In my decades as a human being, it has never ceased to amaze me the level of deception that can be parlayed. When I was young, words like rip-off, scam, con, and grifter weren’t in my vocabulary. I knew what a person who was a robber did, but that was it. It wasn’t until I started to work in the financial industry that my vocabulary and understanding of rip-offs, scams, cons, and grifters surfaced.

As an author, you are vulnerable. Most don’t realized they’ve been scammed until it’s an after fact. Ouch. And scammers don’t tell you it’s a scam. The Big Con is alive and too well—it could be the lure of your book to film or your manuscript to a publisher … even something to do with your website. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

Today’s AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast is with Dr. Gini Graham Scott who has published 200+ books, 50+ with major publishers, specializing in social trends, business, self-help, memoirs, and crime; plus, she writes film scripts and has written and produced 18 feature films, documentaries, and TV/film series, as well as being a ghostwriter. We had a lot on our hour podcast plate.

Take-aways include:

• Tips on how to spot a scammer and con in your midst.

• How to identify a scam and fraud email.

• Essential questions to always ask ANYONE, ANY COMPANY who has “cold called” or “cold email” you.

• 2 websites to check for cons, rip-offs, and scammers.

• How to avoid hustles on your books.

• Why you should delete an email that starts with “Dear Friend …”