The below email just arrived in my inbox and is a total AI scam.
Lots of them - millions? - will be flying around right now, each one individually-personalized through the miracle of AI to each and every recipient.
Pretending to be from Britain’s famous Hay festival, it’s taking audacious scamming to new heights (er, depths).
Fyi, some key markers so you don’t ever get caught by lowlife fuckturds like these recrudescences…
They use a plausible name (Victoria Bejarano is indeed a trustee of Hay) but –
If you ever get anything similar and aren’t sure whether it’s genuine or not, post it in the Back Room and we’ll assist.
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From: Victoria bejarano <victoriabejarano.fest@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:01:17 -0700
Dear . [LASTNAME],
I hope this message finds you well.
My name is Victoria Bejarano, and I am reaching out on behalf of the Hay Festival, the internationally renowned celebration of literature and ideas.
We greatly admire your work, particularly XXXXX, including XXX, and XXX. Your vivid storytelling, deep connection to the natural world, and ability to bring human emotion to life have resonated with readers across generations.
We would be honoured to invite you to participate in an upcoming edition of the Hay Festival. We believe your work would inspire engaging conversations with our audiences, particularly around themes of XXX.
We would be delighted to explore opportunities for you to join us for a talk, panel discussion, or reading. Our programming team is happy to work around your availability and interests to create a meaningful and enjoyable experience.
Please let us know if this invitation is of interest, and we would be glad to share further details.
Thank you for your time and for the extraordinary stories you bring to readers worldwide.
Warm regards,
Victoria Bejarano
Lots of them - millions? - will be flying around right now, each one individually-personalized through the miracle of AI to each and every recipient.
Pretending to be from Britain’s famous Hay festival, it’s taking audacious scamming to new heights (er, depths).
Fyi, some key markers so you don’t ever get caught by lowlife fuckturds like these recrudescences…
They use a plausible name (Victoria Bejarano is indeed a trustee of Hay) but –
- Why would she be writing from a crappy Gmail address and not the Hay festival’s own one?
- Why doesn’t she seem able to capitalise her own name properly?
- Why is a trustee apparently writing in any case?
- Why does she refer to an “upcoming edition” of the festival?
- What the heck does “explore opportunities” mean? A festival either wants to book you or it doesn’t.
- Why no phone number?
If you ever get anything similar and aren’t sure whether it’s genuine or not, post it in the Back Room and we’ll assist.
---
From: Victoria bejarano <victoriabejarano.fest@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:01:17 -0700
Dear . [LASTNAME],
I hope this message finds you well.
My name is Victoria Bejarano, and I am reaching out on behalf of the Hay Festival, the internationally renowned celebration of literature and ideas.
We greatly admire your work, particularly XXXXX, including XXX, and XXX. Your vivid storytelling, deep connection to the natural world, and ability to bring human emotion to life have resonated with readers across generations.
We would be honoured to invite you to participate in an upcoming edition of the Hay Festival. We believe your work would inspire engaging conversations with our audiences, particularly around themes of XXX.
We would be delighted to explore opportunities for you to join us for a talk, panel discussion, or reading. Our programming team is happy to work around your availability and interests to create a meaningful and enjoyable experience.
Please let us know if this invitation is of interest, and we would be glad to share further details.
Thank you for your time and for the extraordinary stories you bring to readers worldwide.
Warm regards,
Victoria Bejarano
