The Shocking Truth Behind Getting Scammed—And Why Some People Want It That Way
It was from, supposedly, the Chicago LGBTQ Book Club. I saw the red flags immediately: the generic Gmail address, the message sent at a pre-down hour, and the organizer’s name. We’ll call him “Shawn William.” Scammers often select conspicuously American names, with a man’s common name typically used as a surname. David Michael, Michael David, Susan David, Debbie Michael, you get the idea. (Catfish on dating sites use this technique too. I understand! Scamming is a lonely life.)
Book clubs are a ubiquitous avenue for scams. You’ve seen the offers from purported book club organizers that promise fame and fortune to promote our writing, with Zoom appearances at book clubs that boast members in the thousands. It’s all for a price, of course. The price is exorbitant, the book club is fictitious, and the author finds no Zoom link in her in-box on the day of her presentation. But this Chicago scammer did something no other con in my experience has done. Instead of the usual three-figure (and sometimes four) fee, he asked for a voluntary donation. What? Does that mean I can sign up for this ruse for any amount I chose? The answer was yes.
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