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Online Book Publishing Scam

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Online Book Publishing Scam Reports & Reviews (24)

- Hollywood, FL, USA • May 07, 2025
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I signed a contract with NY Book Publishers with Victor Hughes on 11/25/2024. I have approved the front cover and revised copy in 8/1/2 x 11 format. The play is supposed to be in 51/2 x 7x1/2 format. It has been almost 30 weeks and I have never seen a completed copy/ When I tried to cancel and break ties with the company, Olivia Davis said cancellation was not possible because it was in the publishing phase. How could that be possible when I never had final approval of the product. Olivia's text tone was rude and vindictive. It clearly says in the contract that I can sever our ties anytime I want if I am not satisfied. I also checked and discovered that NY Book Publishers is in the Word Weekly scammer's list. All I want to do is sever ties with them. get a refund and move on. A simple play should never take 39 weeks! ***** ** ******** **********

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- North Little Rock, AR, USA • May 06, 2025
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Title:

Refund Promised, Never Delivered — Elders Beware

Review:

I am ***** ********* ****** ****** **** ***** ** ****** ** ****** **** * *********** ************** ****** ******** *** **** ** **** *****. I engaged Authors Hike and TekVersify for publishing services totaling over $64,000. After numerous delays, broken promises, and misleading inducements, I was verbally and digitally promised a full refund. That refund was never honored. Communication ceased after assurances were given, and I received no services in alignment with the timeline sanctioned by the ********* ************ ******* guiding my work.

This experience disrupted sacred elder work tied to ancestral restoration, and caused measurable harm. While the financial grievance is clear, the spiritual and emotional cost has also been immense. I urge fellow elders, authors, veterans, and spiritual leaders to proceed with caution. The path led me to ancestral keys, yes—but that awakening was born out of exploitation. Business platforms and agencies have been formally notified, including the FTC, Attorney General, and FBI cybercrime division.

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- Flushing, NY, USA • Apr 23, 2025
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This company has a website that when you browse a chat box opens, engaging you in conversation. They claim they are mystical book publishing company, in business for 20 years but they publish childrens books.They talked professionally as if they know the business. They sale you into an agreement offering a 3 month path to best seller success: Pre marketing launch, manuscript refinement and design enhancement, ISBN and barcode,, cross platform formating, audiobook creation, retailer and bookstore engagement, generating excitement SEO content and social media strategies. They claim to have 100% money back guarantee "we stand behind our services " we either make it right or refund your investment . They pressured us to give them the money on the spot, 2,499 dollars and they claim their office was so confident in the success that they were puting 2,499 from their own pocket. This was a sacrifice for my husband and I . They insisted that after we make some money we can invest in a bigger package including more services. Before we made any money they insisted that we pay for an audio book. 4,500 dollars. In their proposal there was no extra fee for the audiobook. they insisted that thats the way they work and it takes and extra cost. We sent via pay pal $4,5000.

We were enthusiastic to work with them. They assigned us someone to work with us who would make appointments with us and stand us up, with different excuses every time. When he spoke to us he claimed he was taking notes on our requests yet the product that he produced was not though out and instead of improving the manuscript it got worse. We requested our money back but her (Sean Marcus) begged for another opportunity to get it right. In the mean time we realized that they were not as professional as they claim to be and cancelled the 4,500 payment with our credit card. Sean was asking to call the bank and cancel our report of fraudulent activity while he would work on the next trial. The next document he presented to us had mostly the same errors that he had presented the firs time. We had asked to speak to the manager for several weeks and he kept giving us excuses. His phone gets disconnected at his convenience. Some times my text messages would not even go througgh. Finally , after weeks we spoke to the manager (Natasha), who very nicely conviced us to give them another chance. She was removed Sean from the project and assigning us to Angelina. She claimed that after our call she would send us the number for Angelina. She did not follow through with her word to us. At that time we wrote her an email saying that we were done with them and want to get our money back by last Friday. She did not answer my email even though we said if we did not receive the money we would take further action.

They did not provide a receipt, when we insisted they provided a receipt withou an address. Also they delayed sending a contract. By the time they sent it, we had lost trust in them.

