For authors, one of the (these days, increasingly few) positives of social media is connecting with other authors. Especially if no one else in your family/social circle is involved in the arts (raises hand), it's great to be able to find a community where you can discuss craft, business, the ups and downs of querying, the challenges of self-publishing--both sharing your own experiences and learning from others'.

But...what if that friendly author who just DM'd you on one of your social media accounts isn't actually a writer, but someone who wants to sell you worthless "marketing" services?

I'm getting an increasing volume of reports from writers who've been targeted by this bait-and-switch scheme. It starts with a private message from a profile that appears to be that of another writer--often, a real writer whom the scammer is impersonating--just saying "hi" and claiming to want to connect. A short back-and-forth follows, with the scammer quickly getting to the point: a referral to a terrific marketer or "agent" who, they claim, produces fantastic results! If the targeted author reaches out the recommended person, they receive a heavy pitch for some sort of marketing package or service...for which, of course, they have to pay. If they do, the odds are high that they will never see their money again.