Scammers Target Authors with Convincing Pitch Emails

An author's book, website, press releases, and social media presence can provide scammers with everything they need to create remarkably convincing pitches, according to Ascot Media Group CEO and Founder Trish Stevens. These unsolicited messages, which can appear to come from legitimate publishing, marketing, and publicity professionals, are becoming increasingly common, with Ascot Media Group receiving up to 20 such emails every single day.

"We see these messages on a daily basis," Stevens said.

Stevens, who heads Ascot Media Group, a company specializing in media distribution, book publicity, and brand strategy, has noticed a significant uptick in these fraudulent pitches. The company's clients, including authors who are already working with professional publicity firms, are not immune to these scams.

Ray Deptula, author of "A Dog Before a Soldier" and "Can't Find My Way Home," can speak from experience. Since he began promoting his books earlier this year, he has received a barrage of unsolicited offers, illustrating how quickly authors can become targets once their books and contact information are publicly available.

To help authors recognize suspicious offers, Stevens has outlined several warning signs. These include:

1. Unsolicited Flattery: A message may praise an author's work while offering little evidence that the sender has actually read or reviewed the book. 2. Generic "Book Specialist" Credentials: Scammers frequently present themselves as publishing or marketing experts without establishing a verifiable professional history. 3. Promises of Guaranteed Exposure: Claims involving guaranteed bestseller status, major media coverage, celebrity endorsements, or enormous audiences deserve scrutiny. 4. Generic Email Addresses: A legitimate business opportunity should come with verifiable company information, including a professional website and business-domain email address. 5. Missing Contact Information: No phone number, physical business information, or functioning website can be a significant warning sign. 6. Unverifiable Testimonials or Credentials: Authors should independently verify the people and companies cited as previous clients or partners. 7. Pressure to Act Quickly: Legitimate professional opportunities generally allow time to investigate the offer and its source. 8. Highly Personalized but Strangely Written Messages: AI can produce polished copy, but awkward phrasing, unusual punctuation, generic praise, or an inconsistent tone can still reveal that a message was generated rather than genuinely written by someone familiar with the author's work.

The growing sophistication of these scams also creates an opportunity for media outlets that cover books, publishing, writing, entrepreneurship, and the creative economy. By alerting their audiences to common warning signs, journalists and broadcasters can help authors recognize suspicious offers before they provide personal information, sign agreements, or send money.