A Quick Heads-Up About Scam Emails Targeting Authors
Unfortunately, scam emails targeting authors continue to circulate throughout the publishing industry, and in some cases, scammers are impersonating legitimate publicity, publishing, or literary companies, including ours.
We want to make sure our author and industry friends know what to watch for.
First and most importantly: we will never ask for banking information, checking account details, credit card numbers, or payment information via email or phone.
All official communication from our team will come from an email address ending in @prbythebook.com. Scammers often create lookalike email addresses that appear legitimate at first glance, so we encourage you to double-check the sender’s address carefully.
If you ever receive a message that feels suspicious, even if it appears to come from us, please contact our team directly through our website before responding or clicking any links.
We’re also seeing an increase in broader publishing-related scams aimed at authors. One of the most common versions starts with an email saying something like: “I just finished your book and absolutely loved it…” The sender may go on to compliment the characters, plot, writing style, or emotional impact of the book in very enthusiastic, but often vague, language. Eventually, the email shifts into an invitation to participate in a “book club,” featured review opportunity, award program, speaking invitation, or promotional campaign that requires payment.
Red flags to be on the lookout for include:
Invitations to paid “exclusive” book clubs
Offers that guarantee bestseller status or celebrity endorsements
Emails creating urgency (“respond within 24 hours”)
Generic praise that could apply to almost any book
Messages from Gmail accounts pretending to represent established companies
Unfortunately, scammers know that authors are passionate about connecting with readers and growing visibility for their books, which makes these messages especially frustrating.
When in doubt, trust your instincts and verify before engaging. A legitimate publicity company, publisher, media outlet, or organization should always be transparent about who they are, what they’re offering, and whether any costs are involved.
We’d much rather you double-check with us than risk getting caught up in a scam.
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