIS IS GASLIGHTING!!!! It is absolutely UNTRUE. Authors ARE expected to participate in their marketing efforts but, if they have a legitimate publisher, they are NOT the only person on the marketing team. Real publishers have a marketing team of their own that knows marketing inside and out, and guess what? It isn't all just about getting lots of followers on social media! Alyssa, I would love to see you do a video on this someday, to bust this myth and help people avoid making the mistake I did when I was a clueless noob.

[@puppykitten1557]

Kim, I almost fell for the same thing a few weeks ago! They weren't a scam but said if have to market the book myself and failed to provide details of how they'd be able to help me. Thankfully Alyssa's videos and comments like yours helped me get them and avoid getting scammed

[@LorraineCareyAuthor]

I was a victim of a scam agent a few months ago. I knew something was off when they wanted money up front to do an edit.

[@infolawofficesofmiami2904]

Editorial work isn’t free though

[@ZeljanaMiljevic]

@@infolawofficesofmiami2904wrong. If you are going the traditional path, NO ONE is going to ask you an upfront fee. If they do, it is a scam.

[@jeffreybarker357]

When art becomes business, huh? Thanks for the tips, Alyssa. Glad to see you're keeping us updated. I'm sure your videos on similar topics from a year or two ago are still valid, but I'd rather see you remake the same things with current trends since this industry can't seem to stay still.

[@pugglepooch]

Pegasus and Olympia both offered me a publishing contract but say the author has to pay towards the publishing fees!!

[@andeeharry]

Always do research, learn stuff, ask questions and watch their responses, look at thier samples, look for thier website, look at thier info, check out stuff, see thier previous stuff, ask everything you can, don't just jump into something just because someone says so.

[@pjalexander_author]

This is a fantastic video and should be shared throughout the author community. Tons of great information and it will save lots of writers from a terrible situation. Thanks so much for helping this community, Alyssa.

[@fogblog723]

Yup true that this is the letter i received and clause 15 is a money agreement to pay THEM up to $5000. Its a scam. The Publishing Board have reported back favourably on a piece of work which you submitted for their consideration, please see attached letter and following feedback. You will shortly be receiving a DocuSign email detailing the terms of the contract you have been offered. If you don’t receive the email, please check your spam folder. If you wish to move forward with the production of the work then please sign the electronic copy, having also selected an option from Clause 15. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, AUSTIN MACAULEY PUBLISHERS™

[@BarbaraDiLorenzoWavepaint]

I'm a traditionally published author/illustrator, but I have students that want guidance on smaller or hybrid publishers. One student got an offer from Pegasus in the UK. Their online presence makes them seem like a hybrid publisher, but some reviewers complain about the high cost to participate. Are there any folks on this thread that have experience with Pegasus?

[@xorlacanj8051]

Thank you for talking about this. I have not seen anyone talking about this.

[@cerielvanarneman9399]

I wrote my first book and my book won an international award. I have no experience with self-publishing and I chose Author house publishing that was my first big mistake. That publisher doesn't sell my book; they only sell fake marketing to the author. I buy books fair and more that was a waste of time and money. To publish with author house you have to pay the scammers, there were authors who lost more than $100,000 and don't sell 1 book. Writing a book is a lot of work and not easy to make money with a book. The biggest mistake an author makes is publishing a book with scammers. I won't write a second book anymore I prefer to play guitar as a hobby. Lost money is not a problem, I can get money back, but wasting of time I'll never get it back. Finding a traditional publisher is important for an author, but that's difficult because you need to find a literary agent.

[@andreanniabush1861]

Yes Author House got me too but I’m seeking legal counsel

[@TonieAnterwp]

I've gotten phone calls from an agency saying they want to promote my two chapbooks of poetry, both of which were published over ten years ago. I now let their calls go to voicemail. Once or twice I had to be rude to them to get them to stop calling me. I made the mistake at one point of saying I was working on fiction, but I wasn't ready to share the work--which was true. Now, when they call, I tell them I'm still not interested in marketing my poetry chapbooks, which I've sold mostly at readings and book fairs, and I'm not interested in their services at all. Again, I usually let their calls go to voicemail (my answering machine).

[@bluecollarlit]

What is a chapbook?

[@rowan7929]

I had a few who contacted me by email. The reason why I knew its a scam, because they showed interest to my second book of the series. So far only the second book.

[@zanemarion7211]

If they contact you first they are not legit.

[@okaforuchenna]

@@zanemarion7211 Not necessarily. If you've published in prominent literary magazines there's a good chance literary agents may contact you.

[@zanemarion7211]

@@okaforuchennathey don't contact you cause legitimate agents are swamped. You contact them. Same with publishers. Query and wait. Write and write more as you wait anxious to know if rejected or they want the entire manuscript. That just the beginning of a very long process.

[@jessip8654]

@@zanemarion7211 There are some cases where legit agents may reach out to you, But you generally have to be really successful already. A big TikTok or youtube star, maybe self-publish a very successful novel, but unless you're someone who already has tens of thousands of adoring fans, assume scam.

[@okaforuchenna]

@@jessip8654 I don't think this is true. You can be contacted by submitting short stories to literary magazines. It doesn't require being a star or well known. Editors and agents regularly peruse magazines magazines for possibly the next literary sensation. You don't have to be already be successful. That's why sometimes it's advised to submit to solid lit magazines as one way to get noticed.

