Aspiring Writers Targeted by Elaborate Publishing Scams Across 3 Countries

In November 2025, an investigation has uncovered an international network of publishing scams targeting aspiring writers across Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. These elaborate schemes use a range of deceptive tactics, including fake testimonials, AI-generated staff profiles, and impersonation of legitimate publishers, to lure victims into paying thousands for substandard publishing services.

The scams are being operated by a group of interconnected companies, such as Melbourne Book Publisher, First Page Press, Aussie Book Publisher, and BookPublishers.co.nz, which have created a facade of authenticity through cloned websites, virtual offices, and other tactics. Some victims have lost up to $5,000 in publication packages, only to realize they were dealing with imposters.

The scammers have gone to great lengths to appear legitimate, even going so far as to use the Australian Business Number (ABN) of a well-established publisher, Melbourne Books, to confuse authors. The use of AI-generated staff profiles and fake testimonials has also enabled the scammers to fabricate an entire team of executives and satisfied authors.

Authorities are now investigating the scale of the operation, which has already impacted several first-time authors, including one who met the scammer face-to-face before realizing the deception. As the publishing industry becomes increasingly crowded, these sophisticated scams are exploiting the excitement and vulnerability of aspiring writers, underscoring the need for greater awareness and vigilance in the self-publishing landscape.