Over the last decade, as self-publishing has proliferated, indie authors have increasingly become the target of illegitimate and fraudulent solicitations that promise everything from TV/movie rights deals to contracts with big New York publishers. Such scams often land in your email inbox under the names of well-established corporations—even professionals in publishing, such as literary agents—hoping to fool you into believing the offer is legitimate. Eventually you’ll be asked to pay thousands of dollars for some opportunity that is entirely fake.

Consider this a reminder to always do your due diligence when receiving any solicitation. It’s rare to have opportunities fall in your lap. Ask questions. Check and double-check the source of any offer. If you remain unsure, run it by Writer Beware or the Alliance of Independent Authors, who have seen a lot of these scams over the years. For more background, see this ALLi post and this Writer Beware post.