Publishing Fraud Alert

How to spot self-publishing scams and protect yourself

Elite Authors has become aware of fraudulent individuals and companies impersonating legitimate publishing and book review services. These bad actors may contact authors through look-alike websites, emails, social media accounts, phone calls, or text messages, often claiming to represent established publishing brands.

Their goal is typically the same: to collect payment or sensitive personal information under false pretenses.

These individuals are not affiliated with Elite Authors in any capacity. They may copy logos, employee names, website language, or domain structures to appear credible. Unfortunately, this type of deception has become increasingly common in the self-publishing space.

What to know about Elite Authors

To help you verify legitimate communication, here are a few things that are always true about how Elite Authors operates:

  • We will never request passwords, login credentials, or banking information via email, phone, or text.

  • We do not use high-pressure tactics, urgent threats, or scare language to force decisions.

  • We do not collect payments through unofficial channels or our personal accounts.

  • Our team communicates through clearly identifiable, professional email domains tied to our official website.

If a message claiming to represent Elite Authors contradicts any of the above, it should be treated as suspicious.

How to protect yourself from fraud

A few simple precautions can significantly reduce your risk:

  • Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from unfamiliar or unsolicited messages.

  • Do not engage with unexpected publishing or book review offers sent via email, phone, text, or social platforms.

  • Double-check email addresses and domains. Small misspellings are a common tactic used for impersonation. 
  • Never share payment details, passwords, or personal identification with unknown contacts.

  • Be cautious of messages that demand immediate action or payment.

  • Watch for inconsistent branding, awkward phrasing, or subtle logo alterations.

If something feels off, pause. Legitimate publishing professionals will respect your need to verify, ask questions, and take time to decide.

Reporting suspicious activity

If you believe you have been targeted by a publishing scam, we strongly encourage you to report it to

These organizations actively monitor reports and have initiated investigations based on consumer submissions.

When in doubt, verify directly

Publishing scams continue to evolve, but transparency and awareness remain the strongest defense.

If you ever receive a message claiming to be from Elite Authors and are unsure of its legitimacy, we encourage you to contact us directly through our official website contact page. We’re always happy to confirm whether a communication is genuinely from our team.

Elite Authors is committed to ethical publishing practices, clear communication, and protecting authors throughout every stage of the publishing journey.