Among the most frequent scam reports I receive are impersonation scams. These are many and various, including agent impersonations, publisher impersonations, bookstore impersonations, production company impersonations, and more. The aim of the scam–as always–is to relieve writers of money.
Herewith, a compendium of the latest impersonation scams that have crossed my desk. Like most of the worst scams these days, all of them start with an out-of-the-blue solicitation.
New York Times
I’ve seen several examples of this one, which offers to create “a compelling article about your book” and “an in-depth profile of you as the author”, supposedly to be published in the New York Times–all for the low, low price of $499.
The Application that authors are urged to fill out is a Google form (couldn’t the NYT host its own application?)
Beyond the fact that the NYT does not sell reviews, there are multiple scam signs here. The URL at the very bottom goes to the real New York Times, as do the “sample” links to reviews–but note the fake email domain: newyorktimesbooks.com. It leads to a placeholder website (“We’re under construction”) that, as of this writing, was registered just 41 days ago.
Barnes & Noble (Again)
B&N is a frequent impersonation target (along with other bookstores: see my blog post), primarily for book order scams. Below is the latest iteration.
![We are pleased to inform you that our editorial board has accepted your book's synopsis at Barnes &
Noble. We would consider it an honor to have you on board as our listed author, hence we are
requesting 1500 copies of the paperback version of your book placed at up to 200 of our bookstores.
The publication information is as follows:
Book Titles: [redacted]
Author Name: [redacted]
Publisher: AKD Publishing
Minimum Number of Copies required: 1500
Printing Cost: $5/copy
Please indicate your consent by contacting your publisher “AKD Publishing ".
Following is our offered pricing structure for the book and your royalties based on the thorough research
of our merchandising strategist.
List Price of Book at Store: $20.00/copy
Royalty: $14.00/copy
Shelf Space Rent: $1/copy
Note: The royalties shall be provided to the author only. The Publishing house under no circumstances
will be eligible for the royalties.
We Look Forward to Welcoming you on our shelves!
Sincerely,
Team Barnes & Noble](https://writerbeware.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Impersonation-Barnes-Noble.png)
This is not, of course, the way bookstores acquire books. If B&N really wanted to place an order, its interaction would be with the publisher, or with Ingram or another wholesaler–not the author. Nor would it set printing costs or royalty payments. Nor would the author have to pay any sort of fee, “shelf space rent” or otherwise.
All in all, this scheme would have cost the author–who had already paid thousands for publishing and marketing services–$9,000. Had they fallen for it, they likely would never have heard from the scammer again.
The “publisher” mentioned in the letter, AKD Publishing, is a ghostwriting scam about which I’ve gotten several reports. The same fake offer is being sent out by another ghostwriting scam, Amzon Publishing–likely the same outfit under a different name. I’ve heard from many authors who’ve gotten involved with ghostwriting scams and have been targeted for book order scams–but they don’t usually go so far as forging letters from B&N.
Yucca Publishing
Yucca Publishing, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, is currently being impersonated by a scammer called BrokersAB.
The scam begins with an out-of-the-blue contact.
![Dear [redacted]
This is David Morgan from Brokers AB, a brokerage company, Acquisitions Specialist working hand in hand with Traditional Publishing Houses and Hollywood Film Production companies for endorsements and acquisitions.
The big firms (Penguin/Random House, Yucca Publishing, Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins) were able to review your work [redacted] and are interested to know more and acquire you to be part of them along with the six (6) other authors out there that we are currently working with. What is the best time to call you to discuss further about this matter and for better understanding.
They are ready to draft the option contract for you and pay you for the estimated acquisition value of ($250,000 - $450,000) for each of your books. I want to let you know about it so that we can work on the necessary paperwork and query letters needed for your endorsement and at the same time relay your interest in this matter. We want you to take a leap on this offer as much as possible while the level of interest towards your work is very high and close the deal for you. You may respond to this email or call me on the mobile number below. You may also set an appointment date and time so that I will be the one to call you directly and discuss things with you about this offer.
