The Bookseller reported Friday that a con-person has been impersonating HarperCollins (HC) editorial director Phoebe Morgan – to offer book contracts.
According to that story, today described as Bookseller's 'most read' of the last week, the fraudster used her photograph and background info, but with a fake company account. Phoebe A Morgan, on Twitter, asks those affected to flag messages, stressing HC would never contact anyone in that way.
This appears to be a 'copycat' scam, similar to those of Filippo Bernardino, ex-Simon & Schuster UK, currently charged by the FBI with theft of hundreds of book manuscripts. The purpose is unclear, other than to dupe potential authors into believing they have been offered a contract. Perhaps the intention was later to demand money.
According to that story, today described as Bookseller's 'most read' of the last week, the fraudster used her photograph and background info, but with a fake company account. Phoebe A Morgan, on Twitter, asks those affected to flag messages, stressing HC would never contact anyone in that way.
This appears to be a 'copycat' scam, similar to those of Filippo Bernardino, ex-Simon & Schuster UK, currently charged by the FBI with theft of hundreds of book manuscripts. The purpose is unclear, other than to dupe potential authors into believing they have been offered a contract. Perhaps the intention was later to demand money.
