{"id":207048,"date":"2023-06-07T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.draft2digital.com\/blog\/?p=207048"},"modified":"2026-03-26T08:29:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T13:29:05","slug":"how-to-spot-indie-author-publishing-scams-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/draft2digital.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-indie-author-publishing-scams-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Spot Indie Author Publishing Scams (Part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_flex_section\"><div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_flex_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Welcome back! Unfortunately, the list of scams designed to snare self-published authors is so long that we had to make this post a two-parter.<em> (If you missed Part 1, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.draft2digital.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-indie-author-publishing-scams-part-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">check it out here<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overpriced services<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>These can be tricky to spot. Services for self-published authors are often legitimate tools indies can use to put their best literary foot forward. In fact, we highly recommend hiring pros to help with tasks like editing and cover design.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>However, bad actors have jumped on this legitimate market, overcharging for underwhelming or nonexistent services. Bogus cover designers are a bit easier to spot due to the highly visible nature of their work, but \u201cinvisible\u201d services like editing or coaching are trickier to identify as scams. Do your research before you sign a contract; you may find that the service is at a level you could easily accomplish on your own.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>To get a sense of what you should expect to pay, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.reedsy.com\/guide\/how-to-self-publish-a-book\/cost-to-self-publish\/\">Reedsy\u2019s post on the topic<\/a>. They cover self-publishing costs indies can expect and provide a valuable measuring stick you can use when you\u2019re just starting out. Reedsy is also a great resource for locating legitimate professionals who have already been verified.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><em>How to spot the scam:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>The service is outside the market price<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Reviews or testimonials can\u2019t be verified or don\u2019t exist<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>The service portfolio is nonexistent or of poor quality<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Copyright registration<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Some scammers out there would have you believe that if you don\u2019t register your book\u2019s copyright, anyone could claim your work as their own and profit accordingly. Fortunately for indie authors, intellectual property rights in the U.S. don\u2019t work that way. Authors own the copyright for their work <a href=\"https:\/\/selfpublishingadvice.org\/ultimate-guide-to-copyright-for-authors\/\">as soon as they create it<\/a>, regardless of publication status\u2014unless they\u2019ve signed a contract indicating otherwise (as in a ghostwriting scenario).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>If you do want to copyright your works to gain some statutory rights, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copyright.gov\/about\/fees.html\">cost is minimal<\/a> ($45 at the time of writing).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><em>How to spot the scam:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Someone contacts you about registering the copyright for your work, claiming it\u2019s necessary. It isn\u2019t.<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bogus marketing services<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>We all know that marketing matters. It\u2019s also a common pain point for indie authors, who usually get into writing because they want to <em>write<\/em> books, not sell them. Is it any wonder that scammers have rushed in to fill the void?&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>These \u201cbusinesses\u201d will offer to show your book at book fairs, write press releases that \u201ccould\u201d get picked up by major news networks, and even sell your book to Hollywood. Sometimes they will offer to advertise your book on their website\u2014which, incidentally, is only visited by other wayward indie authors looking for marketing help.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>If you opt to hire a marketing pro, ask fellow authors for referrals or use a platform of vetted professionals like Reedsy\u2019s. Look for someone with experience in marketing self-published books specifically and can show a proven track record. You can even ask for samples of their past work and details about the impact they\u2019ve made on sales.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><em>How to spot the scam:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Someone asks for a (likely exorbitant) fee to show your book at a book fair<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>You\u2019re asked to pay a firm to write a press release about your book<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Someone offers to write \u201ccoverage\u201d or an adapted screenplay of your book as though it\u2019s your ticket to Hollywood<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Writing contests and awards<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Writing contests and awards are another perfectly legitimate path to writerly success \u2026 so long as readers have actually heard of them. Some non-competitions are the contest equivalent of a vanity press, with awards you\u2019ve never heard of and prizes that really aren\u2019t.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>For instance, you might \u201cwin\u201d publication in an anthology that requires you to pay a fee for the privilege. That\u2019s not a prize\u2014it\u2019s an invoice. If the winner receives a trophy but is required to pay for it, that\u2019s another red flag. Legitimate contests should earn you money, not the other way around. And don\u2019t take a real cash prize as an indicator that all is well, either. Some scam contests will ask for an entry fee that nearly matches the small \u201cjackpot.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>As with so many of these scams, Google is your friend here. Do a little digging to make sure a contest is genuine before paying an entry fee.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><em>How to spot the scam:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>You\u2019re told you\u2019ve won a contest\u2014but you have to pay for the prize<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>The entry fee for a contest is nearly equal to the amount of the prize money<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts: do your due diligence<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019d be amazed at how much protection you can gain from a simple Google search. Protect yourself and your work by researching any vendor or individual service provider you\u2019re considering handing your hard-earned money to. If you\u2019re thinking of hiring a company, plug in that company name and the word \u201cscam\u201d into Google and see what comes up. Some of the worst offenders seem to change their names every week, so it can be hard to keep track, but a basic search will go a long way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>If you Google a company\u2019s name and get no results beyond that company\u2019s website and social media, it\u2019s probably a scam. Real businesses\u2014especially the ones that perform well\u2014will be linked from elsewhere, such as the blogs and social media of published authors who have written positive reviews. Of course, not every new business is a scam, but it pays to be extra cautious with any provider who hasn\u2019t built up an online presence yet.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":207104,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[469],"tags":[48,61,284,391,49],"table_tags":[],"class_list":["post-207048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-author-how","tag-indie-author","tag-indie-publishing","tag-marketing","tag-scams","tag-self-publishing"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Spot Indie Author Publishing Scams (Part 2) - Draft2Digital | Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Part 2 on how to avoid predatory practices targeting indies and get your work published without running into author scams.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/draft2digital.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-indie-author-publishing-scams-part-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Spot Indie Author Publishing Scams (Part 2) - Draft2Digital | Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Part 2 on how to avoid predatory practices targeting indies and get your work published without running into author scams.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/draft2digital.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-indie-author-publishing-scams-part-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Draft2Digital | Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/draft2digital\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-06-07T14:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-26T13:29:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/draft2digital.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Scam-2.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sarah Kuiken\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@draft2digital\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@draft2digital\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sarah Kuiken\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/draft2digital.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-spot-indie-author-publishing-scams-part-2\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/draft2digital.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-spot-indie-author-publishing-scams-part-2\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sarah Kuiken\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/draft2digital.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/dc9ecfbd17aa9dc04702977810d88da6\"},\"headline\":\"How to Spot Indie Author Publishing Scams (Part 2)\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-06-07T14:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-26T13:29:05+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/draft2digital.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-spot-indie-author-publishing-scams-part-2\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":8,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/draft2digital.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-spot-indie-author-publishing-scams-part-2\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/draft2digital.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/Scam-2.png\",\"keywords\":[\"indie author\",\"indie publishing\",\"marketing\",\"scams\",\"self-publishing\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Author How-To &amp; 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