I felt like a bit of a twit…

I think this story makes me feel like a bit of a twit, but I hope it helps other authors facing scams, and it also shows one of the many perils of AI...

Some weeks ago, I got an email out of the blue from 'Graeme', who runs the 'Glasgow Sci-fi/Fantasy and Horror Group'. Apparently, he had read my book 'Choose Trust', summarised it in his note (red alert!), and told me his members would be honoured to have me talk to them about the concepts in it.

I know: why would THIS group be interested in a business book setting out how to intentionally develop high trust relationships with clients and colleagues? (Cue jokes that the writing is so horrific that it made Stephen King seem like a fairy tale.)

BUT the author's ego in me got triggered. If this group are so fascinated by my brilliance and want to hear my thoughts, then why not do a Zoom call for them?
So I responded positively, thinking that I was being a good citizen. Sent some ideas on the agenda.

Graeme was delighted and grateful. All I now needed to do was send some money over to contribute to the costs of the gathering, which, after all, would be promoting my book with some highly intelligent Glaswegians...

Reader, I did not, you will be pleased to know, and after a couple of exchanges, I blocked Graeme.

But, good news: today I got an almost identical email from Jess Doerr, Organizer of the Ink and Insights Book Club. Wow, some very obscure clubs love my book! As before, this club is a MeetUp with 386 members, and is based in Minneapolis, USA.

I won't be taking up this exciting offer. There may even really be this club, and some scammer is using Jesse's name. I don't know.

AI allows so many scams, because people can create mass emailings containing some convincing content that feels personal. I'm sure the old Nigerian banking email (help me get my millions out of the country...) is now reproduced in a thousand different ways.

Now if you genuinely want me to speak to your team about trust, then I'd be delighted to do so.

But I'm afraid I will be charging you...