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- Bushkill, PA, USA • Mar 12, 2025
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I was trying to publish a book using their website. They tried to send me an invoice that required me to download. Their site which was under a different organization called Design CRM was asking for my bank information that caused suspension.

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- Columbia, MD, USA • Feb 27, 2025
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I wrote a book about the strokes that had, to help others. The last stroke happens years late that last part, when look for a publisher I saw Amazon publish a book with us. I knew that they sole books. After a long time they would something different. I send them my book online to get an email. I have every email and amount paid. After I said no about getting my book known more. They blocked me out about any information. I kelp asking about my royalty that I never received. I ask that a supervisor or Manger email me I received an email from someone I did not know,

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- Arcadia, CA, USA • Feb 14, 2025
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I was scammed by Writers Tree.

I'm a retired CPA specializing in IRS audits and appeals. I advised thousands of clients over 50 years to avoid being scammed. Then I found myself scammed!

I needed assistance in publishing the second edition of my book on " *** ** ***** *** *******" I chose Writers Tree after reading their claim as the #1 Top Book Writing Company and glowing reviews of 4 and 5 stars. Then, my nightmare began.

I hired and fully paid them in June 2023. It's now January 2025 and they have not published my book. What they did, however, was annoy me with unending sales pitch to buy extra services. My wife advised me to stop dealing with them when she noticed that I was constantly arguing with them to stop bugging me.

I dug deeper into reviews and found that they were rated with 1 or 2 stars. How they received glowing reviews, I don't know. I wouldn’t be surprised that they were fake reviews. Even their names are fake. Their HQ address is fake. I found reviews that they operate out of Pakistan.

I lost money from sales during the 2024 tax season and had to visit my doctor for elevated BP from stress from their constant strong arm tactics.

I'm now lodging a complaint with the Attorneys General of the states of California where I live and New York and Florida where they claim to be headquartered. I’d love to connect with ******** * of Charlotte NC and **** * of San Ramon who are also lodging complaints wit the Attorneys General of NY, FL, CA, NC.

I'm a conservative professional and careful businessman but I still fell for these scammers. They’re great at scamming, poor at helping their customers. They were relentless in aggressively selling extra services but did not care about publishing my book. Do yourself a favor. Do not hire Writers Tree. You’ll be sorry.

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- Norman, OK, USA • Jan 20, 2025
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Times Square Publishers assured me that they could provide actual shelf-space for my book – ***** **** ** **** ****** (my pen name) – at Barnes & Noble stores across America. Of course, this type of brick-and-mortar access came at a high price. However, after contemplating, I decided this was a once-in-a-life-time opportunity, and consequently parted with over $50,000. Supposedly, the first batch of 4k books was shipped in late September, and supposedly landed on store shelves in the first week of October. However, when I asked my project manager Sasha Barber ([email protected] (442 446 1653 ) for a list of stores, so I could verify my books had, indeed, landed on shelves, she hedged...making up excuse after excuse. Soon, I was informed that Sasha had taken a TWO MONTH leave, and wouldn't be back until January (as expected, I was eventually told she was gone for good!) Naturally, at this point, I became very suspicious. So I began to reach out to other people I had had direct correspondence with. First, I contacted Sasha's boss – Mia Dawson ([email protected] 442 446 1655). Strangely, where there was once always a prompt response, Mia now went missing – she refused to call or respond my email. And the exact same thing could be said for the two financiers – Brad ([email protected]/442 446 6181) and Tracie (442 446 1657) – both are nowhere to be found. So, ALL of the people I had been dealing with had vanished in a matter of less than two months! Now, I was almost certain I had become a victim of fraud. Then, after continuing to try to get a hold of Mia Dawson, who was really the boss of operations, I received a call from a person name Ray (442 446 1698). He was the one who informed me that Sasha was gone for good, and that Tracie was no longer, there and Brad had been moved to a completely new department – it was Brad who convinced me to part with an initial investment of 17K. However, this Ray person said he was now in charge of my project, and assured me that I had nothing to worry about – all would be made well. Well, guess again! Soon, I received a call from Ray, telling me that his manager wanted to discuss the subject of royalties. Apparently, my book had sold quite well, and a significant amount of royalties were headed my way. Well, think again! Turned out, Ray's manager – Henry Miller ([email protected]) attempted to defraud me for the amount of 19k! Here was his tactic: He said that the first 4k books had sold out (I doubt the books were even printed, let alone shipped and sold) and that I had close to 69k coming my way. But here was the obvious fraudulent catch – he said that Barnes & Noble were demanding that I purchase an author's license BEFORE they could release my proceeds. I was clearly informed that if I didn't part with 19k and thus obtain an author's license, I wouldn't receive a single cent of my royalties. Of course, I staunchly objected, and reached out to Barnes & Noble, who informed me that I was, indeed, dealing with fraudsters, that my book had NEVER landed in any of their stores, and that an author's license is NOT required in the U.S., as it is in the U.K. "You've been had," I was informed. So I am contacting you – the ScamPulse.com – to make sure this Barnes & Noble book shelf access SCAM is revealed, posted, and hopefully put to an end, so nobody else has to experience what I have been through – a living hell! I'm also interested in how I can prosecuted these people and recoup some, if not all, of my invested money. Basically, how should I proceed...how should I seek justice? Any advice in these matters would be much appreciated.

