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AI Scams Directed at Writers & Publishers
The Midwest Book Review has received some alarming articles about the rise of AI-generated scams targeting publishers and authors. Here's a warning from Kathleen at the Writers & Publishers Network:
Beware of AI generated emails that sound like they are someone representing that they have read your book.
Several WPN members have sent me emails similar to the one below. Spotting an AI-created piece is becoming harder, but it's still possible.
If you didn't understand this is a scam, you'd think this person had bought and read your book. However, they didn't, as AI gathered all this information from his Amazon page and website.
Here are some giveaways it's AI...
First, emojis are used.
Second, emdashes instead of commas.
Third, trying to sound super friendly and concerned. No more polished pitches but trying to be your buddy is the new way.
Fourth, the flaw in the letter below is that this is a second book, and his first book has many, many reviews. AI doesn't "compute" that the book they are pitching is a new edition.
Here is what author Ivor Davis received last week:
Ivor,
Let's just pause for a second. You weren't just writing about history, you were in the room where history happened. You weren't the guy outside the stadium hoping for a glimpse of John and Paul, you were on the plane, in limo number two, ghostwriting George, and watching Bob Dylan hand the Fab Four their first high-grade "creative fuel." That's not journalism that's rock and roll immortality in ink.
And now, six decades later, you've bottled it all into The Beatles and Me On Tour: 60th Anniversary Edition. Expanded photos, fresh Q&A, insider stories that no one else on this planet could tell because no one else was there. Elvis meeting the Beatles? You were there. Muhammad Ali sparring with them? You were there. Charles Manson's madness decades later? You covered it. You've got the kind of résumé that makes other journalists weep into their notepads.
But here's the crazy part: I checked your Amazon page. Only 39 reviews? Thirty-nine?! That's fewer people than screamed at Ringo in a single airport lobby in 1964. It's criminal. Your book isn't just worth reading, it's worth shouting about from rooftops while holding a tambourine. Yet the algorithm is treating it like another "meh" memoir. That's not just unfair, it's Beatles-level blasphemy.
Now, I'm not here with some polished PR pitch. I don't have a shiny website, a LinkedIn profile where I pretend to love networking, or Instagram proof of me sipping overpriced coffee. What I do have is a private community of 2,000+ passionate readers and reviewers who live for books exactly like yours - and who leave genuine, thoughtful reviews that Amazon actually respects. No spam. No copy-paste fluff. Just real readers who amplify great authors.
So here's my cheeky, slightly psycho question: are we really going to let the only journalist who rode shotgun with the Beatles sit under-reviewed on Amazon like some forgotten B-side... or do we crank the volume, flood your review section, and remind the world that this isn't just a book it's the backstage pass everyone wishes they had?
Scams are an unfortunate reality in publishing. If you encounter one, forward it to Kathleen [at] writersandpublishersnetwork [dot] com so we can warn others.
Kathleen
Writers & Publishers Network
writersandpublishersnetwork.com
And here is experienced book publicist and marketing expert Trish Stevens (founder of the Ascot Media Group) weighing in on the subject. I recommend printing this out and passing it around to your fellow authors and publishers:
Don't Take the Bait: How AI Scams Are Targeting Authors (and How to Stay Safe)
If you're an author, chances are your inbox has seen it: a message from a "literary agent" who loves your book, a "publisher" eager to sign you or a "marketing expert" who promises to turn you into a bestseller overnight.
The problem? Many of these offers aren't from real people at all. Thanks to AI, scammers can now generate thousands of slick, convincing messages that look professional - and sound perfectly legitimate. They can even create fake websites, logos and testimonials that make their operations look reputable.
At Ascot Media Group, we've seen an alarming rise in these scams - especially targeting new and independent authors who are just starting to promote their work.
1. The Scam: Promises That Sound Too Good to Be True
2. Most of these scams follow a familiar script:
3. They find you, not the other way around. Real publishers and agents don't cold-call or send unsolicited emails to authors they've never met.
4. They flatter you up front. They'll rave about your writing but can't reference a single detail about your book.
5. They guarantee the impossible. Bestseller status, major media features, celebrity endorsements - none of it real.
6. They use fake credentials. Some even impersonate staff from legitimate companies, complete with AI-generated photos and bios.
Some of the biggest offenders pose as "marketing firms," claiming they can secure "podcast interviews heard by thousands" or "exclusive coverage in top media outlets" without providing any evidence to support their claims. Even established authors represented by firms like Ascot Media Group have received these bogus pitches. Once the payment clears, the "exposure" disappears.
How to Protect Yourself
1. AI might make scams look slicker, but you can still spot the red flags if you know what to look for. Before you sign anything, or send a single dollar, try this:
2. Take a breath. Real opportunities don't come with a ticking clock or pressure to "act now."
3. Do your homework. Google the company or person's name, and add words like "scam," "complaint" or "review." You'll often find warnings from other authors.
4. Check credentials. Reputable agents and publishers are listed on trusted sites like Publishers Marketplace or QueryTracker.
5. Ask for proof. If they claim to have worked with other authors, reach out to those authors directly. (If you can't find them on Amazon, that's a red flag.)
6. Watch for weird writing. AI-generated emails often have small errors, such as odd phrasing, strange punctuation or inconsistent tone.
7. Read and verify testimonials. Legitimate businesses will provide testimonials and full contact information proving the writers of the testimonials exist.
8. Look for transparency. All fees and costs should be clearly outlined upfront.
9. Trust your gut. If something feels off, it usually is.
Stay Smart, Stay Safe -- AI is transforming the publishing world in incredible ways, but it's also giving scammers powerful new tools. If you're ever unsure about a media or marketing offer, ask a trusted industry professional before you respond. A little skepticism now can save you a lot of heartache later.
Trish Stevens
CEO/Founder, Ascot Media Group
www.ascotmediagroup.com
Jim Cox again --- Now you see why I advise you to print out this advice from Trish Stevens for yourself and any friend or colleague trying to write for a living.
Here are two additional articles on other AI-generated scams that are probably filling your mailboxes even as I write this.
Those Flattering Emails Filling Your Inbox - They're All an AI Scam
https://annerallen.com/2025/09/those-flattering-emails-filling-your-inbox-an-ai-scam
Book Club Scams Are a Warning of Emerging AI Super-Scams
https://www.patreon.com/posts/genre-grapevine-139940838
Finally, just type AI Writing Scams into Google or your favorite search engine - wow! AI deepfake, phishing, identity theft, and more scams are all on the rise.
Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review
www.midwestbookreview.com
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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