Back in late June 2020, I received what at first looked like a legit email from a writer who inquired about our editing services. The subject of his email stated: “Editor Needed ASAP.” However, once I opened the email, a few red flags shot up faster than lightning. It began (as written by the sender), “Top of the day to you, I am Mr. James I got your Email address from the Association of Writers.”

The first flag was his greeting, “Top of the day to you.” The correct greeting is “Top of the morning to you,” and it’s an old Irish greeting not used since the Victorian era. The second flag, there is no such organization as the Association of Writers. There is the Association of Writers & Writing Programs, but I’m not a member of this group. Therefore, I wasn’t sure where or how he got my email address.

Granted I should have ignored his email but I did review his work and sent him a quote which included cost and turnaround time for his project. He readily agreed and asked for our mailing address, as he wanted to send us a cashier’s check.
 
A week and a half went by—no payment. So, I touched base with him again and received a message that his assistant put a check in the mail the other day. Two days later, I received a USPS Priority Mail envelope from Antiques Marketing, LLC. According to the return address it’s located in Homestead, Pennsylvania.
 
Two more red flags shot up. I’ve never heard of nor was I expecting anything from Antiques Marketing, or anything from anyone in the state of Pennsylvania. Also, the cashier’s check made out to JWC Publishing was $3,000 over the amount due.
 
His scam was growing. I emailed the writer back and told him the check was much greater than the amount invoiced and asked him to please send out another payment for the proper amount. He told me his assistant thought she was paying for a different editing job and I should deposit the check and he’d send more work our way.
 
At this point, I contacted the credit union from which the check was drawn and gave them all the information I had including the guy’s name and email address. I searched for the company from which the mail was sent, and found that no such business exists and the address is in fact a residential house. The credit union quickly responded. “This is definitely a fraudulent USE Cashier’s Check and we are aware that a few other members/non-members have received checks similar to this one.” They confirmed what I already knew—”Mr. James” was a scammer. 
 
His scam (had I fallen for it) would have me deposit the check, then he’d soon claim he needed the difference back (the extra $3,000) and for me to wire it to him. He gets payment from me and I then I find out to late from my bank that the check from him is no good. Not only would I have been out $3,000, but my bank could have charged me for trying to pass a fraudulent check. At the same time, all traces of the scammer would disappear and there would be no recourse.
 
I did some further research on the “writer” and learned quite a few other editors had received a similar email. So, I began to ignore “Mr James” emails inquiring about quotes for more projects or to send the money back. Part of me wanted to call him out. However, I decided my time is better spent writing and working with “legit” authors.
 
That is until he sent me this email (as written by the sender): “Good Morning, how are you doing? how was your night? Please can you tell me what is going on? you have stopped talking after you received my payment.. is this how you treat your client?”
 
In my response, I let him know I knew of his scam and included links from other editors and the email from the credit union. I never heard from Mr. “Top of the day to you” again—shocker!
 
Luckily, I didn’t lose much other than time. Moving forward, I’ve become more cautious when vetting potential clients.
 
I hope no editors fall for this guy’s tactics. The most important lesson here is to always go with your gut feeling and ask lots of questions. Had I done my due diligence, I might have saved some time.
 
Always do your homework!

T.M. Jacobs, a native to the shoreline area of Connecticut, now resides in various locations along the east coast with his wife traveling and working from their RV motorhome. He has written and published 15 books (one of which was featured on C-SPAN), over 450 articles published in various newspapers and magazines, teaches classes on writing and publishing, and is currently the owner of JWC Publishing. He is the founder and former editor for Patriots of the American Revolution magazine and has been a freelance writer since 1988.  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timjacobsghostwriter/

Website: www.jacobswc.com

Email: [email protected]