BOLO For Publisher Impersonation Scams
What author wouldn’t be tempted by an offer from a Big 5 Publisher sweetened with a 6-figure cash inducement? I was. I almost fell for a PUBLISHER IMPERSONATION SCAM that seemed like it was real. What happened?
I received an unsolicited phone message from a caller who identified himself as a VP from Macmillan Publishing that indicated one of my books was recommended to Macmillan for acquisition. The message sounded like it was worth a phone call to discuss. I mapped out some questions and made an appointment to talk. When the VP deflected instead of addressing my queries, my inner warning system was activated. After I received an email from the VP outlining the acquisition process, I did some research and sent an email to https://www.writerbeware.com Excerpts follow.
MY OUTREACH FOR HELP
Greetings and good morning. I’ve included the email I was sent that seems like a publishing scam. I’d appreciate your feedback as to whether my sense about the email is correct, whether or not you have received queries from readers about unsolicited inquiries from this individual, and any guidance you may offer…
Here’s the short story to accompany the email I’ve included.
An indie writer, I received a phone call from David Briggs that raised red flags and seemed like it might just be a legit source about publishing my book. I followed up with a phone call. Knowing from my ongoing reading that publishers do not contact indie authors out-of-the-blue, I asked David Briggs how he got my name and he quicky changed the subject. I then asked for written documentation.
The biggest red flag was the requirement that I complete a Separation of Book Rights & Relicensing before the acquisition process could continue. In other words, at my expense I had to give away rights and take all the risk before the publisher would commit. A nice big upfront payout was offered.
I admit to being tempted to move forward and can understand how other indie authors might take the bait. I remembered your web site and scoured it for information that would help me make an informed decision… Thank you for your most valuable service. I look forward to hearing from you.
THE REPSONSE FROM WRITER BEWARE
Your instinct is correct: this is definitely an impersonation scam. The email address is fake; the David Briggs name may be as well, though scammers often “borrow” the names of real publishing company staffers. And as you say, major publishers like Macmillan do not reach out to authors directly in this way.
There’s no such thing as a “separation of book rights” and there is never any need for “relicensing”; this is a fraud invented by scammers to relieve writers of cash: https://writerbeware.blog/2024/04/05/the-scam-of-book-licensing/ . What they want is for you to contact the “literary agent”–i.e., the actual scammer for whom the Macmillan impersonation is a front–who is the one who will take your money, and then constantly pester you to spend even more.
Thanks for passing this on! I’m glad you spotted the red flags and avoided being taken.
MY GRATEFUL RESPONSE
Greetings! Thank you so very much for your blog, website, and response to my email regarding an impersonation scam… Should I report the impersonation scam to anyone?
…I have been writing articles on writing and publishing … Can I use the information I reported to you without incurring any liability while I note your mission and blog?
THE RESPONSE FROM WRITER BEWARE
Macmillan is aware of these scams, so no need to report there. As to reporting to other sources, like the BBB or the Internet Crime Complaint Center, it’s not clear which scam company is behind the impersonation, and without knowing that, a report won’t be useful.
Yes, please feel free to use the info and mention Writer Beware–the more the word on scams gets out, the better!
Thankful and relieved, I blocked and reported the scammer and have since received additional unsolicited offers. I’m now more alert to unsolicited book publishing and marketing scams and urge you to carefully scrutinize the contents of your inbox and subscribe to https://www.writerbeware.com. A perfect storm is brewing for indie authors. The combined impact of AI and publishing scams to authors’ creative work and publishing opportunities are being felt as authors scramble to unravel what is real and not, and to protect their creations and bank accounts. And it can happen to anyone.
ABOUT JO-ANN VEGA
Jo-Ann Vega, MA: Human Resource Management & Development, New School, NY, an award-winning author and poet, is a dynamic educator with more than 30 years of experience presenting to academic, business, and community groups. This includes 20 years of experience as an adjunct faculty teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in management, leadership, and team building, plus extensive experience crafting business communications.
Jo-Ann’s memoir, Moments in Flight, received the Reader Views Reviewers Choice Awards, 2023-2024, Classics, Memoir, Bronze Medal Winner. Jo-Ann’s anthology of 50 poems written over 50 years, Wolf Woman & Other Poems, received the Reader Views Reviewers Choice Awards 2022-2023, Poetry, Bronze Medal Winner.
https://outskirtspress.com/momentsinflight https://outskirtspress.com/wolfwoman
Moments in Flight: A Memoir
Set in the last half century of transformative cultural change, a memory-keeper shares personal voyages of discovery [voice-talents-self-love] beyond traditional boundaries of gender and culture. An engaging and wide-ranging coverage of how the times affected the author and the country that offers guidance today. Special features: Excerpts from 40 years of writing/journaling, useful web sites, historical timelines, and a Book Club Discussion Guide.