Regards,
DAVID MORGAN
Copyright Specialist & Acquisitions Officer
Email Address: david.morgan@brokersab.com
Address: 1000 Town Center Drive Suite 300 Oxnard, CA 93036Phone Number: (925) 755 4953
Our Website: https://brokersab.com/](https://writerbeware.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Impersonation-Yucca-2-1.png)
Multiple scam signs here: the solicitation itself, of course (reputable agencies very rarely contact authors out of the blue, and they definitely don’t pre-shop work for writers they don’t represent), suspect terminology (“Traditional Publishing Houses”–real agents don’t use this term, since traditional publishing houses are the only kind they work with and they assume you know this; “option contract”–options are for movies, not publishers), and, if you visit the BrokersAB website, lots of claims but zero evidence of professional accomplishment. Also…a “brokerage company”? Acquiring for publishers? Sounds authentic.
If the writer engages, they receive an email supposedly from Yucca Publishing (“agent Kim Lopez” is another BrokersAB sales rep):
![I trust this email finds you well. Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to you for considering Yucca Publishing as a potential partner in bringing your book, "Stained Glass" to a wider readership. We appreciate your interest in our company and the trust you've placed in us.
Upon receiving your inquiry, from your agent Kim Lopez, we dedicated our time and resources to conduct a preliminary review of your book. We are delighted to share that your literary work captivated our editorial team, displaying a unique narrative and engaging style that aligns with our publishing values. We strongly believe that [redacted] could be a valuable addition to our catalog, resonating well with our target audience.
For us to move forward and delve deeper into the possibility of an acquisition, there is a process to be followed, along with several requirements that need to be met.
Updated Registration: As your book was initially self-published, we need you to update the registration details. It is vital to have the correct information recorded in national and international literary databases. This step will confirm your consent to a potential change in the publishing partner, ensuring the seamless transition of the book's custody.
Ingram Exclusive Partnership : a strategic alliance between Yucca, Ingram and its partners
Book Formats: At Yucca Publishing, we believe in making our titles accessible to all types of readers. Therefore, we publish our books across a variety of formats: ebook, paperback, and/or audiobook. We ask that you have your manuscript ready in suitable formats for these three categories to allow us the possibility of broad distribution.
Manuscript Review: While our preliminary review has prompted our interest, a more comprehensive assessment is necessary to appreciate your work fully. We need a complete copy of your manuscript to examine its content thoroughly and ensure its compatibility with our editorial standards and values.
Author's Biography & Marketing Material: An author's connection with their readership goes beyond the book. To help foster this connection, we request a brief biography, including any literary achievements, past works, and other relevant information. Additionally, if you have devised any marketing plans or created promotional materials for your book, we would appreciate it if you could share them with us. This will help us develop a robust, personalized marketing strategy that aligns with your vision for the book.
Rights Availability: As we aim to make our titles available to readers worldwide, we need to understand the status of your book's rights. This includes, but is not limited to, worldwide publishing rights, language rights, and digital rights. If certain rights have already been sold, please provide a detailed breakdown.
I hope that these points offer clarity regarding the process and the requirements that need to be met for us to acquire your book.
Your interest in Yucca Publishing is highly appreciated, and we are genuinely excited about the possibility of bringing the book to a broader audience.](https://writerbeware.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Impersonation-Yucca.png)
This is one of the more convincing scam solicitations I’ve seen. The website at the URL at the bottom of the email, yuccapublishing.com, also looks pretty realistic, with actual Yucca book covers and an About Us page whose information can be independently confirmed. If you look closer, though, things don’t add up: from the “A Traditional Publishing House” legend on the home page (larger tradpubs don’t describe themselves this way any more than agents do), to the non-working social media links, to the fact that Skyhorse doesn’t maintain separate websites for any of its other imprints…to the fact that, per Amazon and Skyhorse’s own website, nothing has been published under the Yucca imprint since 2017.
The website at yuccapublishing.com, in other words, is itself an impersonation.
So what’s the payoff for this elaborate fraud? Clause 25 of the fake Yucca contract some authors receive provides a clue:
The cost? $4,000. Needless to say, no contract from a real publisher would require an author to “secure” distribution on their own, much less pay for it. The distribution provided by publishers like Skyhorse is one of the main reasons for choosing the traditional publishing route.
