The latest newsletter from the Authors Guild includes this scam alert:
Beware of aggressive “independent publishers” like Leap Write Literary, who persistently call until authors agree to republish their books then orchestrate elaborate multi-stage scams. In this case, the scammer (using the name Pia Robinson) first charged $6,000 for supposedly required documents for a fake $282,000 publishing deal with Hachette, then attempted to extract more money through a fraudulent movie deal with Focus Features. When the author refused the movie scam, the company retaliated by making an unauthorized $4,000 charge to their stored credit card information.
The scammers sent out fake emails from executives (using non-corporate email addresses) promising large advances and elaborate details about publishing and movie production. Red flags include the requirement to pay for query letters and synopses, non-working email addresses for supposed executives, blocked access to sales reports, and an F rating with the BBB.
Remember: Legitimate publishers never charge authors for documents or services, and movie producers don’t cold-email authors about film rights.
Writer Beware has gotten multiple similar complaints about Leap Write Literary (which is on my Overseas Scams list): super-aggressive sales tactics, exorbitant fees for junk marketing services (such as book fair display and “cinematic trailers”), re-publishing offers (often disguised as “marketing” or “endorsement” or “representation” of the author’s book–scammers use such offers as a gateway to the author’s bank account, via said aggressive sales tactics), impersonation of publishers and organizations (Hachette, Bloomsbury, Celadon Books, HarperCollins, startup Authors Equity, the WGA), and fake publishing and movie rights offers and contracts requiring the purchase of various “crucial”, but in fact completely irrelevant and unnecessary, services/documents, such as query letters, book reviews, press releases and more.
The one complaint noted by the Authors Guild that I haven’t gotten about Leap Write is unauthorized credit card charges. However, I’m increasingly receiving reports from writers who’ve been entrapped by similar scams and have discovered fraudulent charges on their cards. Before this year, it’s something I rarely heard about–but now it seems like it may be becoming a trend. So, definitely something authors need to be aware of.
I always advise scammed authors to dispute scammers’ credit card charges, even if they’re beyond the timeframe for doing so (usually, 180 days after purchase). Banks and credit card companies may be willing work with fraud victims even past the deadline. If nothing else, you can ask for a fraud alert to be placed on your accounts.
But now I’m also advising authors, as an additional precaution against unauthorized charges and identity theft, to contact any one of the three credit bureaus–Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion–as soon as they realize they’ve been scammed, and place a fraud alert on their credit report. Here’s how to do that (it’s free). You don’t have to contact all three bureaus–the one you contact must alert the other two.
And, of course, it’s always a good idea to report a scam to law enforcement and other official sources. My recent blog post offers suggestions for how and where to do that. Don’t forget the BBB: it doesn’t have any power to force a resolution, but it does publicly post complaints, and someone researching the scammer who just ripped you off may see yours and be warned.
(Don’t assume that paying via wire transfer, or an app like Zelle, is preferable to using a credit card. Scammers push these alternatives for the exact reason that they are basically cash transactions and generally impossible to reverse [there’s a more detailed discussion here]. Using a credit card carries risks, but also offers a better chance of getting your money back.)
Wishing all my subscribers, and every writer out there, a wonderful holiday season. Writer Beware will be back in the new year.
UPDATE 1/14/25: A helpful suggestion from a comment left on this post:
If you *must take the chance – then please at least check your credit card company first. Many now allow you to generate a virtual card number that you can place limits on (good for only one transaction, per-transaction or overall limit, etc.). Using a virtual card rather than forking over your actual card number can help you prevent scammers from re-using the card data, and offer better protection if a legitimate site gets hacked.
Writer Beware adds: there are a lot of websites/organizations offering virtual credit card services, and it isn’t clear that all are reputable. You’re safest if you stick to the services offered by your credit card or bank.
If you *must take the chance – then please at least check your credit card company first. Many now allow you to generate a virtual card number that you can place limits on (good for only one transaction, per-transaction or overall limit, etc.). Using a virtual card rather than forking over your actual card number can help you prevent scammers from re-using the card data, and offer better protection if a legitimate site gets hacked.
Thanks for this helpful suggestion–I’ll add it as an update to my post.
Thanks for the thoughtful addition – I wasn’t even aware that there were third-party companies offer v-cards! Yes – definitely go to your existing, reputable, known provider only!
