This month, I was contacted by a publishing services company with an invitation to apply to be part of their network. The email shared that the company had authors who needed “help with their books,” and they were looking for “skilled people to send that work to.” (Note the lack of specificity; what type of “work” are we talking about? What type of books? What skills, exactly?)
On first glance, the company’s email and website looked polished and professional. They didn’t claim to be a traditional publisher or promise that authors would rocket onto bestseller lists (claims that scammers have frequently made). However, when I started looking more closely, I noticed smaller inconsistencies that gave me pause. And the more I dug, the more red flags I found.
Publishing scams are far from new. Industry watchdog Writer Beware has been tracking them for decades. However, generative AI has brought a fresh onslaught of outright scammers and misinformation. Authors have been deluged with fawning emails promising to feature their work in book clubs or on social media—for a price. Many of these same authors have been impersonated; authors report receiving emails from people purporting to be everyone from Holly Black to Steven Spielberg.
Beyond individual emails, websites can now be created at speeds no individual could possibly track in real time. In fact, when I received the publishing services company’s email, my first step was to search Writer Beware, LinkedIn, and several editor message boards for information; the company’s name—as well as the name of the team member supposedly emailing me—was nowhere to be found.
So how can you avoid scammers without turning away legitimate opportunities? Here are seven warning signs that you may need to do more research before moving forward:
1. Cold email pitches: Just as you should research companies that come to your door touting their services (I’ve heard countless versions of “we’re in your area doing work for your neighbors, the Smiths”), be wary of cold pitches promising access to agents and publishers, as well as those pitching publicity, marketing, editing, or other publishing-related services. Most legitimate, successful businesses will not send cold email pitches to strangers.
2. Irregular email addresses: A glaring red flag: emails claiming to be from an author’s, agent’s, or editor’s ‘personal’ or ‘private’ email address, rather from their company-issued account. Many agents, editors, and authors already have trouble managing their professional inboxes; the last thing anyone wants is to conduct business via a second, private email account. Numerous publishers and literary agencies have already posted about these frauds. Try searching for the name of the agency or publisher purporting to contact you (e.g. “Random House” + fraud) and checking the email you received against their tips; Writer Beware also maintains a helpful impersonation list.
3. Anonymity: Beware of companies that do not provide information about their founders, team members, partners, and/or employees. Ask yourself: what does a legitimate company gain by anonymity? If a business is run by publishing professionals, why would they avoid publicizing that expertise?
4. Inconsistent or nonexistent digital footprint: A company’s digital footprint (or lack thereof) can also reveal red flags. If a company claims to have worked on certain books or with specific authors and illustrators, do those authors and illustrators mention working with the company on their own websites or social media? Does the company tag the authors or illustrators publicly? Was the company in existence when the book in question was published? Have other authors or illustrators mentioned the company on social media?
5. Website discrepancies: If the company’s website has a jobs or careers section, do the promises they make to potential team members align with the promises they make to authors? For example, a company can’t promise authors a specific rate while also promising potential freelancers that they can set their own rates. Similarly, if the company offers design or illustration services—whether book covers, book interiors, marketing campaigns, etc.—does any of the artwork on their website look like it was generated by AI? If a company doesn’t commission artists and designers for their own promotional and website materials, can you trust that they will do so for yours? If the company is incorporated in the United States, you can also research their filing status with their State Corporation Commission (Search [company state] + SCC and look for an official government/.gov website). If they have a trademark symbol on their website, try searching for it via the US Patent and Trademark Office (https://www.uspto.gov). Does the information in these filings align with their website claims?
6. Rushed Timeline: Be wary of any attempts to pressure you into making a decision quickly (“If you don’t book today, the price will increase!”); this can be a sign that the company wants to secure your payment before you have time to research them further.
7. Lofty promises: No one can guarantee that a book will receive a six-figure publishing deal (or any deal at all), become a bestseller, win awards, or be featured in People. There is no ‘one quick tip’ or ‘industry secret’ to launching a successful publishing career. Any individual or company promising otherwise is, at best, not a trustworthy resource. While scammers abound, the good news is that publishing is also filled with countless agents, publicists, authors, editors, and others who work to freely share information and expertise (including yours truly).
Your Editor Friend,
Julie