An Email Too Good to be True?

Impersonators are contacting authors to prey on hope...

After years of writing, editing, securing a publisher, and building a platform, your book finally hits the shelves. An email arrives from a producer at a big podcast asking to interview you: it's an author's dream. But wait a minute...does the email address seem personal rather than professional? Is the text generic and vague? Are they offering to feature you and your book for a fee? These are all red flags that may indicate you're being contacted by a scammer, not an actual representative of the podcast.

I've seen reports of this happening with impostors claiming to represent book festivals, book review outlets, television and radio producers, book industry organizations and publishing awards. These fraudsters often research the names of actual people at the organization, so it can be hard to discern if it's a scam or not.

As someone who has been pitching authors and their books for years, I'm accustomed to working with media, and have cultivated relationships in the industry. I've been surprised with the boldness and scope of these traps. Don't forget that A.I. makes it easier for these scammers to research and create persuasive emails in a short amount of time. To add insult to injury they are playing on the hope of authors who want to get their work noticed by the media.

If you're an author who has received one of these emails, check with your publicist as well as other authors you know. It's possible but unlikely that a popular media outlet would use a personal gmail account. Look for specific, relevant information in the email that indicates how they found out about you and your work. If they're offering appearances at book festivals, or conferences, keep in mind that these events are booked several months in advance, and the more popular the event, the less likely they are reaching-out to authors. Finally, if it seems like it might be legitimate, I suggest going to the organization's website and sending a message through their contact form or using their general email to inquire if the offer is real. Don't click on any links until you're sure it's legitimate. I recommend you have a dedicated email for your author persona that has two-factor security, and is insulated from your personal accounts.