Scheming Scammers and How to Spot Them (As an Author)

Over the past few months, I’ve been contacted by multiple people about my writing—some legitimate (those who are a part of my email list), some… very much not. As a newer author building my platform, I expected to hear from readers, hopefully agents I queried, and fellow authors I met at conferences. What I didn’t expect was how quickly I’d need to learn how to spot scams.

The funny thing about all of this? So far, I have one published work: my short story Obsidian Wings in the Voices of the Future anthology. I only have a couple hundred followers on each of my socials and I am mildly active. Why is this so funny? Well... you'll see.

All that to say? I bet there are several young authors out there in my position. You are beginning to post. You might have a short story published. You might be promoting upcoming projects. Or you might not be an author. In both cases, read on.

Because author or not, sneaky scammers will creep up in your inbox.

SOCIAL MEDIA VETTING IS YOUR FRIEND

People have so many opinions on social media. But, there is one very important thing it can do, though, which is help you see if you can find the strange people that pop up in your inbox, or rather, what is more often the case, people who aren't there. Take this email I received, for example:

Hi Madigan,

I hope you're doing well! I was about to reach out via your Facebook page but wasn’t sure if it’s still active. I have a few questions about your book and would love to connect if you have a moment. Looking forward to your response!

Best regards, Malen.

Well, well, well! Isn't that interesting? A person I don't know is reaching out to me, saying they found me via Facebook and were going to reach out, but they weren't sure if it's still there, when they could just do a quick look instead of emailing me? This is obviously a phishing scam, but let's see the easiest way to know for sure. Because, if you are like me, you might be thinking, "But what if they are legit? Then I'm shutting down someone trying to reach out!"

Easiest way? Check their Facebook! Conveniently for us, they gave a full name through their email address, one Malen Anderson. There's also a profile picture, a very beautiful influencer-looking woman.

Now, let's do a quick Google and Facebook search:

I looked up:

• Whether “Malen Anderson” showed up anywhere as an author, reviewer, blogger, marketer, or public figure

• Whether that email address appeared in scam reports, forums, or marketing lists

• Whether the name + email combo appeared together anywhere legitimate

• If they have a Facebook (where they would've allegedly found me in the first place)

  
  

Because if they’re a real reader or industry person, they usually leave some kind of footprint. The verdict? No Malen Anderson that would've been interested in my books popped up on Facebook. There is no credible public record for “Malen Anderson” connected to books, publishing, marketing, or professional outreach, and the email address.

Well, well, well, ladies and gentle-authors, it appears we have a scammer.

"GLOBAL BROADCAST OPPORTUNITY"

But not all scams are just random readers or possible authors reaching out. Sometimes, they offer you amazing opportunities! I mean, this could change your career, get you in front of thousands, if not millions, of people! And what's more, you looked up the company, and it's real!

One such email I received looked like this:

Hello

Unless I have a severe brain disorder, we haven't met before. Your work surfaced during our programming review for an upcoming global broadcast sequence, and that is the specific reason I am reaching out. I am Pam Stack, Executive Producer of the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network. I am not here to occupy your inbox, so I will get straight to the point. We are preparing for our next production rotation and are moving beyond standard interviews. We are selecting a limited number of authors to feature through "Theatre of the Mind" audio experiences, transforming your narrative into an immersive feature paired with professional voice talent and custom sound.

The Scale of the Network:

Global Footprint: We broadcast and stream across 153 countries.

U.S. Dominance: Through our partnership with iHeartRadio, your feature enters a stream reaching 158 million monthly listeners.

Market Impact: iHeartRadio reaches 9 out of 10 Americans every month, providing the elite social proof required to move from "just and author" to a globally recognized media personality.

I do not invite just anyone. Because we maintain strict production standards to protect our broadcast quality, we only open a few slots for this cycle. Would you like me to send over the short breakdown of how this works for your book and your audience? A sumoke 'Yes' is perfect.

Best regards,

Pamela, Authors Radio

At first glance, this sounds incredible. A global radio network? Professional voice actors? Millions of listeners?

But once you slow down and actually read it, the cracks start to show. There are no specifics about my actual work. Not a single mention of my book title, genre, or story. If someone truly selected your work, they can tell you why. Vague praise is one of the biggest warning signs.

Over-the-top statistics are another red flag. Numbers like “153 countries” and “158 million listeners” are meant to impress, not inform. There’s no context, no proof, and no explanation of how your work fits into that audience. Also, the "we only have a few slots" bit. Scarcity is a pressure tactic. It’s designed to make you feel chosen and rush your decision.

But the biggest red flag is: “A simple ‘Yes’ is perfect.” Legitimate professionals don’t ask for blind agreement. They expect questions. They provide details upfront. They don’t try to fast-track your consent.

The kind of "opportunity" in the email above usually leads to you paying for “features”, expensive audio productions, and low-value promotional packages. In other words: you pay them, not the other way around.

RED FLAGS TO SPOT

We've gone through a lot of red flags, but here is a simplified list to keep in mind at all times:

Watch out for:

• Vague praise with no specifics

• Gmail addresses for “professionals” that are Gmail or random "269-2021@lm" types. If they are professionals, they will have their own domain.

• Name inconsistencies

• Pressure or urgency

• “Exclusive opportunities” out of nowhere

• Requests to move off email

• Messages that feel more like texting than professional communication

• Company impersonators. Always vet "business" emails from PayPal, Facebook, or Meta, among others. A quick copy/paste Google of the email address itself will show whether it's real or not.

CONCLUSION

Not all outreach is bad--some legitimate people will reach out, but those will either be people who are A) already following your email, recommended to them by a friend or family, or B) authors you meet in person at events. On my artist side of things, I went out on a limb and applied for a job via email after some serious vetting. They did the same. It was nerve-wracking on both sides, but now we are coworkers and working well together respectfully, openly, and honestly.

But when it does come to emails of unknown origin, look for those red flags, don't respond if something feels off, even if they might be a legitimate person. Because even if they seem legit, something might still be nefarious. Never, EVER send money or unpublished work to strangers. Look people up. And, block/report when needed.