© Ingrid Haunold
In my last blog post, I gave an example of how independent authors can be taken advantage of by scammers and hustlers. Today, I would like to give you a better understanding of the scope of the problem.
Let me start by explaining to you how I distinguish between scammers and hustlers: Scammers always hide their identity and try to part you from your money without providing any kind of service of real value. Hustlers sometimes hide their identity; they can provide some kind of service, and they’re usually just trying to earn some money on the side, or turn their side hustle into a full-time job. Scammers can be real people or AI bots; hustlers are always real people.
The real question in regard to hustlers is whether they’re qualified or legally authorized to provide the service they’re offering. Sometimes it’s difficult to discern between scammers and hustlers; if in doubt, always assume that you’re dealing with a scammer.
I do get contacted by a fair amount of hustlers. I get offers by hustlers who want to teach me how to write “better” articles in regard to search engine optimization; other hustlers offer positive book reviews in exchange for a fee. At least with hustlers, you’d get something in return for your money; with scammers, you don’t.
I’ll write about my experiences with hustlers in a separate blog post; today, I’m focusing on scammers.
Scammers are a real problem for self-publishing authors. I get contacted all the time with the most absurd “offers” to “help” me sell more books.
I self-published a vegetarian restaurant guide for Vienna, Austria, in 2014, and published a 2nd, updated version of the book in 2016; in 2016, I also published a German translation of the book. The books contain introductory chapters, a good-to-know chapter about vegan food, and restaurant listings (with descriptions of each restaurant). As the vegetarian restaurant scene in Vienna changes so quickly, I stopped selling the books in 2019. You cannot purchase the books anymore, they’ve been off the market for more than six years.
I receive countless E-mails each month from scammers who want to offer me their “services” – for a fee, naturally. Lately, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has entered into the mix. I suggest you read this article, published on March 11, 2026, by Walter Marsh in the Guardian: “I wrote a book about theft and deception – and now AI scams are flooding my inbox.”
Marsh started to receive E-mails less than one month after publication. I can tell him that those E-mails will never stop. I usually just delete them, but I’ve been saving them for the last few weeks. From March 9 – 31, 2026, I received 53 E-mails from scammers who all tell me how terrific my book is, and that they can help me increase sales. 53 E-mails in 23 days. For a book that no one has been able to buy for 6+ years!
The funniest scamming E-mails are those in which I’m being told that my books have cinematic potential. They can be turned into movies. Movies, yeah! The first movie ever about…a restaurant guide?
As Marsh points out, and as is also my experience, those people (or AI bots) will flatter the authors. Unfortunately, too many self-publishing authors who are desperate for any kind of positive feedback, and desperate for any kind of exposure for their books, fall prey to these scammers. Too often, I read accounts of writers posted in online groups where they tell of their experiences. Some ask for advice when they receive those E-mails, suspicious of these “offers,” but hoping against hope that these “offers” to help them succeed in their self-publishing journey might be legit after all.
They are not. They are scams. They are always scams!
Here’s my advice:
- Don’t ever do business with anyone who only has a gmail-account. Really, I can’t stress this point enough. Immediately delete any E-mails you receive from a gmail account (other than E-mails from personal friends). Anyone who conducts business in a professional manner would (or should!) never use a gmail account for communications with customers and clients.
- II) In 2025, more than 3.5 million books were self-published in the USA alone. If you consider all the self-published books in the rest of the world as well, that number will likely exceed five million books self-published each year. Do you really think that out of all those books your self-published book is so special that it would explain all those complimentary E-mails you receive? Do you really think that people will want to help you because your book is oh-so-great? Newsflash: You’re not special. Your book isn’t special. No one cares. All those complimentary E-mails you receive are only intended to achieve one thing: to part you from your money.
- III) Get a separate E-mail address for all your self-publishing endeavors before you start your (self-)publishing journey. Luckily, I did that, and now all the scammers and hustlers send their proposals and offers to “help” me succeed to that specific E-mail address. I also set up a separate (but different) E-mail acccount for this website, contact@argiletum21.com — I’m already receiving E-mails from scammers and hustlers, even though I set up this website but a few weeks ago. If someone contacts me through that E-mail address, and they are not a scammer, I give them a different E-mail address for further use.
These are ten recent examples of the kind of scamming E-mails I receive. I do consider all of them scams, and not E-mails sent by hustlers; occasionally I get E-mails from different accounts with the exact same wording:
1) “Following our recent catalogue review, our editorial team had the opportunity to evaluate your work and was genuinely impressed by both its quality and the engagement it has received from readers. As a result, we would like to invite your book for consideration in our upcoming Book of the Week feature.”
2) “I’m currently finalizing a few standout books to spotlight on my TikTok page this week, and your title genuinely stood out as a great fit for my audience of 45k engaged readers.”
3) “I recently discovered your book and your storytelling immediately caught my attention. The world and characters you’ve created feel like something that could translate beautifully to screen.”
4) “I work with a scouting group that connects promising books with film and TV producers who are actively searching for new stories to develop for upcoming seasons, including 2026.”
5) “I came across your book recently and found the theme and writing style quite engaging. I run a book feature publication and storyboard on Medium where we introduce selected books to an active community of readers who enjoy discovering thoughtful and well-written titles. I’m currently preparing a few features for this month, and your book feels like a strong fit for that audience.”
6) “I am currently selecting strong titles for several literary award contests closing on April 25. Beyond a potential $5,000 grant, these awards build the credibility needed for institutional and bulk placements. My team offers a professional submission service that manages the entire entry process for a flat fee of $39 per book. Based on your current work, I believe your titles would be an excellent fit.”
7) “Confession………. I opened your book expecting a quick glance and ended up staying much longer than planned. There is something quietly powerful about the way you tell your story. It feels intentional, emotional, and real in a way that lingers. The kind of writing that does not just entertain but connects.”
8) “Your storytelling caught my eye, there’s something in your work that could truly shine on screen. I collaborate with a scout group gearing up for the 2026 season, where we connect select books with film and TV producers actively looking for fresh, compelling stories. If your work is ready to reach audiences beyond the page, let’s find a few minutes this week to explore the possibilities.”
9) “I help authors promote their books through targeted email marketing campaigns designed to reach active readers and drive real sales. I currently manage curated email lists of over 30,000 readers across multiple book genres, allowing your book to be introduced directly to an audience already interested in discovering new titles like yours.”
10) “I came across your book and the idea around it really stood out to me. I was wondering, have you ever thought about how it could translate into screen storytelling (film or series)? I’ve worked with a few authors on positioning their stories in ways that make them easier for industry professionals to notice, and I had a small idea that might fit your book.”
“The Vegan Tourist: Vienna” … coming to a cinema near you, soon!