The email many authors dream of getting – and why it’s a trap

Mary Colussi, a debut novelist whose book Touch Grass was published in June, recently found herself at the center of a growing problem facing writers worldwide: a surge in AI-powered email scams designed to exploit their aspirations. Less than two weeks after her novel's release, Colussi received an email that seemed too good to be true, a message from Bella Lacey, the head of renowned UK publisher Granta, lauding her work for its “originality, intelligence, and distinctive narrative voice.” The email was detailed, enthusiastic, and filled with praise that made Colussi feel validated as a writer. But upon closer inspection, she realized the email was a scam. It didn't come from Granta, and the sender’s email address ended in @aol.com, a domain commonly associated with spam. Further investigation revealed that Granta had issued a warning about such fraudulent communications, which often pose as legitimate publishing offers in exchange for payment. Colussi’s experience is becoming increasingly common among authors globally, thanks to a new wave of AI-generated scams that target writers with tailored, seemingly authentic messages. Over the past year, the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) has reported a sharp increase in inquiries from writers seeking guidance on how to identify and avoid these scams. Some members have received multiple suspicious emails per day, each more convincing than the last. The rise of artificial intelligence has significantly amplified the scale and sophistication of these schemes, making them harder to detect and even more damaging to unsuspecting victims. According to Lucy Hayward, CEO of the ASA, the current wave of scams is far more advanced than previous attempts. “It’s not just that they might be impersonating people from the book industry,” she explains. “They’re able to provide detail and give the impression that they’ve read an author’s work, which makes the email convincing. And they can do that because the author’s work has either already been ingested by AI companies, or it can be ingested by these AI tools and then summarized.” This means scammers can generate personalized messages that appear to reflect genuine interest in a writer’s work, increasing the likelihood that recipients will take them seriously. Kelly Gardiner, an established author and member of the ASA board, echoes this sentiment. She notes that while authors have occasionally received unsolicited pitches from PR “experts,” the proliferation of AI has transformed this into a deluge. “These emails are so well-crafted that they can easily fool someone who isn’t careful,” she says. “It’s not just about being naive, it’s about the sheer volume and precision of these attacks.” Examples of these scams abound. Veteran author and academic Dennis Altman has spoken publicly about receiving detailed, effusive emails from individuals claiming to be acclaimed authors like Annie Ernaux and Patrick Süskind. Walter Marsh, another writer, described being “flooded” by emails offering paid reviews and promotion shortly after the release of his second novel, which ironically explores themes of theft and fraud. Jane Sullivan recounted a highly convincing email that appeared to come from the real Melbourne-based Classic Book Club, promising to promote her 2024 crime novel. The impact of these scams extends beyond individual authors. Respected editors, literary agents, and media figures are also targeted, with scammers stealing their identities and using their reputations to lure writers into fake pitch offers, promotional junkets, or film deals. One recent incident involved a scam email purportedly from ABC Radio National presenter Sally Sara, offering an author a guest appearance on her show. By leveraging the prestige of a major public broadcaster, the scammers created an offer that felt almost too tempting to refuse. Most of these scams begin with flattery and promises, gradually leading the recipient toward discussions of financial commitments. These tactics align with the so-called “pig butchering” model, a term originally used in describing romance scams. The phrase vividly captures the process of slowly building trust with a victim before exploiting them financially. While some early emails mention money outright, others rely on emotional manipulation, waiting until the author feels invested before introducing the request for payment.