IS YOUR PUBLISHING OFFER A SCAM?
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Publishing’s oldest rule, known as Yog’s Law: money flows to the writer.
If someone wants you to pay first, slow down, or stop.
STEP 1: LOOK FOR RED FLAGS
One âś” means slow down. Two or more means STOP.
- They contacted you first.
- There’s a deadline: “This offer expires Friday.”
- They want money before you get any.
- The email comes from Gmail or Outlook, or the web address is one letter off from a real company’s (or name is one letter off from a real person's)
- Your book was “selected” for a movie, book fair, reprint, review program, or bestseller list.
- They send you to “their” literary agent, editor, marketer, or screenwriter.
- They want payment by wire, Zelle, Cash App, crypto, or gift card.
STEP 2: CHECK IT YOURSELF
Ten minutes might save you big bucks.
- Find the company’s real website on your own. Don’t click any links that have been sent to you.
- Contact the company through that website and ask whether the person works there.
- Search the person’s name and the company name with the word “scam.”
- Check Writer Beware’s Impersonation and Scams lists (https://writerbeware.blog/).
- Look up the website’s creation date with a free WHOIS lookup. A site that’s only a few months old is a warning sign.
STEP 3: ALREADY PAID?
Don't panic, but act fast.
- Stop paying. A new fee for “taxes,” “release,” or “refund processing” is the same scam again.
- Call your bank or card company today and dispute the charge.
- Save every email, text, invoice, and receipt.
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.
- Ignore anyone who offers to get your money back for a fee. That’s a second scam.
QUESTIONS
General information, not legal advice. Reading this page doesn’t make you anyone’s client.