We are currently investigating almost 400 (at last count – our spreadsheet is exploding!) so-called “publishers” (along with their sister websites that offer other services, like ghostwriting, website design, marketing, etc.) on WritersWeekly.com. We are adding them to the link below as we investigate each one, get screenshots, follow the trails that develop after googling their phone numbers and addresses, etc . A LOT of them are connected to dozens of other websites.
Many authors are reporting that some of them keep requiring more and more money, dangling that (non-existent) book in front of innocent authors’ noses. The companies that are doing these things are part of large, overseas scam operations. They use fake U.S. addresses (see details on how the scam works at the link below), use American-sounding names, put stolen covers on their websites (copyright infringement), and so much more. Many of the websites are clearly the same style.
The scary part is they ask authors for their personal info., credit card number, bank account info., social security numbers, etc. You know where that leads!!
We are adding new names to the list daily. It is, by far, the largest research project we’ve ever taken on in WritersWeekly.
A List of Publishers That ALL Authors Should AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
https://writersweekly.com/angela-desk/a-list-of-publishers-that-all-authors-should-avoid-at-all-costs
The article has tips on how you can spot a scammer in under 2 minutes. Any authors who have experienced this type of scam (or who have worked with any of the companies on the list) are encouraged to email me. It will take us several weeks to add all of the companies we’re researching to the site. We’re pedaling as fast as we can. 🙂
Thank you!!
Angela Hoy
angela@writersweekly.com
I’m getting a lot of reports about this type of scam too; in some ways they are similar to the Philippine publishing/marketing/fake literary agency scams, but they differ in their focus on ghostwriting and also in their countries of origin–primarily India and Pakistan. While they use the same pig butchering techniques as the Philippine scams, they are less likely to direct solicit (solicitation is a hallmark of the Philippine scams).
I don’t list them (as I do the Philippine scams)–there are hundreds of them, and each one may have two, five, or ten or more identical clones. They also tend to have a very short shelf life, and to change names frequently (for example, many of the older ones that were misusing the Amazon name and trademarks have renamed themselves).
I’ve written about them here: https://writerbeware.blog/2022/01/24/how-to-spot-a-ghostwriting-scam/
Thank you for this, and all the other warnings you’ve given us.
And I wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Thank you for all you do, have a happy and safe Christmas.
Authors Hike claimed that Barnes and Noble had a vested interest in my book. The printing cost was $24,000.00. However, with the discount $13,500.00 was needed to print 2000 books that would be placed in over 300 B&N outlets nationwide wide. B&N Press Support denied that the proposal was from them. It is my understanding that 5 clients a month are recognized for this bogus promotion. Thanks to Victoria Strauss I have terminated my contract.
I’m glad to hear you’ve terminated your contract. This type of book order scam is very common with ghostwriting scams (which is what Authors Hike is).
Thank you for the warning and happy Holidays!
I’ve got another publishing fraudster to watch out for…
Book Writing Pioneer. Big Ads on Facebook and aggressive calls. I gave in to a $399 book publishing package. Zoom call appointments scheduled for book planning were completely blown off and never followed up on by them for days.
As it turns out these people have a listed but disconnected phone # and encouraged me to continue with them although their disconnected number was not reconnected after 5 weeks. I told them I don’t do business with people who have disconnected phone #’s as that was very unprofessional. I stopped moving forward with them and asked for a refund of services.,They gave me a $200 refund and kept $200. Stay very far away from these scamsters. They were a bunch of Indians using American first names. So sad how this industry is so full of scammers. There’s got to be a special place in scammer karma hell where these people will pay the ultimate price.
Book Writing Pioneer is another example of a ghostwriting scam. I’m actually a bit surprised they gave you any money back–scammers don’t generally do refunds. Sorry for your bad experience, but you dodged a bullet with your book: scams like this routinely ghost their authors, leaving them with a published book they have no control over and never receive royalties for.
Thank you, Victoria, for all that you and your team are doing to protect us authors! Happy Holidays! Gini Grossenbacher
This is great. I have been under tremendous pressure to write screenplay that di not guarantee movie adaptation.
Thank you for all you do, Victoria! Have a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!
Where were you earlier this year when I needed to know this. My scammers came up with a complete P & L statement incredibly detailed, and a 57 page final contract draft. Oh, how I wish I had known this. Add PAGETURNERS PRESS, A.B. BROKERS, AND INGRAM PUBLISHING TO YOUR LIST OF BAD BOYS.
It’s not Victoria’s responsibility to be there to stop you from making a mistake. It was your responsibility to check out the publisher before you signed anything. It takes a quick google search to find out if a publisher is a scammer or not. So many newbies are gullible when they get any interest in their book. The big fact is : The money should flow one way, to the author. If you’re paying to publish it’s a vanity press. You’ve learned a valuable lesson.
I’d like to inform writers of Skyhorn Entertainment. They used the usual pitch I’m reading about here. They offered to make a movie of my book series. I invested several thousand dollars before I caught on. They started coming up with money requests for trailers, New York Times advertising, and script writers, none of which they followed through on. They even claimed they could get my books picked up by Warner Bros because they had a book agent affiliate. They used the names Eric Lipfor and Sarah Fuentes. If you search them on Google you will find many site listings making them look official. They are now using my interviews and trailers so viewers will think they are legitimate. They appeal to your hope of seeing your book on the big screen. You want to believe them, but believe me, don’t. Once I callled them on their fraud, they quit answering my correspondence. Writers beware!
W. Royce Adams
I’m sorry about your experience with Skyhorn Entertainment. They’re on my Overseas Scams list thanks to similar complaints.
Absolutely the best email I get! Thank you! M
Great advice as always. Thank you. Happy Holidays!
Thank you for all your hard work keeping us informed. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and any other holiday you may celebrate!
Here was “P’s” pitch to me:
Hi!.
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Pia Robinson, and I am a Senior Literary Manager with a deep passion for discovering and championing compelling voices like yours. I came across your work, and I believe it has tremendous potential for wider success.
With my experience in the industry, I specialize in securing publishing deals, negotiating contracts, and creating opportunities for authors to expand their reach. I would love to explore how we can partner together to bring your book to new audiences and help you achieve your goals as a writer.
If you’re open to a conversation, I would be thrilled to discuss how I can support your journey and represent your work for acquisition.
Looking forward to the possibility of working together!
PIA ROBINSON
SENIOR LITERARY AGENT
📞: +1 (336) 265-6201
https://piarobinson.info/
✉️: pia.robinson@leapwrite.com
🌐: https://leapwrite.com/
A: 32 W Main St, Thomasville, NC 27360
Thanks for posting this example of Leap Write’s scam email solicitations!
I would recommend going one step further and placing a credit freeze with each of the four major credit services. That’s right, four.
Everyone has heard of Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. There is a fourth credit bureau called Innovis that is both well-established and has a significant database of consumer information.
A credit freeze means no one can establish new accounts or even check your credit score without you lifting the freeze.
Credit freezes are free to do, and there are convenient ways to lift them for specific purposes like applying for loans, buying cars, etc. In the instances where I need to lift them (for instance, for insurance applications), I ask the company that plans to do a credit check which service they use, and I then do a time-limited unfreeze (usually one or two days) of just that service, which then has the freeze go back into effect without me having to do anything.
The advantage of having (free) accounts with each of the credit bureaus is that some will also notify you when your credit score changes or if anything happens related to your credit report.
As to credit cards, all major cards offer notifications for any new charges. I have my credit cards set to notify me both via text and email of any charges over $5 dollars. If there is a suspect charge on your card, you have to wait until it posts before challenging it, and if you know you haven’t authorized it, the credit card company will likely issue a new credit card number (and card) to you. If that happens, make sure you update any auto payments that use that card (subscriptions, utilities, etc.).
Sorry for the long post, but the above are things I feel everybody should do to safeguard their finances and avoid having their identity stolen. By the way, don’t forget your Social Security account. Lock that down as well, at the very least, with two-factor authorization.
I’ll beware of The Book Writing Cube. They will probably assume another name, but they went out of business or at least ditched on me after I had gotten my book completely edited. There is a man with a German accent named Mark, and then another guy named Sean Archer who I dealt with. When I was ready to go to the next step which was to get the book printed, etc., all their phones were shut off. I don’t know if I was scammed or if they just went out of business, but I have found it is common for these companies to be scammers. I even googled the top five publishing houses for what I was looking to do and they came up as one of them. I guess that’s why I’m not sure if I was a scanner or if they just went out of business and didn’t wanna tell anyone. Either way, that’s not a way to do business properly our book is done, and now I need a Self Publishing house, but I don’t know where to go.
Book Writing Cube is a ghostwriting scam. By all appearances it’s alive and well–not out of business. It’s unfortunately very common for such scams to ghost their clients; I’m guessing that’s what happened to you.
For information on self-publishing, including links to resources to help you research an honest company, see Writer Beware’s Self-Publishing page.