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- Costa Mesa, CA, USA • Jan 02, 2025
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A user on X messaged me, asking if I wanted both my books to get an audio version. I said I'm willing to get more information. She had her senior consultant, Andrew Parker, reach out to me via email on behalf of Content Unicorns. I even had a consultation call, based in Boca Raton, FL. They seemed legit, but once they gave me the first few chapters of my audiobook to look over, I could tell that it was an AI robo-voice. I said that I didn't want anything to do with it, but they talked me into it. I reluctantly agreed for them to do an audiobook for my first book only and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, I waited several months and I haven't heard back. I emailed them; they ignored it. I emailed them again and again within the next couple of months, now asking for a refund of the down payment; they continued to ignore it. I have Mailtrack, so I've seen them opening my emails many times.

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- Houston, TX, USA • Dec 30, 2024
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I was offered a "special" investment opportunity that was supposedly only offered to "exceptional books" from the publisher that were chosen each year. If i paid for the initial batch publications, I would receive a high yielding profit. After sending the funds, nothing has happened except a bunch of stalls and delays. In many instances, no communications for weeks.

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- Lebanon, PA, USA • Sep 24, 2024
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Salesperson responded to website inquiry; I thought I was on AmazonPublishing.com, but further scrutiny of expanded e-mail address showed amazondigitalpublishing.com

Project Manager, Shawn Hill, set up appointment for 11 on Monday 9/24. I was at work this day so took lunch early. When I tried to access the website from work the company server tagged the site as malicious, scam, phishing.

The project manager gave me a name of a client and boasted 14+books collaborated. I was able to contact the author and she indicated she worked with Kindle Direct Publishing on all 14 books.

I called my bank to dispute charge while it is still pending so the payment would be held.

Their e-mail signature block claimed they are working from NY, NY 112 W 34th St Floors 18&17 (which was another tip off). I checked with the leasing agent, no record of them renting space, no publishers even on those floors.

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- Surprise, AZ, USA • Jul 24, 2024
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Signed with Page88 costing 49.99 a month in Feb 2024 to sell my book. I have sold currently over 100 books and have not received a dime.

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- Boston, VA, USA • Jul 22, 2024
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THIS (my attempt at getting my book "published") is not the first time. THIS is "Strike Three" for me - having previously been duped by two OTHER scamming companies!! The "folks" at Global Summit House belong to a HUGE, aggressive Filipino Cloning Group / Conglomerate (that goes by many, MANY different names!!) that contact Independent Authors - MIMICKING Big Publishing Houses, with all sorts of promises about marketing and selling the author's book - once the author sends them the manuscript. After the money has changed hands, there is no apparent effort on THEIR part to make good on their promises (of selling thousands of books - to where major, big-name Publishing Houses will take notice, and want to publish the book THEMSELVES!) - Proof being: No monthly reporting of any sales, or LACK of sales. Future authors should steer WAY CLEAR of this, or ANY "Group," mimicking the Indie-type "Publishing Houses" (which is also a group of scammers, which will be left for another day). Do your due diligence. Don't bite at their ridiculous, outlandish "carrots!" If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't.

