Mastodawn

Personal milestone - received a cold call instead of an email scam, from a "Gee Cullen" in California asking about my latest book.

During the call I got the name of the site and looked it up. Key result below:

https://www.reddit.com/r/selfpublish/comments/1ffh1vn/digital_bookstore_coldcalled_me/

Victoria Strauss from Writer Beware then quote skeeted on another network to agree that this is most likely a scam, and to speculate on how they get people.

https://bsky.app/profile/victoriastrauss.com/post/3mltco3lyhc2k

#WriterBeware #BookStodon #AuthorsOfMastodon #WritingCommunity #AuthorCommunity #IndieAuthor

HMDPublishing Apr 26

Important alert for authors! Writer Beware is highlighting some current scams operating in the self-publishing space. Protect yourself by doing thorough research and seeking advice from trusted sources. What are some warning signs you look out for? #SelfPublishing #ScamAlert #WriterBeware #IndieAuthor

#SelfPublishing #ScamAlert #WriterBeware #IndieAuthor

HMDPublishing Apr 26

#SelfPublishing #ScamAlert #WriterBeware #IndieAuthor

pablolarah Apr 26

Watch Out For This Scam Impersonating Editors at Major Publishing Houses
by Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss
at #WriterBeware
#Scam #PublishingScam

https://writerbeware.blog/2026/03/27/watch-out-for-this-scam-impersonating-editors-at-major-publishing-houses/

Angie Mangino Mar 27

Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware is back with two important alerts for writers. First: the Harper's Bazaar short story contest has reinstated a copyright transfer clause in its 2026 guidelines — buried in fine print — that would strip winners of their rights. Second: the America Star Books website has reappeared, though it appears to be a spam operation rather than a revived publisher.
#WritingCommunity #Authors #Copyright #PublishingScams #WriterBeware
https://writerbeware.blog/2026/02/06/unhappy-returns-harpers-bazaar-short-story-contest-america-star-books/

Unhappy Returns: Harper's Bazaar Short Story Contest, America Star Books - Writer Beware

I always try to keep track of the stories I write, and to update my posts when new information comes to light. Sometimes, though, it’s worth re-visiting the stories themselves–as in the two cases below, where “bewares” that appeared to have resolved return, unhappily, for a second go-around (or seem to). Harper’s Bazaar Short StoryRead More

Writer Beware

Angie Mangino Mar 20

Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware has documented a lawsuit filed by BattleTech and Shadowrun authors and their estates against the Topps Company, alleging that royalties for 2022, 2023, and 2024 have gone unpaid despite repeated demands. The case raises broader questions about work-for-hire contracts and what happens to authors' rights when intellectual property passes through multiple corporate owners.
#WritingCommunity #Publishing #Authors #WriterBeware #WorkForHire
https://writerbeware.blog/2026/02/20/authors-and-authors-estates-sue-the-topps-company-for-unpaid-royalties/

Authors and Authors' Estates Sue The Topps Company for Unpaid Royalties - Writer Beware

This is yet another Writer Beware post about allegations of royalties long left unpaid. But it’s also about the challenges of work-for-hire arrangements, and what can potentially go wrong when intellectual property repeatedly changes hands. The Complicated Background The BattleTech and Shadowrun franchises–which included both games and novels–were originally developed and published in the 1980sRead More

Writer Beware

Dylan Madeley Mar 9

Scam of the day. East London Book Club of Wanstead had probably never heard of me until I inquired with one of their admins to verify that this email was not really from them.

Just as well, because as my Amazon author bio states, I live "in Mimico on the shores of Lake Ontario". I would have no means of affording a flight on or before 23rd March to "drop in" on a book club meetup anywhere.

#WriterBeware #scam

Angie Mangino Mar 4

Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware has documented two impersonation scams currently circulating in the writing community. Both use flattery, fake agent referrals, and AI-generated emails to steer writers toward fraudulent paid editing services. The post includes actual email examples, so writers know exactly what to look for. A must-read for anyone in the publishing world right now.
#WritingCommunity #PublishingScams #Authors #LiteraryScams #WriterBeware
https://writerbeware.blog/2026/01/30/two-new-impersonation-scams-to-watch-for/

Two New Impersonation Scams to Watch For - Writer Beware

Impersonation scams in publishing tend to be variations on a theme, since the goal is always the same: to sell you something. In that sense, the scams below, which are aimed at tricking writers into paying for editing, don’t break new ground. Still, the approaches are distinctive, and I’ve seen enough examples at this pointRead More

Writer Beware

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Humphrey Archer Mar 3

ayup, and the second one just responded with a very floury email, containing this line: "There is a one time submission fee"

Yet another scam to rake money off indie #writers
This was "The Cambridge and Boston Book Club Spotlight"

#writerbeware

Humphrey Archer Mar 3

I am getting emails from people claiming to be the organizers of book clubs, and inviting me to have my latest book "spotlighted". The first one was quite upfront that there would be a $150 fee, the second one was fairly effusive about my book, and has so far not made any payment demands.

I am always a bit suspicious of highly complimentary emails.

Is this "author spotlight" thing always a scam, or do some book clubs actually do this?

#writingcommunity #writerbeware