Spotting a Scam

Hearing from an agent or publisher who wants to represent your book is exciting, but not every offer is a real one. It is important to be on the lookout for offers that aren't legitimate. People who target authors are counting on the emotional rush that comes with an offer of representation or publication to obscure the red flags. Always poke at anything that seems off. Illegitimate offers usually fall apart quickly when you look at them closely. Legitimate offers will stand up to scrutiny.

General Advice

Whenever you receive an offer:

1. Always wait for the emotional rush to settle before you take any action.

2. Never click on any links or send any money until you have confirmed the offer is genuine.

3. Pay attention to gut feelings. If it seems off, it probably is.

4. Take your time and be thorough. A legitimate offer won't disappear if you take a day or two to look into it.

If you have questions about the offer, ask. A scammer will avoid answering questions and try to pressure you into accepting the offer. Anyone making a real offer will answer reasonable questions. Be wary of unrealistic deadlines or scare tactics, particularly continued references to the deal being a limited time offer.

Traditional Publishing

It's important to consider the following when assessing the validity of an offer from a "traditional" publisher.

Cold emails

It is extremely rare for publishers to contact authors who have not queried them. Look for specific details regarding why they have contacted you. Were they given your info by someone you know? If yes, reach out to that person to see if they passed your name along. Did they find your info online? If yes, the more specific they are about how they found you and why they reached out, the more likely they are to be legit.

Note: Unless the publisher got your name from a mutual acquaintance, you exchanged contact information at an event or you have self-published a very, very successful book, cold emails claiming to be from traditional publishers are almost always scams.

Sender identity

If the email isn't a direct response to a query you sent, double-check the sender's email. This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to spot a scam. Make sure the domain matches the one used by the company. If all the emails listed on the publisher's website are @greatpublisher.ca, then anyone sending from that domain is likely legit. Be careful of slight variations. @greatpublisher.ca is not the same as @greatpublishers.ca or @greatpublisher.com. If the domain name has a string of numbers after it, (i.e. @greatpublisher573920184492.ca) then delete the email.

Check the company's website. If the information listed on the website, such as the sender's title or the spelling of their name, isn't the same as the email, this is a huge red flag. Even if the names and titles match, dig deeper if your gut tells you something is off.

Just because the person isn't listed on the website doesn't mean that you are dealing with a scam, but if it was a cold email or the domain is off, treat it with extreme caution. If you did submit to the agent/publisher and the domain is correct, it is likely legitimate. It is common for agents/publishers to pass queries on to a colleague if they think it's better suited for them.

Another way to check the sender's identity is to look at their online profiles, starting with LinkedIn. Does the person exist on social media platforms and do they list the company as their place of work? If yes, does their profile look real? Is this company the only thing listed, or is it a more complete profile? Does the headshot look like a real one or a stock photo?

Note: A lack of social media presence doesn't mean the person isn't legit, but if the offer is already feeling off, the lack of online presence might be enough to walk away.

Specificity

Does the email sound like a boilerplate? Does it mention you or your manuscript by name? Are there any details about your work included in the email? Have other authors received the same offer/email? You can always ask on online forums. It is not uncommon for the same email to be sent to multiple people. The more generic, the more likely it's a scam.

Writing quality

Is the email full of spelling mistakes, awkward grammar and generally poor writing? While everyone makes typos from time to time, an email that is riddled with errors is probably not legitimate. Even if it is legit, do you really want to work with someone who can't be bothered to check their own work?

Money

Traditional publishers pay authors an advance to publish their manuscript, usually against any royalties earned. Agents will never charge a fee for representation. They only make money if they sell your book. Anyone claiming to be a traditional publisher who is asking for money upfront is not legitimate. Any agent asking for a fee to represent you is not legitimate. Hybrid publishers or assisted self-publishing companies/editors require authors to pay upfront, but they make it clear they are not traditional publishers.

Research

Do your research. Cross-check any information in the body of the email against the information on the publisher's website. Make sure the information matches. Reach out to other authors or editors you've worked with to see if they're familiar with the person/company making the offer. People within these communities are usually aware of scams making the rounds.

Check out forums and Facebook groups by searching for the company name. Look on Amazon and other booksellers for books the company has published. Check the quality of the covers compared to others in the genre. (This doesn't mean you like the design, just that it looks professional and fits the genre.) Look at the reviews. Are the reviewers all authors of the publisher? Do they seem fake? This is a sign they can't (or don't bother) getting real readers. Check the publisher's website. If they don't have one: Run. If it clearly hasn't been updated in a long time (i.e. years), this is also a red flag.

You can also check the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) for a list of publishing professionals and whether they align with ALLi's Code of Standards or Writer Beware for a list of known scams. Any publishing professional flagged as fraudulent on either site is best avoided and ALLi's list can help you find legitimate companies.

Note: Just because a company is listed on either site does not guarantee its legitimacy. The reverse is also true. Just because ALLi doesn't list a company doesn't mean it's not legitimate.

Hybrid Publishers

The rise of hybrid and vanity publishers can make it more difficult to differentiate between what is legitimate and what isn't. Hybrid publishers usually require authors to submit their manuscript for assessment just like a traditional publisher, although the chances of being accepted are higher since the author will cover most of the publishing costs.

Read the publisher's website thoroughly and reach out to them with any questions about costs and services. If you have submitted to them and you receive an email you are not sure is legitimate, then you should reach out to either the person you sent your query to or the company's general info email.

When you receive an offer from a hybrid publisher, make sure that the rates and services offered in the email are the same as what is listed on the website. If they don't provide fee and service information on their website, then make sure they are providing a detailed breakdown of what they are charging and what services they are providing in the contract. A legitimate hybrid publisher will offer high royalties (at least 50%) and, unlike a traditional publisher, these should be immediate, not against an advance. They should be clear on whether or not they provide marketing services and those that don't should refer you to a marketing firm that works with independent authors.

Note: As with traditional publishers, be wary of any cold emails sent from those claiming to be hybrid publishers. Hybrid publishers are even less likely than traditional publishers to approach authors who have not queried them.

Vanity Presses

By definition, vanity presses accept anyone willing to pay their fees. There are many who would say that vanity presses are, by nature, a scam. It is common for vanity presses to send cold emails to authors since their business model is to make money from authors and not from book sales. The vetting process for vanity presses is the same as hybrid publishers. Check out their website, the quality of the books they've produced and read the contract carefully. If you can, reach out to other authors the press has worked with. Educate yourself on the standard fees for various kinds of editorial and design work to make sure you are not overpaying for services. In many cases, self-publishing will give you a more cost effective and better book than vanity presses, but self-publishing is a lot of work. If you just want your book in print, are comfortable with the terms the press puts forward and can afford it, then you might be interested in accepting an offer from a vanity press. Just go in with your eyes open.

• They charge a reading fee to consider your manuscript

• Even thought they have amazing testimonials, you can't find their books for sale

• Excessive praise and promises that are too good to be true

Final Thoughts

As hard as it can be to turn down an offer from an agent or a publisher, best practice is when in doubt, say no. If an agent or a publisher can't generate confidence after you've done your research, then it's not worth the risk. It is important to work with those you trust. Always hold out for someone you feel confident can get your work to where you want it to be.