Author Scams Exposed

Writers pour their hearts into their work, but unfortunately,
that passion can make them prime targets for scams. From fake
agents and vanity publishers to slick marketing schemes and
social media impersonators, the tactics have only gotten more
sophisticated over time. In this episode, we dig into the murky
world of publishing scams and how they work and who they target.
Along with why even experienced authors can get caught off guard.


Today’s guest is Victoria Strauss. Victoria is the author of nine
fantasy and historical novels for adults and teens, and she’s
also the co-founder of Writer Beware, a watchdog group sponsored
by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. Drawing
from decades of experience, Victoria shares red flags to watch
out for, practical steps authors can take to protect themselves,
and eye-opening stories of deception that highlight just how easy
it is to get pulled in.


This conversation is about awareness and empowerment. Whether
you’re just getting started or you’re a seasoned author, you’ll
learn how to do your due diligence, where to turn for trustworthy
resources, and how to avoid becoming an easy target in a complex
industry. With tools like Writer Beware, Victoria equips authors
to stay vigilant, protect their creative work, and steer clear of
costly traps.
Show Notes:

[01:00] Victoria shares her background including publishing
nine novels. She's a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy
Writers Association, which is the sponsor of Writer Beware.

[01:49] Writer Beware was formed with Victoria and a
colleague when they became interested in writer scams.

[03:36] When it first began, the most common scams for
fee-charging literary agents and scam editing referrals.

[04:25] Most current scams are digital and focus on
self-publishers.

[05:11] We learn what a vanity publisher is.

[06:22] How self-publishers do everything a writer does and
everything a publisher does.

[10:34] One marker for a scam can be solicitation and
out-of-the-blue emails.

[12:42] A lot of people offer services like cover design when
they don't really have the experience or expertise. Research
anyone you're going to hire and their experience.

[15:50] Look for what to cover in a contract, such as keeping
your copyright. Watch out for scam registration services.

[17:36] A DM scam where the scammer impersonates a writer and
offers a marketing service recommendation.

[22:21] Be aware and understand what the risks are and what
to look for.

[23:52] Evaluating opportunities. 

[26:16] Use a credit card and report any problems. 

[27:51] The newest scams are usually on social media.

[28:40]  A crazy story about a literary agent who is
charging upfront fees and even accepted fees for a conference and
then faked her own death.

[30:39] A cautionary tale of how a publishing marketing
company from the Philippines scammed authors out of millions of
dollars.



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Victoria Strauss

Books by Victoria Strauss

Writer Beware

Writer Beware Blog

Beware@SFWA.org

Writer Beware - Facebook

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association

Self-Publishing 101 - SFWA

Authors Guild