I’ve gotten another report of a slightly different version of this scam that demands $5,000 for “registration” with an “international registration database” (there’s no such thing).
I’ve notified Skyhorse. To date I’ve gotten no response.
Chronicle Books
This scam comes from an outfit using a large number of “literary agent” names, all of which solicit from the email addresses @independentliteraryagents.com or @independentbookagents.com, and ultimately trace back to an outfit called Limelight Pages & Media Agency.
The M.O. is similar to the Yucca scammer: an out-of-the-blue contact offering representation, followed by a fake offer from Chronicle Books.
![Chronicle Books
680 2nd St, San Francisco,
California, 94107, United States
May 01, 2024
Dear [redacted],
We are delighted to extend this Letter of Intent to you regarding the publication of your manuscript titled [redacted]. After thorough consideration and evaluation, we believe that your work exemplifies the quality and standards that we strive to maintain.
Herein, we outline our intention to publish your book, subject to the negotiation and execution
of a formal publishing agreement. This letter serves as a preliminary agreement indicating our
mutual interest in moving forward with the publication process.
Book Details:
Title: [redacted]
Author: [redacted]
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Publishing Agreement:
We propose to enter into a publishing agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of our
partnership. This agreement will cover aspects such as rights, royalties, publication schedule,
marketing, and any other relevant terms.
Editorial Process:
Upon execution of the publishing agreement, our editorial team will work closely with you to ensure that your manuscript meets our publishing standards. This may include editing, proofreading, and formatting as necessary.](https://writerbeware.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Impersonation-Chronicle.png)
![Marketing and Promotion:
We are committed to promoting and marketing your book through various channels to maximize its visibility and reach. Our marketing efforts will encompass online platforms, social media, traditional media outlets, and author events, among others.
Advance and Royalties:
Chronicle Books agrees to acquire the rights to the book, including all publishing and distribution rights, for a period of 3 years, in exchange for a major deal one-time payment of 300,000 USD (Three Hundred Thousand US Dollars).
Prerequisites:
Book Licensing. For your book to be legally acquired, you need to secure a license to it. Licensing means that you are in full control of your own copyright and can choose how your
work is used by other people. Under a license, your original work must be credited in full and all the standard rules governing plagiarism and citation apply.
Reimbursement Clause:
Upon receipt of the Author's documented Approved Prerequisite Expenses, the Publisher shall
reimburse the Author a maximum cap of $15,000. The reimbursement will take place within (5 days) from the official signing of publishing contract.
Please review this Letter of Intent carefully, and if you agree with its terms and conditions, kindly sign and return it to us at your earliest convenience. Upon receipt of your signed acceptance, we will proceed with drafting the formal publishing agreement.
We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you and to embark on this exciting journey together.
Warm regards,
Tom Fernald
Chief Operating Officer
Head of Acquisitions
Chronicle Books
Acceptance: I, [redacted], hereby acknowledge receipt of this Letter of Intent and agree to enter into good-faith negotiations for the publishing adaptation rights of [redacted]
Signature: Date:](https://writerbeware.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Impersonation-Chronicle-2.png)
Underneath the impersonation trimmings, the scam is a common one: book licensing, a completely fake requirement that multiple scammers use to extract money from writers (I’ve written about it here). The author who got this offer was referred to another arm of the scam, Professional Development Agency, which proposed a fee of $2,700.
I’ve seen other versions of the offer that impose even more “prerequisites”, such as editing and “book cover enhancement”, presumably for even more money. Not to worry, though. Chronicle promises to reimburse!
UPDATE 9/4/24: This scam is now also using the email address @independentbookagents.com. Solicitations coming from this new address are identical to solicitations from @independentliteraryagents.com, as are the “agency agreements” offered.
Octagon Library / Richmond Indie
I’m not certain this is an impersonation scam, or even that it’s a scam–but it’s weird and it’s going around so I’m including it here.
