A federal grand jury has charged three people with defrauding elderly authors across the United States of almost $44 million by convincing the victims that publishers and filmmakers wanted to turn their books into blockbusters — but only if they paid some fees first.
Jesus christ $44M divided by 800 victims is $55k per person. What a bunch of fucking scumbags. My mother fell for a similar ploy (one among many) and it’s a bit soul crushing to have to constantly explain why she shouldn’t keep sending money and that no her book isn’t being showcased at some exhibit, no that guy isn’t calling from Microsoft, no that “wealthy, generous investor” isn’t really going to give you a guaranteed 30% return on your money.
Fuck these people!
I have been repeatedly accidentally targeted by a similar scam, sometimes getting a voicemail every single day because they somehow think I’m my late father, who self-published multiple books.
I’ve never even written a book.
It annoys the fuck out of me, so hopefully this is at an end- but considering the accents on the voicemails, I’m guessing it isn’t because the scammers hitting me aren’t even in the u.S.
