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Jim Cox Report: November 2025
Dear Publisher Folk, Friends & Family:
The subject this month is the increasing misuse of AI by criminals seeking to scam writers. That AI is being used to scam authors, publishers, and the general public was first brought to my attention by the following email I received a month or so back:
From Alison Beckworth
To: Midwest Book Review
Hi James A.,
Joshua Lisec (www.lisecghostwriting.com) an international celebrity ghostwriter who has ghostwritten 100 books since 2011, including co-authoring two New York Times bestsellers, says that artificial intelligence may be partly to blame for the reduction in book criticism. The Associated Press has stopped publishing book reviews, while other publications have scaled back literary criticism. Joshua says Amazon's use of AI-generated summaries of book reviews posted online by readers may be a cause.
He weighs in more below:
"Artificial intelligence has come for the book critics. Since 2023, Amazon has used AI to summarize comments left by readers on its website about specific books. This is a cheaply generated aggregation of hundreds or even thousands of verified readers. What's the point of having a critic when you can learn way more about what your fellow readers think? Critics also tend to favor certain kinds of books, while AI will tell, say, an avid romance reader if this is the kind of book other romance readers like. No human can compete with that at scale."
Please let me know if you are interested in talking with Joshua about this and other issues concerning AI and the publishing industry. He is available anytime.
Best,
Alison Beckwith
On behalf of Joshua Lisec
www.lisecghostwriting.com
Then I got the following in my email box (and have Kathleen's permission to share it with you):
WPN SCAM ALERT: Sophisticated AI written emails are targeting authors
9/30/2025 9:05:09 AM Central Daylight Time
BEWARE OF AI-GENERATED EMAILS THAT SOUND LIKE THEY 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.
Then there is experienced book publicist and marketing expert Trish Stevens (founder of the Ascot Media Group) weighing in on the subject. You should print this out and pass 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 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 your Google search machine -- Wow!.
Quote of the Month
"Forget artificial intelligence - in the brave new world of big data, it's artificial idiocy we should be looking out for." -- Tom Chatfield
Website of the Month
How Phishers & Scammers Use AI
https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/ai-phishing-and-scams/54445
Now here is a reviews of a book with a special relevance for authors, publishers, and dedicated bibliophiles:
Down with Lime Books!: A Story About Book Banning
Jan Zausmer, author
Blanca Millan, illustrator
Familius
www.familius.com
9781641703994, $17.99, HC, 32pp (Ages 5-8).
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Down-Lime-Books-Story-Banning/dp/1641703997
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/down-with-lime-books-jan-zauzmer/1146986082
Synopsis: Paige and her pals picked out teal books and red books and plum books and more -- so many that they spilled from the shelves to the floor. . . . But not everyone thought that this rainbow was grand -- some wanted lime-colored books to be banned!
When a town bigwig and her cranky crew snatch all the lime-green books from the school library, Paige and her pals must defend their right to read. With rollicking rhymes by author/storyteller Jan Zauzmer and colorful illustrations by children's book artist Blanca Millan, "Down with Lime Books!" is an ideal choice for read-aloud fun as it takes young children on an empowering adventure to banish the ban and save the books.
Critique: Original, unique, timely, thoughtful, thought-provoking, and an entertaining read from cover to cover, "Down with Lime Books!: A Story About Book Banning" is a deftly crafted and thoroughly 'kid friendly' allegorical picture book about the very real dangers of book banning for children ages 5-8. While also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99), this hardcover edition of "Down with Lime Books!: A Story About Book Banning" from Familius is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for family, elementary school, and community library Contemporary Social Issues themed picture book collections for young readers.
Editorial Note #1: Jan Zauzmer is tickled lime to be the author of If You Go with Your Goat to Vote, Maxine's Critters Get the Vaccine Jitters, and Down with Lime Books! Jan lives with her husband, Bob, in the Philadelphia area, where they raised their three children once upon a lime and are now proud grandparents. She hopes that this book shines the limelight on the freedom to read.
Editorial Note #2: Blanca Millan (https://www.blancamillan.com) was born in Touro, a small town in Spain. She is a fine arts graduate from the University of Vigo with a master's in illustrated books and audiovisual animation. She has been painting for as long as she can remember and started illustrating stories when she became a mother. In 2017, she published her first works, Manuela and A maxia de mama, the latter as a sole author. In the past six years, Millan has illustrated over 40 titles for the Spanish market, and some of those books have also been translated into English, Polish, Chinese, Dutch, and more.
"The Midwest Book Review Postage Stamp Hall Of Fame & Appreciation" is a monthly roster of well-wishers and supporters. These are the generous folk who decided to say 'thank you' and 'support the cause' that is the Midwest Book Review by donating to our postage stamp fund.
Christopher Boyce
Debby Show -- "Paper Roses"
Patrick Shattuck -- "Sea of Glass"
Joshua Veith -- "Island and Main"
Adam K. Watson -- "86 The Chef"
Kris Schaale -- "Summer of Meteors"
Katharine Tipper -- "Channeling Marilyn"
Kenny Tan -- "Delphy's Jungle of Greens"
Willem Oskam -- "The Tartarus Conspiracy"
William Michael Ried -- "Wrong Hand Right"
Wheeler W. Dixon -- "A Short History of Film"
Robert D. Melson -- "How To Find The Good Life"
Heidi Herman -- "The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook"
Marina Vantara -- "Mission Homo Liberatus: Th Beginning"
Maura Casey -- "Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery"
Rebecca Wueste -- "My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death"
Alan Poon -- "Get a Life! A Guide to Finding a Philosophy to Live By"
Chris Wright -- "Class War, Then and Now: Essays toward a New Left"
Karen Carson -- Sir DoGoody Button and Fleabins the Great. . . Troublemaker
Victoria Foyt -- "Lexie Diamond & The World's Greatest Virtual Romance"
Karen Carson -- Sir DoGoody Button and Fleabins the Great. . . Flying Troublemaker
Write On Inc.
Private Tutoring
When Money Talks
Gomez Expeditions
McCall Media Group
Dance Baby Dance LLC
Aliah Kimbro -- Girl Friday Productions
Elizabeth Frazier -- Waldmania! PR
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Simply log onto your PayPal account and direct your kindness (in any amount and at your discretion) to the Midwest Book Review at: SupportMBR [at] aol.com (The @ is replaced by "[at]" in the above email address, in an attempt to avoid email-harvesting spambots.)
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So until next time -- goodbye, good luck, and good reading!
Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI, 53575
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
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