Exposed: The Shocking Tactics Foreign Email Scammers Use to Steal Your Hard-Earned Cash
“The most sophisticated attack is a well-written email.”
― Kevin Mandia, CEO, Mandiant (now part of Google Cloud)
Foreign scammers have upped their game–increasing efforts and greatly improving their skills to cheat authors out of money. Here’s how they do this:
- These scammers mask their attack by providing a glowing review of a book important to the targeted author, indicating, unlike the Asian phone spammers who harass authors, they have done some research before sending their email. They are aware that authors desire, need, and use reviews to promote their books. Of course, these days, it is easy to use AI to create a flowing review, and there is never any verifiable record or proof that these spammers actually purchased the author’s book. Why bother to purchase and read a book when AI can read it for you!
- These new scammers represent themselves as a book/social club or readers community who discovered your book and want to feature and promote it (Perhaps as a Christmas special, etc.) One in his/her letter said to me: “I coordinate curated author features for a reading community that is passionate about suspense, horror, and immersive storytelling, books that keep readers on edge while exploring fear, tension, and the darker corners of imagination.” They will offer to feature and highlight your book, provide an online Q&A, and offer a chance for the author to share reflections on the inspiration and their writing process with readers.
- If a writer expresses interest in the proposed date for the ZOOM event they suggest, they will ask for a contribution to help with setting up the event (I suppose for refreshments, etc. LOL). The amounts suggested to me in two different emails were $115 and $215. They will also suggest a book trailer creator who will likely contact you rather quickly and pitch a trailer idea, even if you didn’t request their inquiry.
- The scammers will attempt to cover their tracks to some degree by having a Facebook page or website. This makes them look bona fide. The subject line will include an invitation saying their club would like to feature your book.
- If an author receives similar requests to feature a book for a book club, etc., it indicates a trend or scammer conspiracy. For example, I received one email sent by Sally (with a cute photo), and another sent by a man, William (also with his own photo); however, the email sent by William had the same email with the name of Sally in the email’s first sentence. An obvious mistake in an unedited scam letter.
Here are some other mistakes that give such spammers away:
