Friends,
If your inbox has been unusually full of glowing praise from strangers lately, you are not alone. I am seeing the same patterns land in my own email and hearing about them from clients and writer friends.
Scammers have gotten very good at using AI to scrape book descriptions, reviews, and public profiles so their messages sound personal and informed. The goal is always the same: get you talking, lower your guard with flattery, then ask for money.
Here are three of the most common versions circulating right now.
1. “Your book is so great… tell me more.”
This is the soft opening. Someone claims they just finished your novel (or short story, or entire backlist), gushes about the voice, the themes, the emotional impact, and asks for more details about your writing process, upcoming projects, or representation status. It feels wonderful. Someone saw you.
What usually follows is an offer of marketing help, a “visibility campaign,” paid reviews, or an introduction to someone who can “really move the needle.” Real industry professionals almost never cold-email authors with unsolicited praise and then pivot to services. Legitimate interest starts with a query or a mutual connection, not a stranger’s sudden deep reading of your work.
2. “I want to hand you my high-rolling client.”
This one targets both authors and agents. The sender presents as another agent, manager, or industry insider who has a successful, high-earning client looking for new representation, co-representation, or a fresh publishing home. They want to “hand” that client over or make an introduction—because your list/agency is the perfect fit, of course.
The flattery is directed at your professional reputation. The ask that follows is usually some form of fee, “processing,” “transition support,” or a paid service that must happen before the introduction can proceed. Real agents do not shop clients this way, and legitimate referrals do not require the receiving agent (or author) to pay.
3. “I’m the leader of a very large book club and we want to promote you.”
This is currently one of the most widespread. The email is warm. They name your book. They claim hundreds or thousands of engaged members. They want to feature you, host a discussion, or have the group “immerse themselves” in your work. Sometimes they even reference specific details pulled from your blurb or online reviews.
Then comes the fee—an “admin fee,” “spotlight fee,” “coordination package,” or a request that you “tip” dozens of reviewers at $20–$30 each. Real book clubs do not charge authors to be read or discussed. Ever. If money is required for the privilege of their attention, it is not a book club.
How to protect yourself
• Unsolicited praise from someone you have never heard of is a yellow flag. Immediate requests for money or personal financial information turn it red.
• Search the group or person’s name + “scam.” Look for an actual web presence, recent activity, and independent verification that is not just a shiny new site created last month.
• Legitimate agents and publishers do not cold-solicit with offers that require you to pay first.
• When in doubt, do not engage further. You can always reply once with a polite “Thank you, I’m not interested” and leave it there. Scammers often escalate if you keep the conversation going.
Your work has value. Real readers, real agents, and real opportunities exist. They just do not arrive disguised as strangers who love everything about your book and then hand you an invoice.
If any of these have shown up in your inbox (or if you’ve spotted a new variation), feel free to share the red flags in the comments so we can keep each other sharp. We are stronger when we compare notes.
Keep writing the real work. The rest is just noise.
—Brandy