6 days ago
Writer Warns Of Possible Book-Promotion Scams Targeting Authors
The writer says some people contacted him and praised his books.
They offered to promote the books and attract many more readers.
They asked him to pay money before doing any work.
He offered to pay them only if the promotion led to real book sales, but they refused.
One group offered a video meeting with thousands of book-club members.
The writer questioned how so many people could ask about a book they had not read.
He became more suspicious when the payment accounts appeared to belong to Nigerian individuals.
He believes the real goal may be to obtain bank or card information and steal money.
The writer describes three recent approaches from alleged book promoters offering to increase online attention for his books.
The promoters requested advance payments, while refusing his proposal to be paid only from successful sales.
A purported Distinct Book Club offered a Zoom session with thousands of members in exchange for an upfront fee.
The writer says requested bank accounts were held in the names of Nigerian individuals, raising concerns about fraud.
He warns that scammers may seek bank or card details to make unauthorized withdrawals, and asks what action to take.
- Who
- A writer and alleged online book promoters, including a group calling itself Distinct Book Club.
- What
- The writer reports suspected book-promotion scams seeking advance payments and potentially sensitive financial details.
- Where
- Through email and a proposed Zoom meeting, with payment accounts reportedly linked to Nigerian individuals.
- When
- In recent months, according to the writer.
- Why
- The alleged promoters said they would increase attention for the writer’s books or arrange a large online book-club discussion; the writer suspects the requests may instead facilitate financial theft.
Key facts
- Reported approaches
- The writer says he received three apparently similar approaches in recent months.
- Requested advance
- The alleged promoters sought an upfront payment, illustrated by the writer as approximately $150.
- Promotion claim
- One offer claimed it could increase online viewers of a book title from about 30 to 3,000.
- Book-club offer
- Distinct Book Club proposed a Zoom question-and-answer session with thousands of members.
- Payment disagreement
- The writer offered payment based on resulting sales, but says all the promoters refused.
- Financial risk
- Two writers reportedly told him scammers might seek bank or debit-card details for unauthorized extraction.
- Related investigation
- The writer’s daughter, Tir Dhondy, made a BBC documentary called "Sexploitation" about an unrelated Nigerian blackmail gang.
Quotes
The writer’s family
A family motto quoted by the writer
“The intelligent must make concessions!”
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