Authors are reporting calls from Octagon Library, supposedly in Virginia, and an online bookstore called Richmond Indie Books, also in Virginia, asking about purchasing their books. The calls come from the same phone number. Not so odd, you say? Well, beyond the fact that libraries and bookstores typically order from wholesalers or distributors or publishers, rather than from authors, Octagon Library does not appear to exist–in Virginia or anywhere else–and although Richmond Indie has a website, it’s pretty sketchy.
Sounds nice. But how many online bookstores offer just 29 books? Which you can’t even buy? Clicking on the Buy links results in a message saying that the store can’t accept online orders. Plus, the address that used to be present on the website–it has since been removed–looks to be bogus:
I’m not sure what the scheme is, but there are a lot of these calls, so I’m hoping to find out.
I just signed up for your newsletter, after being told by Hachette Book Group only an hour ago that my “Letter of Intent” from them was a scam from a non-employee impersonating a real company executive.
A few months ago, I almost bought into the Barnes & Noble scam as well. I’m an unknown author with four novels in print, and I naively want to believe that someone somewhere really likes my books!
There are lots of legit publishers and agents who may like your books! They just won’t ever be the ones contacting you out of the blue.
I received a note from a woman who says she’s an editor and consulted for acquisitions by traditional publishing firms (she cites Random House). I googled her name and found a well respected editor with this name out of British Columbia and thought that was who I was dealing with. The woman who contacted me has read my self published book and says she’s already completed an editorial assessment (shared it with me and it does, indeed, reflect a knowledge of the book). She and I had a conversation today and I realized it’s not the same person (not an uncommon name, could be a coincidence) but I’ve listened to interviews with the woman from British Columbia and this is not her. The woman I spoke with today said she planned to prepare a formal submission to acquisitions executives at Random House–I was looking for a hook. When I asked her if there would be any cost to me, she said I’d need to pay to have the book formatted specifically for Random House’s “Portal” for submissions. The cost depends on word count–I estimate that would be around $900 for me.
My understanding is that with traditional publishing, there are not up front costs for authors. This formatting cost feels like a red flag. Is it ever the case that this is required?
What do you think? Is this a scam?
Hi, Margaret,
This is clearly a scam: reputable editors don’t do stealth assessments and then contact you out of the blue, and there’s no such thing as a PRH “portal” for submissions–nor are there ever any upfront costs associated with submitting to or publishing with a traditional publisher.
Was the purported editor Amanda Lewis from Amanda Lewis Creative? If so, she’s being impersonated, and she’s included on my list of the people and companies most frequently impersonated by scammers. If it’s someone else, please share their name (email me if you prefer: beware@sfwa.org).
I was also scammed by this Amanda Lewis. At first, she seemed legit, as she even did a review of both of my books which was reasonable as I made some changes to my books. Then the asking for money started. I should have been smarter at first, but I wanted the contract so bad, I found reasons for it to be real. What I couldn’t do was when she told me I needed to pay for an International Copyright. When I looked it up, I discovered there is no such thing because it is covered by the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention (UCC). When I told her about this, she got very angry and started calling me terrible names, how bad of a writer am, how much my stories suck and said I lost my contract myself when I trusted google more than her. I blocked her number with her still calling me. I can’t get my money back because I did use pay pal, but she insisted I use friends and family, so they do not even try to get the money back. What is funny is, not even a month later I got another email from her wanting to discuss a contract for my awesome books. The email she used was the same, so I just deleted it. Beware of Amanda Lewis with the email, Amanda Lewis !!
The email did not print. It is “thebesteditoramanda@gmail.com”
Laurie, thanks for your comment and I’m sorry for your experience with the Amanda Lewis impersonator. Would you be willing to forward me any emails you’ve received from her–especially the demand that you buy an international copyright? BTW, this isn’t the first scammer that has been reported to me that requires payment via PayPal Friends and Family; just one of several devious ways that scammers contrive to make it impossible for their victims to get refunds.
Thank you for exposing them.
Thank you for your diligent work in uncovering these frauds. I wish to inquire of two who claim to be agents. First is : Stone age publishing from Florida. The other is Quill publishing. I need to know some info on both ASAP. I have paid some money to both to act as my agent. So, what’s up.
