THE Group for Authors! discussion

Just a warning to my fellow selfies: A guy purporting to be from Harper/Collins UK named Vince Hugo (undoubtedly an alias), offered me a $350,000.00 contract. ALL I had to do was pay the fee for International Copyright.

There is NO SUCH THING! That's the first thing it says when you google "International Copyright.

Just a friendly warning.

Thank you for a real service, Jan.

Thank you!

My pleasure.

I got scammed this week and I could have avoided the serious financial loss had I remembered what a scam looks like. I was working on my computer on a book promotion when it suddenly seized up and a blue notice appeared and a voice said: Don't turn off your computer, call Microsoft at the 800 number on your screen for help." I was so intent on getting my work done, that I failed to see that Microsoft would never take over my computer, only a scammer would! This led to a transfer to a fake Norton Security screen and things got much worse for me. I don't want this to happen to anyone else. Please know this: you can break the connection and turn off your computer and shut down your wifi connection if yours is private like mine, and end the scam before it begins. And if they say they have control of your bank accounts, THEY DON'T! so notify your bank if this happens. Just have to spread the word--we are vulnerable.

Thank you so much. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I understand some authors have been told by scammers to pay or their book would be bombarded by bad reviews.

Sheila, thank you! I had what sounds like that same blue box appear on my screen. I never suspected a scam. Fortunately, I was leaving the house and so turned the computer off and unplugged it and, unknowingly, escaped the scam. If anything similar happens again, I will be alert. That will be because of your post. I am very grateful to you for taking the time to inform us. Again, thank you.

Thank you, Sheila! This is an important reminder.

I've found that one way to keep up to date on scams is to follow the Writer Beware blog.

Such a sordid reality that us writers have to be targets for these scams.

Eric B wrote: "Such a sordid reality that us writers have to be targets for these scams."

No just writers. I put my vehicle up for sale and the first bunch of "buyers" wanted me to provide them with a vehicle record and sent me a link to a website.
Yeah, I'm going to give you all my info . . . nice try, loser.

Thank you everyone.

Good thinking, Eric.

Leon wrote: "Eric B wrote: "Such a sordid reality that us writers have to be targets for these scams."

No just writers. I put my vehicle up for sale and the first bunch of "buyers" wanted me to provide them wi..."


That's a real good point!

Karl wrote: "Good thinking, Eric."

Thanks!

I love these kind of scams, because it's always a fun way to spend time. I try to get them to buy things I'm trying to get rid of too.

I'll send you the ridiculous advance dollars, but you have to buy my used lawn mower first Harper & Collins.

Sheila wrote: "I got scammed this week and I could have avoided the serious financial loss had I remembered what a scam looks like. I was working on my computer on a book promotion when it suddenly seized up and ..."

Thanks for a reminder. About 10 years ago I got this message too, telling me that only Microsoft could repair it, and that I should click. In my panic, I did. But then when they said that I should make an appointment to bring my PC to a Microsoft "store" (and of course, prepay) I became suspicious. Since I was living in NYC, I asked where such a store was located, and when they weren't able to point to one in NYC I understood that if Microsoft had street-front stores it would have been right where I lived.
Only then I had the sense to turn off everything and cut communication.
Since then, I've learned a lot more about scams.

Here is a long, but partial, scam list of publishing, marketing and fake agency scammers from the Writer Beware blog.
https://writerbeware.blog/scam-archive/

Thanks much.