Drakesmith has become aware of a rise in scams and misrepresentations aimed at self-published authors. These schemes often involve bad actors who provide false and misleading information or impersonate individuals in the entertainment industry, using real names, trademarks, and logos to appear credible. 

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Here are some common examples of these misrepresentations:

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• Claiming that a film producer or company has identified your book for a movie adaptation and that a production budget is already in place. This is not true. Production budgets are never set at such an early stage.

• Promising to represent your book to Hollywood companies by sending emails to production companies or placing your book in a database. This is not how the entertainment industry operates. Legitimate interest would begin with inquiries about the availability of your book's rights.

• Asking you to pay for representation in the film industry. Genuine companies do not operate this way. If a company is truly interested in developing your book into a film, they will seek to option the rights and may offer a modest payment for those rights.

• Stating that you need to republish or re-edit your book to secure a movie deal. No legitimate company with genuine interest would make such a request.

 

Some common fraudulent strategies include:

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• Using the names of real individuals in the entertainment industry or the logos of legitimate companies. Prominent figures in Hollywood typically do not make direct contact - they have assistants for that. If you recognize the name of an individual or company in an unsolicited communication, it’s likely a scam, and their actions are illegal.

 

Tips to Avoid Scammers:

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• Be cautious with unsolicited emails. Instead of responding or engaging with the information provided, independently research the company or individual on IMDb, which functions like LinkedIn for the entertainment industry. If they have no credible history, it’s likely a scam.

• Reputable companies generally will not communicate with potential clients through:

  • Social Media.

  • Personal email addresses.  Pay close attention to domain names and to emails from addresses with common providers, such as Gmail, Yahoo, and Hotmail.

  • Unsolicited phone calls

  • Legitimate inquiries usually start with your publishing company. If a company is interested in acquiring the rights to your book, they will contact your publisher first, who will then seek your permission to provide them with your contact information. They will not ask you to pay money upfront.  

• NEVER provide payment or bank information to anyone whose identity you have not verified. 

• If you are unsure of the identity of the sender of a communication, NEVER click on any links in their email.. 

 

If something seems too good to be true, it likely is. Exercise caution if you receive emails or phone calls that make any of the claims mentioned above.