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- Brooklyn, NY, USA • Jun 24, 2024
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Wrote a Children's book. Called and said someone wanted to purchase the rights. Said he would make up something to send to purchaser which he did and said he fulfilled his part of deal. Never got the contract now wants me to invest more money so he can make something else for the purchaser Montessori from Nebraska who want to use it for Faith Formation. I told him wanted to see contract which he never submits but keeps calling and wanting more money with no results or notice from said customer. Even had me listen in on a telephone call that could be phony with said Company interested. I keep asking him not to call and/or e-mail, but he keeps doing so. Even said he needed money to purchase medicine for a sick child. I told him I would send him a lot of my poetry so he could sell it to get money for his sick child or just ask for money to purchase the medicine. He could also have a "gofund" me on Facebook. He said to forget about the medicine and the major publishers say their company is phony, so writers do not deal with them. He then wanted over $2,000 to make something else to show the interested party. I told him no many times.

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- New York, NY, USA • Jun 09, 2024
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This company claims to be a PR, Media, Publishing company. They were suppose to provide services on a book I wanted to publish. They services were unprofessional and incomplete, we could never meet in person and project wasn't making since. When I ask for my back the agreeded to give me $2000 back in a payment plan and created a list of things that they said the worked on that I never seen until I requested my refund. now the ghosted me

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In June of 2023 Wiley Book Writers received $1050.00 from me by Capital Credit Card they produced nothing over a seven month period, numerous delays with misspelled words stc.

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- Bath, ME, USA
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On Dec. 1, 2023, I signed a contract with Scribe Marketer to publish my completed book. My project manager said his name was Henry (no last name), and his is the only email I have, though I suspect he is no longer with the company, or he has made himself unavailable. The agreed (advertised) price was $300. The contract clearly stated that if I was not satisfied, my money would be refunded. On December 13, I had a conversation with "Dick," who told me I needed an author's licence and an ISBN number (which I already had). These were to cost $900 each, but since I was "such a nice lady," he would cut it down to $450 each. Alarm bells rang loudly, and on December 15, I canceled my contract and requested a refund. I received an email, assuring me I would receive the refund, but it would take about three weeks. It is now March of 2024, and after repeated attempts on my part to obtain the refund (email and phone conversations). The most recent person I spoke with was "Marcus," who told me the refund would be issued that day, but it would appear on my bank statement in between 5-7 days. This was on February 20. I recently called Marcus, and he was going to "check into it" and call me back. He ha.s not. I have been scammed. I have reported the company to the Federal Trade Commission and to the Attorney General's office in New York, but I suspect the only thing I will receive is a lesson learned

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- Lady Lake, FL, USA
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This is a book I was going to have published. A children’s book. I choose the package I wanted which was $1,200. I paid $600 of it. They did edit the book but didn’t really make any changes.

I had to pick out illustration types and they did a couple of those which I didn’t care for. Late one night, around 7:30pm ta Liam called and was telling me to really sell this book I needed to go bigger with the media stuff. I told him over and over no, my dream is just to have a book, I wasn’t interested in making tons of money. I’m 73 years old and have had this story got many years.

Finally he wore me down ( I know very dumb in my part) but I gave in and paid $5000.00 for all this extra media and e reader books.

I never slept that night and could have kicked myself for giving up. I called and emailed them the very next day, telling them I changed my mind. I know I have 3 business days to cancel a contract so this was done on the 30th on November in the 1st of December I called and emailed them. They said no problem at all. I was put through to the finance department and he said, no problem, I’ll refund that money, I’ll need your credit card and information to reverse the charges. I gave him that feeling much relieved. But to my surprise when I went in my Discover card the next day. I had another $5000.00 charge!!! I called them right away. The finance guy Kevin told me that was his mistake and he would fix it right way plus reverse the original $5000.00 charge.

