AI-powered publishing scams target South African authors
South African journalist Caryn Dolley has reported receiving unsolicited emails from people posing as literary agents, publishers and book promotion representatives after the publication of her fifth book on organised crime in August 2026. The messages contained excessive praise, corporate-looking addresses and signs of generative AI use, according to a Daily Maverick report.
Dolley said the offers started arriving after her book was published on 17 August 2026. In one case, a contact offered an interview on an online platform and asked her to send an electronic copy of the book or two chapters. When she asked about terms, the platform quoted author packages ranging from $99 to $305.
The journalist said she cannot prove that this particular platform is fraudulent. However, its website was created only a few months ago and contained many AI-generated images.
Scammers imitate real publishers
Scammers may imitate addresses of real publishing houses and agents by changing just one letter in a domain name. Dolley received emails purportedly sent by Acre Books and Atlantic Books. Both publishers have publicly warned authors about third parties posing as their editors or employees and sending unexpected offers.
Cheryl Davis, general counsel of the US organisation Authors Guild, told Daily Maverick that reports about such schemes increased over the year. She said the combination of email and generative AI allows attackers to send convincing-looking materials in bulk more quickly and create websites that give offers an appearance of legitimacy.
Paid-service schemes and large-scale fraud
Victoria Strauss, a representative of the industry project Writer Beware, said schemes involving book clubs, reviews and impersonation of industry representatives are spreading alongside marketing offers. Their aim may be to steer authors toward paid editing or promotion services. Such schemes rely on mass mailings, since scammers need to deceive only a small share of recipients.
In the United States, Philippine citizen Michael Chris Traya Sordilla pleaded guilty in May 2026 in a case connected to a scheme involving fictitious book publishing or screen adaptations. According to the US prosecutor's office, he admitted participating in a conspiracy that caused more than $48 million in losses to over 800 victims through fictitious entities.
What authors should check
Authors are advised to check the websites and contacts of those sending offers, carefully verify domain names, treat unexpected emails with caution and report suspicious messages to email services. If money is lost, they should contact their bank and the police.
Writers who want to understand how generative AI is changing their industry can explore AI for Writers resources. For those in technical fields, AI for Technical Writers covers how AI affects documentation and content creation workflows.
Why this matters for writers
These scams exploit the financial vulnerability of authors, many of whom earn modest income from book sales and may welcome legitimate-sounding promotion offers. Before responding to any unsolicited email about your work, verify the sender's domain character by character, search for the company's official contact details independently and never send manuscripts or payments without confirming who you're dealing with. A legitimate publisher or agent does not ask authors to pay upfront for interviews, reviews or promotion packages.
Your membership also unlocks:
