by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 17, 2026 | Case Studies
Summary An unsolicited email from “Matilda Victoria,” claiming to represent a reading community called Online book discussion, invited the author to participate in an “Author Spotlight.” The message used vague praise, a personal Gmail address, and unverifiable...
by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 17, 2026 | Blogs
The “Author Spotlight Invitation” from a supposed organizer at Online book discussion is a textbook example of a modern author‑targeting scam. The message uses friendly language, vague praise, and a personal Gmail address to appear legitimate while offering an...
by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 13, 2026 | Case Studies
Case Study: U.S. Copyright Office Email Impersonation Scam Targeting Creators Summary Fraudulent emails impersonating the U.S. Copyright Office (USCO) are being sent to copyright holders, including authors, photographers, musicians, and small business owners. These...
by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 13, 2026 | Case Studies
Case Study – Cautionary Tale: Fake “Collab Request” as Adult Content Funnel Targeting Authors on Social Media Summary An author with a public profile on Twitter/X received outreach from a user identifying as “Evelyn Sweet.” After several days of polite...
by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 12, 2026 | Blogs
New Scam Pattern Targeting Authors This week, I received an email that perfectly illustrates a fast‑growing scam trend targeting authors — especially those with newly released books. The message came from someone calling themselves “Marthy Beeny,” using a generic...
