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Write a book in a day and become a bestselling author

Umito November 5, 2024

We all know someone who is tired of their 9-5 job and would like to start a business or get into investing and earn a significant income.

“Unfortunately, very often they become moths who fly into flames and fall in love. online business or coaching programs that promise guaranteed income,” says Ian Lamont of Auburndale, Mass., who is familiar with victims and online hucksters. He is an award-winning independent editor and the founder of i30 Media Corp. Through his insightful blog and video channels, Lamont has been highlighting Internet scams for years.

“Instead of making money, they are losing tens of thousands of dollars,” Lamont points out. “And it’s a great time to be a scammer online, because major internet platforms are doing virtually nothing to stop these incredibly convincing ads from appearing.”

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Aspiring authors are a target

One of the Most Dangerous Online Scams I’ve Seen very convincing online advertisements stating that even if you have no writing experience, using their AI you can produce a book in one session sell on Amazon that will earn you thousands of dollars per month.

To get started, you only need to pay around $2,000. To prove their point, “average people” who use their services present checks showing large amounts. Wrong, wrong, wrong!

“The reality is that desperate people get sucked into these publishing schemes,” says Lamont, “and what usually happens is they don’t make any money. They waste a lot of time and money with these peddlers and are sold to master classes or services that have little, if any, practical value.

How Online Publishing Scams Lure You

Lamont described how these scammers lure you in:

After watching the scammer’s video on YouTube or TikTok, the victim thinks, “That looks great.” Wow! I can make thousands of dollars a month writing and publishing books on Amazon. Sign me up!
They invite you to subscribe to their email newsletter and may offer a free “getting started” video.
They make exaggerated promises about how easy it is to make thousands of dollars publishing. And they will sell you “a simple formula” that will allow you to do it too.
Their emails insist more and more that you agree to pay for the training.
They refuse to accept credit cards because they can be charged back, and instead insist on direct bank transfers, which makes it difficult to exit once you realize it’s a scam.
They often appeal to your desire to write a family story, without telling the truth that no one outside your family will ever buy the book.

Online platforms don’t seem to care

Lamont is frustrated by what he sees as inaction by internet platforms. “Even though these scams pose a huge danger to the public, you would think that online platforms would block their ads. But anything goes even though these scams have been reported time and time again, because they want as many companies as possible to submit content and pay for advertising, and they just look the other way when it comes to scams. Furthermore, these platforms are fully aware of what is happening and could go all the way to the top, as the DEA does with drug traffickers, but so far they have shown little interest in doing so. TO DO.”

Read complaints about Better Business

I suspect that almost everyone who turns on their computer late at night has seen various self-publishing or assisted publishing advertisements. If you’re somehow tempted to work with them, do your research and start by checking out the reviews and complaints on Reddit and the Better Business Bureau. Here are actual comments and complaints from BBB online posts by people who say they have fallen for the scams:

“The product is worthless.”
The company did not issue a refund, claiming to have technical issues processing the refund.
The promotional materials were supposed to lead to a comprehensive book publishing help course, but in reality they were a series of web links to additional services.
“There has been a system issue in the last 30 days that does not allow the AI tool to be used at all. I have been in constant communication with the company to resolve this issue with no resolution. This is the most misleading product I have ever purchased in my life. If you are considering purchasing this program, the best advice I can give you is to RUN! The tool has absolutely no use! Scam product! »

I emailed several of the major internet platforms asking, “Why are you allowing these scammers to advertise on your platform? The only one I heard about before publication was Google (also owner of YouTube), which said, “We have strict advertising policies that specifically prohibit advertisers from misrepresenting their services to scam people.” When we identify an ad that violates our policies, we promptly remove it and suspend the advertiser’s account, if applicable. For the others, it’s been weeks, and I’m still waiting for their responses.

How to protect yourself

For anyone tempted to get involved with publishing-related companies by offering to make them rich with little effort on their part, Lamont makes a few suggestions:

“The first thing to keep in mind is the old saying you know: ‘If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.’ Understand that these ads and videos are generally not regulated in any way, or the regulations have no teeth, so neither the government nor YouTube rarely take enforcement action against people who promote them.
And “if you find out the company name — and often, if you sign up for their email newsletter, you’ll have to go to a website to do that — you can Google the company name and the word “scam”. ” and check the results that appear. “
Finally, try to find authentic testimonials from real people who have used the company or service. Lamont acknowledges, “It can be difficult to do because (many) people hide behind anonymous Internet handles, or you don’t really know where they’re coming from or if they have some sort of agenda.” But try to get a variety of opinions about whether the company you want to work with is legitimate or a scam.

Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield, California, and welcomes reader comments and questions, which can be sent by fax to (661) 323-7993 or by email to [email protected]. And don’t forget to visit dennisbeaver.com.

This article was written and presents the views of our contributing advisor, not of the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check the advisors’ files with the SECOND or with FINRA.

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