[@exfoliage]

It was a bunch of talking. The video didn’t start until 1:56

[@susanbrougher2265]

Great reminders for writers. I would add to do a fair amount of your own research before getting selfpublished. I spent lots of time comparing what each selfpublisher offered before settling on one and haven't been disappointed with their work. But I would not recommend self publishing because their marketing contacts are not sufficient to make enough sales even if you work hard yourself to garner good reviews on Amazon and use their ads just to get your book to come up on searches. Query Tracker is 👍 Thanks again will only traditional publish at this point.

[@Johannesburg777]

So I got a call from a company called Brilliant Books Literary Agency. Would this be an example of a scam, because the person said they could "represent" me and get my book published, and it sounds too good to be true

[@angelhuff1026]

I am an author of three books and was very recently told over the phone that I needed to pay a 500$ fee before I would be sent a traditional publishing contract to sign. I can't see the contract until I pay 500$ to Book Writing Lane. Anyway that's what he said. I will not be sending the 500$. It's so upsetting to be treated this way. Do they think when one becomes an author that there is some magic button that is pushed so we don't have feelings?

[@Diogenes-II]

Wow! So sorry this is happening to us authors! I thought becoming an author was supposed to be a good thing!

[@mamecotterportraitsofartis8089]

What about authors who have sold picture books and promise you if you take their 1500 dollar workshop they can help you. Miriam Laundry is an example. Anything on master classes ?

[@davidionepearl4244]

Collins Bookstore, an online publisher that disappeared from Facebook as suddenly as it appeared, now has a presence on Instagram. My experience with them was stacked in shadiness from jump street - my intuition was to keep steppin', so I did just that and dropped conversations with them before we got anywhere. No money was ever discussed, they did however promise a few times to honor phone call slots I set up with them, then dropped the ball each time on following through. That was enough for me to move on, since all I really wanted to accomplish in the call anyway was to ask qualifying questions and get a vibe feel. They gave me their vibe-feel alright, literally without lifting a finger...

[@tomgrant3893]

I wont mention the publisher, but I was told that for 10 grand, they'd give all the top services and put me in top book stores, and the contract they sent me looks suspect, who can I ask to check this contract.

[@bluecollarlit]

They say "top" this, and "top" that. I'd be done with them right there.

[@bukimosaku395]

Excellent as always! I notice though, you imply that all legit publishers give advances to first time authors. Is this really the case?

[@xorlacanj8051]

Is the author expected to pay for and register for copyright? Thanks

[@dreamerspace11]

I'm about to pay for a book publishing package to California Book Publisher, but there isn't enough information about this company and what they offer looks really good. What do I do? 🥺

[@b.g.960]

Check Writers be Ware.

[@REDGOATcomicbooks.13]

I was con from guy who said he was going published my comic book though azman published. I lost over $400

[@singleparentsguidetothegal2371]

Has anyone else heard of Dawn Ghostwritering?

[@katbox87]

Milton & hugo?

[@cjpreach]

If this video doesn't impress authors with the need for an agent, I don't know what will.

[@infolawofficesofmiami2904]

I think the word scam is too loosely used in this video. We’ve represented a few independent publishing companies I guess those are what she refers to in this video as vanity. They do charge upfront for their services and provide those services, they do not take royalties or any other payment but just like the traditional they deserved to be paid. The misconception that traditional publishers don’t charge is where the problem lies, what they do is that they will give you a deposit upfront, but more than likely there is nothing to get because every book sold goes into their pocket and you still have to do some level of marketing on your own.

[@LynneJones-g2j]

My daughter is trying to publish a book with LT-writing and I think it is a scam because they are asking for 500 dollars

[@joseavilez9837]

Is Pegasus legit? I just got an offer from them?

[@oakwoodproperties7101]

Hello, do u have a means of me messaging you but not on here? I would like to run something by you and to get your opinion if possible. Many thanks Geoff

[@truthbetold444]

Writer Beware blog: writerbeware.blog/

[@AlyssaMatesic]

An excellent resource! Thanks for sharing Theo!

[@andeeharry]

I have had loads of fakes pretending to be designers, book covers, agents, published places, those from Webnovel and Fivrr, I had Netflix wannabees. It is funny how they try it on, and they end up blocking me because I know too much lol. They hate me asking questions and sometimes tell me to mind my own business lol. Some do sound genuine until you have to pay. It is sneaky, I had two independent publishers who did everything by the book and decided to remain anonymous, so nobody knows who they are. They try anything.... I had one the other day say they love my book and want my link to it lol....also ''give me your link, I can promote for you'' lol....I can edit for $10...but new at the job, or had a year experience. Some claim they have qualifications and can do it without learning. I have seen and heard it all. I had those who claim to be book cover designers and either they have nothing to show, or they steal from somewhere else lol. It is nuts. Yes, Nigerians are very sneaky with this (sorry to any Nigerians in here). Because I know my stuff, they tell me off for ruining thier hard work. I love it when they randomly turn up telling me something when they are not doing it and there is no info on thier profile. (because thier boss doesn't like it) lol. Yeah, the Industry is full of fakes, scammers and unsavory people and you can't call them out because they will label you as 'Difficult to work with'' lol I called out 7 agents, and 4 publishing platforms on twitter since last year. I am not sure if they are real or not, but I called them out when they didn't have a clue to what I was talking about, when engaging about editing stuff. One of the agents was supposed to be world famous who said to do Harry Potter and a bunch of others. I often catch them out. I get called 'paranoid' quite often, but often I am right anyway.