Authors are targets for online scammers
“I’d like to work with you!” Yeah, right…
Okay, I’ve had it up to here (if you could see my hand above my head) with all these prompts from “interested” people wanting me to “connect” with them. Scammers are coming out of the digital frameworks to vie for your attention and make you feel wanted. But it’s all a ruse, if you didn’t already know, and they are trying so many different ways to coax you into their trap. I’ve had a slew of DMs from individuals offering me to collaborate with them for book offers, advertising, special publishing deals… all sounding amazing and wonderful, but a total SCAM! I’m no moron when it comes to offers like these. The old adage, “if it sounds too good to be true, is probably is” applies here. Look, I’m sure there are some offers that might be genuine, but in this turbulent time of internet cons running amuck, you can’t take the chance any more.
Facebook used to be a great way to advertise your book with no cost, just find the right group and post your ad. But not anymore, there’s nothing but hackers, Ai bots, and scam artists luring all over it, making it a wasteland of unsavoury individuals. That’s also true of any social media platform now, not just Facebook. Even here, on Substack, there are some trying to dance around the real reason why they are contacting privately. Nature of the beast, I suppose. If you’re going to be online, as an author, there’s that risk of becoming a target by them. Still, it is supremely annoying as hell. You spend so much time and effort to make your books, to find a receptive audience as you show your work, only to be flagged with nothing but scammers from all directions. It becomes hard to trust anyone online, even those who are just wanting to get to know you.
So what can you do about it? Not a whole lot really. You can keep vigilant; look them up on google, don’t reply and/or ask them to converse in comment pages only, hit the ignore button, or send an automated message back stating that you prefer not to respond in DMs. It might sound like I’m being paranoid about it, but better to be extra cautious then not. Again, maybe they truly are just wanting to get to know you or wanting a real collab, but, who can say when you’re not facing each other in real time, in person, with actual human interaction. That’s the problem with this current social media culture nowadays. Ai is everywhere, being used by everyone, and not always by those with honest intentions. Countries around the world are using it more and more, and with new technologies come dirty players who abuse it for their own gains.
Like I said, I’m no fool, and I don’t jump into private DMs ever time someone asks for one. I do my research, looking them up, scan their bios, scrutinize their images, and decide if I should engage or not. Usually, I don’t. I have comment sections for a reason. I’d prefer an open discussion, so that all can see, and if someone else sees the inherent danger, they can warn me of the possible untruthfulness of this particular person (or scam bot). I don’t like being this way. It’s hard to feel good about being so distant to another person. But, what else can I do? I need to protect myself at all cost. So should any and all authors. Be on your guard, at all times, especially when you’re online. This is my only piece of meaningful advice I offer you.
Be safe, be smart, and most of all, keep on writing.
Thanks for reading. Leave a comment if so inclined, but I won’t “scam” you into doing so.😝
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