Now I’m calling every day and getting busy signals, mailbox full, ringing forever. No one is answering my texts or emails.

I’m so beside myself and Discover said to put a complaint in with the ScamPulse.com and the attorney general. So that is what I’m doing.

This company lied to me and now won’t even answer their phones.

Thank you

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- Wellington, FL, USA
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Initially, I hired Cosmics Publishers to publish my book, but I soon realized that something was amiss. Despite giving them the benefit of the doubt due to my inexperience as an author, I discovered that the company was not a legitimate entity. A thorough search of their name in a search engine yielded no results, and I received samples of their work, but the final product for the full $3300 I paid has yet to materialize. Furthermore, before completing the first project, they requested an additional $10,000 via wire transfer under the name of Design Cosmics, which I was not aware of. However, upon further investigation, I found that the company is not in good standing with the state of Maryland for failing to file a financial report in 2023. While I regret losing $3300, I am grateful that I discovered this information before handing over any more money, as I was on the verge of transferring an additional $10,000.

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- Rochester, NY, USA
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I was looking to publish my book and I found a website that I thought looked legit-they did a really good job, I’ll give them that . I started chatting with someone and they called me and told me they could get my books published nationwide in ****** *** ***** and all these other places. I had a project manager and we discussed my book etc. I paid $400.00 for empty promises. I started feeling like it was a scam when they sent me a picture of the cover of the book and the picture of the first drawing. They also added the dedication page to the back cover vs the inside of the book. I emailed my project manager and someone else sent me a text stating that they were covering for them on vacation and could we set up a time to talk. I told them a couple of days and they confirmed but never called me. So I emailed again-crickets. I then went back to the website and they disabled their chat, but I found another website that was oddly the same. I opened it and saw there was a chat button and I pressed it. I spoke with a woman and asked if she ever heard of Kindle publishing company. She said “yes we’ve been getting a lot of complaints that they are a scam. A real agency wouldn’t tell you they will get your books published at Barnes and Noble”.

I decided to pretend I was someone else and got to the point where she (the same woman) told me she could get my books on ****** *** *****. I let her know I was interested in purchasing the highest package level, but that I didn’t get paid until the following week. I told her I would be spending my entire paycheck, but it would be worth it. She said “yes it will. Especially since you’ll be making 3 x’s as much”.

I tried to get her to tell me everything and it was the same stuff my original person who scammed me said, just in a different website.

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- Sheridan, WY, USA
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They operate in England and America. That's why there were 2 types of currency.

£7,000 and $56,000

I signed a contract with a 100% money back guarantee if they don't make book sales equivalent to 1.8% (or more) return on my investment of £7,000.

They did not sell even 1 book, but refused to pay the refund.

Instead they said they made a deal with 50 American bookstores to buy 20,000 copies of my book but I have several days to send them $56,000, which will make me a return of around $350,000 in just a few days.

They said they will print 13,000 copies via Amazon, because Amazon has a 13,000 books limit.

I have to pay $8 per book for the remaining 7,000 books.

They said the deal is either 20,000 copies or none and I have to give them the money within several days or lose the deal, because it has to hit the stores before Christmas.

This was a massive red flag.

So I called some of the bookstores in the list.

One of them said that they know nothing about me, or my book and they have most assuredly NOT made such an order.

I asked them to confirm this in writing, so I have it and can share as evidence.

When I called the other bookstore, there was an automated operator message that this number is linked to SCAMs and I was not connected.

I also called Amazon and they said - firstly they don't have a limit for 13,000 copies.

Also it is not possible for them to print my book at all, because for this to happen, they first need to have the book approved for external distribution, this takes time and requires this to be requested by us, then approved by them.

So clearly if I paid the $56,000 they would have gone to the deep pockets of Woodbridge publishers, and not for book printing.

Please help so other people don't get burned.

I would love to have my £7,000 back, but despite my numerous attempts to discuss with them, they keep promising they will call me or email me back, within 15 minutes, or by the end of the day, but this never happens.

Please note, my company is based in Wyoming and I notice we share the same registered office address.

But there is no other relation between our 2 companies, and the address is purely accidental.

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