Heads up: fake book festivals and fake interview requests
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R. S. Breed Founder
Writer Beware's latest (8 May) covers two that are doing the rounds right now: fake invitations from real book festivals, and fake interview requests from real radio shows. The festivals and shows exist. The people emailing you, usually from a Gmail address, don't work for them.
Both run on the same lever. You've been chosen. Someone has read your book, loved it, and wants you on a panel or on air. It feels good, which is exactly why it works.
It fits the pattern reported all year, by Writer Beware and by the Authors Guild's alert in February: the first contact is flattering and asks for nothing, and the money comes later, for something a real festival or real host wouldn't charge you for.
The general red flags are in the pinned "Is this email a scam? Post it here" thread. Because the names are real, looking the festival or show up won't settle it on its own. Go to its official website, find its real contact address, and compare it with the one that emailed you, or write to the real address and ask. And as Writer Beware puts it, neither radio shows nor book festivals ask invited guests to pay.
If you've had one of these, feel free to post the sender name or domain here (not your own details) so others can search for it.
Report to Writer Beware, to ic3.gov if you're in the US, or Scamwatch if you're in Australia.