Case Study: When “AI Trust Scores” Become the New Author Fear Tactic

by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 25, 2026 | Case Studies

Overview In September 2026, an unsolicited email arrived claiming that “AI” had evaluated AuthorsAgainstScammers.org and assigned it a 33/100 trust score. The message warned that the site failed “46 automated checks,” and encouraged the recipient to purchase a monthly...

Case Study – Fake “David Heyman” Film Interest Emails Targeting Authors

by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 24, 2026 | Case Studies

Summary Authors are being targeted by a growing wave of impersonation scams in which fraudsters pose as well-known film producers. A recent Scam Watch submission involves someone impersonating David Heyman (founder of Heyday Films) via unsolicited emails that use...

Case Study – Fake Tech Support Scams — And Why Authors Should Still Be Paying Attention

by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 24, 2026 | Case Studies

Summary Fake tech support scams impersonate trusted technology brands to trick victims into granting remote access and making payments. While these scams do not specifically target authors, they pose amplified risks because an author’s computer typically holds...

Case Study – How One Author Lost $50,000 to a Fake Publisher — And How You Can Avoid the Same Trap

by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 24, 2026 | Case Studies

Summary An author lost $50,000 to a fraudulent publisher that operated under a polished brand with professional-sounding emails and fabricated royalty reports. The scammer used flattery, authority claims, urgency, and escalating fees (processing, layout, distribution,...

Case Study – Beware the Fake Literary Agent: Protecting Your Manuscript from Impersonators

by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 24, 2026 | Case Studies

Summary This case study documents a common impersonation scam in which fraudsters pose as legitimate literary agents or agencies to target aspiring authors. Scammers spoof or intercept query communications, praise submitted work, request full manuscripts, and then...

Case Study – Fake Bank Inspector Scams: What Authors Need to Know

by Rae Stonehouse | Sep 24, 2026 | Case Studies

Summary Fake bank inspector scams (also known as bank examiner or bank investigator scams) involve criminals impersonating bank officials, fraud investigators, or police to convince victims that their accounts are compromised or that they must assist in a covert...