How Writers Can Tell If They Are Being Scammed

I've run across or heard about a lot of scammers in my time, and they often have certain things in common. They will typically do the kinds of things that I describe below. This is not a fool-proof test, as there are some exceptions, but if you do come across someone who does some of these things, then an alarm bell should go off in your head, and you should proceed with extreme caution.

1. Excessive flattery. If someone tells you that your poem, which you scrawled on a napkin while eating lunch and doing your taxes, is the greatest thing since Shakespeare, be careful. The most common trick used by people who prey on writers is to stroke their egos with excessive praise. All writers are probably insecure on some level, and that's especially true for new or unpublished writers. Scammers take advantage of this by telling insecure writers what the writers most want to hear.

2. An us-versus-them attitude. This goes along with excessive flattery. If a publisher tells you that you are a brilliant writer, and that the reason all the other publishers rejected your work is because they are fools, be very careful. Any time someone holds himself out as being the only one who is astute enough to recognize your genius, or any time someone says that they have invented a new way of publishing which makes traditional publishers obsolete -- be careful.

3. They want to sell you something. Money should flow towards the writer. Scammers try to reverse that flow. They will try to get you to buy something from them. They may peddle anthologies that contain your work or expensive seminars where they promise you will receive an award. They may try to sell you editing services before agreeing to take you on as a client, or they may urge you to buy boxes of your own book. Be especially careful when what they are trying to sell you ties in with their appeals to your vanity, if they suggest that if you just buy whatever it is they are selling, your most cherished writing dreams will come true.

4. Shoddy website. This alone isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, but if other warning signs are present, this should serve as a cautionary sign. People who are in legitimate businesses will usually (though not always) set up a professional-looking website.

5. Atrocious English skills. If someone is calling himself an "Editor," but his writing is sub-literate, beware.

6. Having a short fuse. If someone appears unable to tolerate any criticism, if they fly off the handle when confronted with even the most politely-worded questions about the methods they use, beware! Angry tirades and excessively personal comments are huge red flags.

7. Not forthcoming about who they are. Do they seem to be trying to hide who they are or where they are located? Can you easily find out the person's first and last names, business address, and, preferably, enough biographical information so that you could easily verify that they are who they say they are? The absence of this information could mean they have something to hide.

If you come across someone who is exhibiting several of these behaviors, be alert and do some research to find out more about them. Be especially careful if they are trying to sell you something. Avoid getting roped in by appeals to your ego, and keep your hand firmly on your wallet.