Fahim FarookMar 4
When a "fellow author" from New York (who strangely can't send a simple web link) tries to pitch you on "marketing services," there is only one logical response: In-character sci-fi nonsense.

I spent this morning explaining my interplanetary transportation funnels to a scammer who just wanted to talk about "sales funnels." Apparently, their investment portfolio doesn't cover Martian people transport yet — just transporting money from the pockets of unsuspecting writers 😛

Friendly reminder to my fellow writers: if someone slides into your DMs to "connect" and immediately pivots to your marketing strategy or asks for money, they aren’t your peer — they’re a bot or a grifter. Keep your wallet closed, and your sense of humor open!

And always have some fun with them. Who knows, it might get that creativity juice flowing 🙂

#ScamBaiting #AuthorCommunity #WritingTips #ScamAlert #SciFiWriter #MarketingScams #FunnelsFromMars
A long, vertical screenshot of …
IndieAuthors.Social NewsNov 14

If a Famous Author Calls, Hang Up: Anatomy of an Impersonation Scam

You open your email program one morning. The usual work stuff. Some spam (annoying that it got past your…
https://writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/if-a-famous-author-calls-hang-up-anatomy-of-an-impersonation-scam

#MarketingScams #OverseasScams #ArtificialIntelligence #Impersonation #Nigerianscams

If a Famous Author Calls, Hang Up: Anatomy of an Impersonation Scam - Writer Beware

You open your email program one morning. The usual work stuff. Some spam (annoying that it got past your filters!). A couple of newsletters (maybe later). You sip your coffee, scroll down. Wait. What’s this? An email from…Suzanne Collins? The Suzanne Collins? This can’t be real, you think. Why would Suzanne Collins be contacting youRead More

Writer Beware
IndieAuthors.Social NewsOct 20

Army of Bots: Deeper Into the Vortex of Nigerian Marketing Scams

I’ve published a couple of posts now about the tidal wave of AI-driven marketing scams from Nigeria that has…
https://writerbeware.blog/2025/10/20/army-of-bots-deeper-into-the-vortex-of-nigerian-marketing-scams

#MarketingScams #OverseasScams #ArtificialIntelligence #Impersonation #Nigerianscams

Army of Bots: Deeper Into the Vortex of Nigerian Marketing Scams - Writer Beware

I’ve published a couple of posts now about the tidal wave of AI-driven marketing scams from Nigeria that has swept over the writing world in the past year or so. A hallmark of these scams has been how abruptly they appeared and how fast they have become ubiquitous. But proliferation isn’t the only way inRead More

Writer Beware
IndieAuthors.Social NewsSep 19, 2025

Return of the Nigerian Prince Redux: Beware Book Club and Book Review Scams

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a rising and extremely prolific marketing scam that I’ve been able to trace…
https://writerbeware.blog/2025/09/19/return-of-the-nigerian-prince-redux-beware-book-club-and-book-review-scams

#MarketingScams #OverseasScams #Nigeria #Solicitation
@indieauthors

Return of the Nigerian Prince Redux: Beware Book Club and Book Review Scams - Writer Beware

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a rising and extremely prolific marketing scam that I’ve been able to trace back to operators in Nigeria. Using highly personalized (AI-generated) email solicitations that make it seem the sender (always with a Gmail address, always presenting as a marketing or PR expert) has really read the book,Read More

Writer Beware
LJAug 29, 2025

I don't know whether to laugh or scream - this is scam email number 100-something I've received in just the past few weeks.

Are they even trying anymore??

http://blog.ljcohen.net/2025/08/another-one-and-headscratcher.html

#WritingScams
#MarketingScams

Another One and a Headscratcher

Since I wrote my last post on the absolute deluge of spammy, scammy AI generated book marketing emails, I continue to get them. Every single...

IndieAuthors.Social NewsAug 1, 2025

Return of the Nigerian Prince: A New Twist on Book Marketing Scams

Marketing scams have always been plentiful. Over the past year or so, though, they’ve really surged. I’ve written about one type of marketing…
https://writerbeware.blog/2025/08/01/return-of-the-nigerian-prince-a-new-twist-on-book-marketing-scams

#MarketingScams #OverseasScams #Solicitation
@indieauthors

Return of the Nigerian Prince: A New Twist on Book Marketing Scams - Writer Beware

NOTE: There are now two more Nigeria-based marketing scams targeting writers. Read about them here. Marketing scams have always been plentiful. Over the past year or so, though, they’ve really surged. I’ve written about one type of marketing scam–the “friendly author” social media scam, in which someone impersonating a real (and often very well-known) authorRead More

Writer Beware