If you have a question about an agency or other company that solicited you, check here first: it’s a list of scams I’ve documented, and whoever contacted you may well be on it (for example, Stone Age Media Solutions): https://writerbeware.blog/scam-archive/
I don’t have anything specifically on Quill Publishing–but there are a lot of companies with similar names. If you have a link, please share it and I’ll take a look. If it contacted you, it’s highly likely that it’s a similar scam to Stone Age: reputable agents/agencies rarely contact authors out of the blue, while for scammers, it’s their main way of recruiting clients.
I have been contacted by numerous individuals stating exactly as you have mentioned, by Guide Binders, Skyhorn Entertainment, Authors Book Publishing
It’s sad how many agents and companies like the ones you mention are being impersonated. Almost all the literary agencies I check for agents to feature at Literary Rambles have a warning that they’ve been impersonated.
Thank you for your efforts in exposing these scams, no doubt saving authors thousands of their hard earned.
I’m so glad I’ve found this site to support all authors.
Please can I check, is ‘The Good Literary Agency’ a legit agency for writers, as well as the ‘Association of Authors’ Agents’ for finding reputable agents? There might well be advice on this blog site already – in which case I’ll do a find!
Thank you for your diligence. How do these people live with themselves?
I’ve been receiving almost daily phone calls at home and at work from “Peace River Publications” from a breathless woman telling me it’s most urgent we speak about (either) my bestselling textbook/one of my novels. I never return the calls. 🤪🤪
BUT there is no mention of A B brokers here.
[URGENT] Confirmation Email – Acquisition -“ETERNAL LOVE”
Hello T.M.Jivan Lal,
Greetings from Maria Cullins at Brokers AB, where we’re dedicated to forging lucrative partnerships between talented creators like you and powerhouse entities in the publishing and film industries.
Your work, “ETERNAL LOVE,” has ignited a bidding war among the industry giants: Penguin/Random House, Yucca Publishing, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins. They’re clamoring to bring you into their esteemed ranks of authors, alongside the select few we’re currently collaborating with.
These esteemed firms are prepared to extend a substantial offer ranging from $250,000 to $450,000 for the acquisition of your work. Imagine seeing your name among the literary giants and cinematic legends, with the resources and support to elevate your craft to new heights.
Let’s capitalize on this moment together. I’m eager to discuss the details with you and ensure your interests are well-represented in the forthcoming negotiations. Please share your availability, and I’ll be delighted to arrange a call at your convenience.
Maria Cullins
Contract Director/ Acquisition Specialist
It’s different wording, but basically the same pitch as the email in my post. If you respond, you’ll get the fake letter from Yucca.
Do you know this group? I just received their offer.
Earle Jones
earledjones@icloud.com
Allen Wilson
Senior Project Manager | LeapWrite Literary
M: +1 (336) 252-8957
E: allen.wilson@leapwrite.com
W: leapwrite.com
A: PO Box 1670 Thomasville, NC 27361, USA
image001.jpg image002.png
Leap Write Literary is a registered Independent Literary agency, Association (IBPA) member, a not-for-profit membership organization serving the independent publishing community through advocacy and education. With nearly 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing trade association in the United States.
Notice of Non-Affiliation and Disclaimer:
Please be advised that I DO NOT ACCEPT any unsolicited query letters and manuscripts. Also indicate if you are already working with an agent or a literary agency.
LeapWrite is on my Overseas Scams list. I’ve gotten multiple reports of its deceptive solicitations, including false claims of interest by big publishing houses, and in one case, a fake publishing offer supposedly from HarperCollins. It also sells publishing and marketing services, which real, reputable agencies don’t do.
There’s no such thing as a “registered” literary agency; there’s no licensing or registration process for agencies or agents.
It’s disappointing that IBPA is allowing scammers like LeapWrite to become members.
Thank you for everything you do for us.
So glad you are exposing these scammers!
Thanks for your continuing diligence on these crooks!
Thanks for all those scams. This is a great help to writers.
I don’t think someone from the New York Times would say, “Book Section Category” either.