Check Out This Scam
Scammers are getting so good, and AI is only helping!
I used to get the occasional lovely note from a reader via my website. Now 100% of the 20 emails I get each week are from writing marketers and scammers.
I got the above inquiry last week. Unlike the unbelievable situations where the head of a major publishing house emailed to beg for my next manuscript, or writing service people who promise I’ll gain 5 million followers by tomorrow, this one shows all sorts of finesse. It’s based on a real art historian who’s partially deaf. As an educator, she could easily be looking for a freelance writer for a publication geared toward her students.
I visited her website, then responded by saying I get a lot of spam emails, so is her request legit?
I immediately got the following article specs:
"Hello Martha,
Thank you for your swift response. The articles are intended for an upcoming social sensitization program/webinar targeting students aged 15 to 21. The theme of the program is "Internet and Social Media: Merits and Demerits." The goal of the webinar is to tackle the rising concern of Internet and social media addiction that increasingly impacts young people today. The articles will be shared electronically with all participants. The titles of the articles are "Social Media and Mental Health" and "Internet and Youth Development."
I need 2 concise and thorough articles of 1,400 words each, totaling 2,800 words. The tone should be informal yet assertive. Please submit the final document in PDF format. I would like to maintain exclusive rights to the articles, although you may showcase them in your portfolio. You will be responsible for gathering the necessary materials, and I request that no illustrations or graphics be included. Furthermore, I do not want any references, links, or citations—just the text of the articles.
To acknowledge your contributions, you may include your byline on the articles. If you require a contract, please send yours over, and I will review it and add my signature.
Below is the outline for the articles, which will guide you on the topics I would like you to cover:
ARTICLE 1: Social Media and Mental Health (1,400 words)
1. Social Media: Background and Introduction.
2. The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health:
i. The Positive Impact
ii. The Negative Impact
3. Managing the Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
4. Conclusion.
ARTICLE 2: Internet and Youth Development (1,400 words)
1. Introduction/Overview:
2. A brief history of the Internet.
3. Importance of the Internet on Education.
4. The effects of the Internet on Student Performance.
5. Internet addiction and how to mitigate it.
6. Conclusion.
The budget for this project is $1.75 per word, totaling $4,900 for 2,800 words. I believe this is a reasonable offer, but please let me know if it does not meet your expectations. Payment will be made by one of the program's sponsors.
I would appreciate receiving the article by or before November 30th, 2026.
I'm proposing a certified bank draft, a cashier's check or bank certified check. The check will be issued and mailed to you as soon as you send me your details like E.g. Your Name, Physical Address and mobile number.
CONTRACT
We can use the email exchanges as our binding contract but if you want something signed, you can draft a contract and send it to me perusal and signature. I will sign and send it back to you."
I replied that I’d followup with questions if I had any.
That night I woke up with a list of the red flags and the next morning checked what I’d missed. Her last name ended in “z,” yet the last name in her email address ended in “x.”
Among the other many clues:
The response came immediately.
Nobody pays that well for freelance work anymore.
Why would an art historian want articles on “Internet and Social Media: Merits and Demerits” when there are 5,000 such articles that could be easily attached to a syllabus as reference. Or hell, get AI to write the article for you.
I couldn’t get over these two things:
I couldn’t figure out the scam. After talking with my husband, he thinks it would be a payment scam: the scammers send me a bogus check that wouldn’t be flagged as such by a bank for six weeks. In the meantime, they’d claim they erroneously sent me too much money in hopes I’d send them the overage.
What scams are going on out there that include my name and website?
The moral of the story: don't answer the phone or respond to emails or texts from anyone you don't know personally.
___
For updates about Martha’s forthcoming books, news and giveaways, subscribe to her website: MarthaEngber.com.
SCATTERED LIGHT, a novel, sequel to WINTER LIGHT
THE FALCON, THE WOLF AND THE HUMMINGBIRD a historical novel
BLISS ROAD, a memoir
WINTER LIGHT, a novel, in paperback and audiobook
THE WIND THIEF, a novel
GROWING GREAT CHARACTERS, a resource for writers
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