Phony Publisher Promises Bestsellers
Summary
Host Bob Sullivan interviews Barbara Cornelius Fasano, who lost nearly $100,000 to Page Turner, a fake literary agency that preyed on aspiring authors. The episode details how the scam, run from the Philippines, stole over $48 million from 800 victims by promising film deals and massive royalties. Authors Guild General Counsel Cheryl Davis explains how criminals use AI to craft persuasive pitches and offers advice on identifying legitimate publishing opportunities.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The Page Turner scam targeting aspiring authors
Guest Barbara Cornelius Fasano and her unpublished books
Page Turner's escalating demands for fees and fake movie deals
Barbara discovers the scam and loses nearly $100,000
Federal indictment of Page Turner conspiracy leader
Secondary scam: Fake lawyers promising to recover lost funds
The emotional toll and vulnerability of writers to scams
Cheryl Davis from Authors Guild explains the scam mechanics
Why authors are targeted and the role of AI in sophistication
Identifying impersonation scams and checking email addresses
AI-generated emails that mimic personal interest in your work
Host Bob Sullivan shares an example of an AI scam email
Resources for verifying agents: Writer Beware and Authors Guild
Legitimate paths to publishing and avoiding upfront fees
Conclusion, sponsor message, and contact information
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