Tis the season for scamming everyone with a pulse.
More scammers appear every day, like ants at an all they can eat picnic. These varmints call, text, email and show up on Facebook and Twitter.
Y’all need to watch out for this scam. A company preying on writers want to sell books and reach readers. Apparently, this particular scam has been around for a few years but I heard about them until…
Today they tried to hook me.
Now let me tell you, getting through on my home phone is no easy feat. A few months ago we bought a landline phone with Smart Call Blocker. This phone screens out all robo calls unless I’ve added a number (like a docs office) to the directory.
So, anywho—when the phone rings I expect someone I know and have approved to be on the line.
But today I picked up the phone and a caller identified herself as a Book Scout for the publishing company Readers Magnet. They wanted to republish Tryouts for Ben, for a fee of course. I won’t bore you with her attempt at flattery. Might’ve worked if the connection and her English hadn’t been so horrible. LOL
At first, I tried to be polite and say “no thank you.” But she would not stop talking.
Finally, I said, “NO, I do not want to do business with you.” And hung up the phone before she could continue her spiel.
Let’s get real Y’all. Publishers and agents do not need Literary Book Scouts or Talent Scouts. A legit company has more writers banging on their door than they can count. So, don’t fall for a “Scout” who calls or writes you. They are scammers.
And the scamming doesn’t stop there. If you Google scams, you’ll get websites that want to sell you a service or program to avoid scams. REALLY!
Good grief. Enough already.
Know more about this company before your phone rings. Read the links below.
Questions of the day…
Have you been called by a Readers Magnet, Literary Book Scout?
Do you know of another publishing scam we need to avoid?
I HOPE YOU’LL TAKE A MINUTE TO FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA, JUST CLICK ON THE BUTTONS BELOW. I’LL LEAVE A LIGHT ON.
I was almost scammed before by a local “traditional publisher”. They asked that I pay around $1500 as advance payment to market it. It was my first offer. So naturally, I was excited and immediately went to check my bank account. After I saw that I didn’t have enough funds to pay that much, I turned down the deal. A few days later, I saw a news that the company was shut down for fraud. Thank goodness I didn’t take that offer. I never been so glad to be poor in my whole life.
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Sounds like dodged a bullet. 🙂
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ReadersMagnet Fake Quote! Scam! ReadersMagnet is a scam! San Diego California
A certain Kyle who is a senior consultant called me and said that my book is highly recommended by a literary agent, he said that if I register my book in New York Rights Fair, I will be traditionally published, and also because I am recommended by a literary scout he will give me a free publishing package, this got me excited but because I need to ask my wife first, I told him that I will call back tomorrow.
When I checked their website, I realized that the amount he quoted me which is $1499 is the total cost if I get a book fair and a publishing package from them. Making this free publishing package not to be free at all.
Never deal with this kind of company! Scammers!
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Thanks for the info. We all have to watch out for one another. 🙂
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Good thing that I did not pay right away.
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Smart!
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Thank you for this info, it sure is valuable. 🙂
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We gotta all watch out for each other. 🙂
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Reblogged this on firefly465 and commented:
A warning from Jeans Writing.
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Thanks Adele for the reblog
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My pleasure, Jean. xxx
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I threw my phone and my TV out the window years ago. I’ve been in a state of euphoric peace ever since.
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Brave! 🙂
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I get tons of scam calls on my phone, and the rub is that it’s the same place but they use different phone numbers for every call so there’s no way to block them. I’m considering answering their calls with an air horn. That’ll make them think twice about calling me.
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Love that idea!
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Reblogged this on Writer's Treasure Chest and commented:
Jean M. Cogdell warns us about new scammers. Thank you so much Jean.
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Thanks for the reblog!
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It was my pleasure. I think it’s an important warning to all of us.
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This same scammer left a message on our landline, positioning herself as a “representative of a major publisher” wanting to acquire “Bayou Fire.” I found it peculiar that the individual did not say which publisher, which sent off some warning bells. They left a number which, via reverse directories, I discovered had a number of scam notices attached to it. I didn’t bother calling back (obviously), but I have no doubt they’ve hooked many an unsuspecting newbie via this method. Thanks for the article.
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Smart move Sharon, not returning their call. 🙂
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I have stopped answering the telephone altogether. It is just too annoying!
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I don’t answer unless I know who it is. But even the computers leave voice mail on my machine. Irritating to say the least.
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Very irritating. And if by some chance you answer and they start their spiel, they won’t stop even if you tell them you aren’t interested. They just keep going and going! Aargh!!!
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Like an evil energizer bunny. LOL
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Exactly!!!
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Jean, fortunatelly we don’t have that kind of “scamming” with publisher pretending to republish your stuff (here in Switzerland). Or it could be that I’m not interesting for them since I’m an unknown writer… which sound more the case! But thank you for the advice… for instance, time ago, I had received an e-mail offer from a Rosa C. Clarke of the Chiado Publishing (never did hear of them before) but, yes, it did sound “fake” to me…
All the best for the festivities! :-)claudine
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Switzerland sounds wonderful. Happy Holidays to you and your family too!
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
The information you need to know.
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Thanks Patricia for the reblog!
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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Thanks Chris!
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Welcome, Jean – We all need to know about scams 😃
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Thanks for the advice, Jean. I never answer the phone unless I recognize the number or name. However, when a call come in through my car, it doesn’t list the name of the caller, only the number which is all together without dashes and hard to recognize. I try to focus on the last few number and then the rest.
I need that Smart call blocker for my landline. I also get you just won calls on my work (day job) phone. Not too big of a deal since I rarely answer it and call the person back if it’s work related or family. Most of those I work with know I prefer email to phone calls anyway.
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Before we bought this landline phone, I would have between 10-20 voice mails on the damn phone. Crazy!
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Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
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Thanks for the warning, Jean! This is just as lovely as the IRS or Jail threats scammers have now reduced themselves to over the phone, especially to businesses. I have a coworker who loves taking those calls, she’s like an attorney over the phone and demands so many questions of proof from them, they’re the ones who hang up first! LOL
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Love her! I tried once but got a headache. LOL
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LOL I’m with you on both counts! I don’t know how she does it, but she’s my hero.
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She evidently has more patience that I do. LOL
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Reblogged this on A.C. Melody and commented:
The only Readers Magnet I’ve ever heard of is a book by Derek Murphy that’s 100% for authors – this scam is anything but that! Heads up, Indies:
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Thanks for the reblog. Yes, if you Google them Derek’s book pops up too. If I were him I’d be mad as hell.
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These scammers have gotten their grubby little paws into everything. . .
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So true, and they are too slick to catch. Sigh…
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It’s frustrating to think about it, really.
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Ain’t that the truth. Sigh…
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Thanks for the tip.
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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