Drakesmith s aware of a growing number of scams and misrepresentations that frequently target self-published authors. These schemes often involve individuals masquerading as publishing companies, literary agents, editors, and other professionals in the literary industry, using real names, trademarks, and logos to create a façade of legitimacy. Common fraudulent schemes include:

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• Impersonation of industry professionals. Scammers often use the names of actual individuals in the publishing industry or logos from legitimate companies. Remember, representatives from publishing companies typically do not reach out directly to authors; most often, books are submitted through literary agents;

• Unlicensed Literary Agents. Some fraudsters present themselves as "Literary Agents", claiming they will represent your book in exchange for an upfront fee. Please note that legitimate agents will never require payment before taking you on as a client;

• Manipulative Marketing Claims. Some individuals may claim to identify marketing potential in your book and request payment for vague services they may or may not fulfill;

• False Publishing Interest. It's not uncommon for scammers to assert that a traditional publisher is interested in your work and demand payment for negotiating a publishing agreement, which is often untrue.

 

Take note of these common misrepresentations:

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• Store Placement Miscommunication. Claims about getting your book into bookstores should be approached with skepticism. Most stores require books to be returnable, and if a company cannot guarantee this, they likely cannot fulfill their promises.

• Misrepresentation of Submission Processes. Claims of representing your book to agents and publishers are misleading. Most traditional publishers do not accept unsolicited manuscripts, and agents have specific submission guidelines. Randomly sending out manuscripts is generally ineffective and a waste of resources.

• False Promises of Marketing Potential. If someone claims their book scouts see potential in your work, ask to see the scout's report or email about your book. Usually, those individuals lack familiarity with your content, and legitimate book scouts do not typically operate in such a manner.

• Disinformation on Distribution and ISBNs. Unless you have actively limited your distribution, your book should be available for purchase on major online platforms in both print and digital formats. You retain ownership of your content, and there should be no restrictions on who can buy your book. Tactics that incite fear about missing out on opportunities are often unfounded.

 

Tips to Aviod Scammers:

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• Reputable literary agents will never ask for upfront fees and will seldom contact you unsolicited about your work. If you receive such an email, approach it with extreme caution. Also, legitimate agents will maintain a website showcasing the authors they represent and the books they have successfully sold to traditional publishers. Be wary of any communication lacking credible references or verifiable contact information. Engaging further with such communications can lead to unnecessary risks. 

• Traditional publishers do not send "letters of interest" or similar documents indicating interest in publishing a book, nor do they charge a fee to read or consider a manuscript. Additionally, traditional publishers do not require a book trailer or promotional video for manuscript consideration. Just as with literary agents, it is essential to independently research the publisher or individual and verify any offers through their official website or publicly available information.

• Reputable literary professionals and publishers typically avoid communication 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

• If you receive contact from someone claiming to represent a company or agent, always verify their identity through publicly available information before engaging in conversation or purchasing any services. 

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

• If in doubt about the sender's legitimacy, NEVER click on any links in the 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.