writer beware

These days, I have at least a couple messages in my email inbox daily telling me how great I am and how someone wants to feature my writing. While I don’t disagree that I can be great, these are all scam emails. In my online writing groups, I see newer writers getting excited at these messages, only to have their dreams dashed by more experienced group members.  I’ve been on a mission lately to spread the word so folks can spot a scam mail before they get excited about an “opportunity.”

The Only Opportunity Is for Them to Take Your Hard-Earned Cash

These scams aren’t targeted at stealing your identity typically. They work by getting to the core of who you are and all your hopes and dreams. Writing is not lucrative in the early days, and sometimes not at all. Yet, these emails promise thousands of book club members will see and buy your work or that you’ll get a movie deal, etc.

Example of a Scam Email Aimed at Writers I Received Recently

The email above came to me with other addresses in the “To” field. I assume these are other writers or maybe their scam partners. I have erased the emails in case they are innocent parties, but you get the gist of the letter and the little logo they’ve made to make them sound official.

How Can You Tell the Letter Is a Scam?

I knew this letter was a scam the second I opened it. The first clue is the gmail address it was sent from. If Netflix was contacting me, they would use their internal mail servers and not some random gmail address. Almost all of these scam letters come from gmail.

The letter was sent by the “Chairman” of Netflix. Even if by some miracle Netflix wanted to make one of my stories into a film, it would be an acquisitions editor who contacted me and not the chairman of the entire company. Pulease. My reach is rather local and my circle is small. I’d love to THINK this could happen, but it’s probably rather like hitting the lottery, don’t you think? Let’s break down all the red flags together, because these scammers are getting more sophisticated and tricky all the time. I want you to be able to recognize a scam for yourself.

The Full Letter

Here is the letter in full:

My name is Reed Hastings, Chairman of Netflix.

At Netflix, we are passionate about discovering powerful stories that can connect with audiences around the world. Your book has genuinely captured our attention, and we believe it has exceptional potential to become a compelling film adaptation.

We are excited about the possibility of including your story as part of our upcoming slate of original films and streaming features. Most importantly, this opportunity would come at no cost to you. We would like to discuss acquiring the rights to your book, with a potential offer ranging from $300,000 to $700,000 depending on the scope of the project and the terms agreed upon.

We would be eager to work closely with you throughout the process to ensure your vision is preserved as your story transitions from page to screen.

Our proposed process for adapting your book into a feature film would include:

Initial Concept Development
Collaborative discussions to better understand your vision for the adaptation.
Development of a script treatment that outlines the major plot points, themes, and character arcs.

Screenplay and Book Trailer
We would kindly ask that you provide a screenplay and book trailer for our review, as these materials will help guide the adaptation process and allow us to better understand the cinematic direction of your story.

Pre-Production
Casting actors who best represent your characters.
Selecting a director whose style and vision align with your book.
Scouting locations and creating production designs that reflect the world of your story.

Production
Filming the feature with a dedicated production team and experienced crew.
Encouraging your involvement through on-set visits, feedback opportunities, and creative collaboration.

Post-Production
Editing the film into a polished and engaging final product.
Creating sound design, musical score, and visual effects where appropriate.
Ensuring the final version remains true to the emotional core of your story.

Marketing and Distribution
Developing a comprehensive promotional campaign that includes trailers, posters, social media, interviews, and press events.
Releasing the project globally through Netflix’s streaming platform, providing access to millions of viewers worldwide.

Awards and Long-Term Potential
Positioning the project for major awards consideration, including the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards.
Exploring opportunities for sequels, spin-offs, or expanded storytelling if the project is successful.

Ongoing Collaboration
Your feedback and creative input would remain valuable throughout every stage of development to ensure the final adaptation reflects your original vision.

At Netflix, we are committed to producing films that entertain, inspire, and leave a lasting impression on audiences. We see tremendous promise in your story and would be honored to discuss bringing it to life.

Before moving forward, I strongly encourage you to consult with an experienced entertainment lawyer to review any agreements. Their guidance can help protect your rights and ensure clarity regarding intellectual property, royalties, and creative involvement.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you and potentially beginning this exciting journey together.

Kind Regards,

Reed Hastings
Chairman
Netflix

Red Flags That Show This Is a Writer Scam

This letter is FULL of red flags.

• I am not addressed by name.
• The phrasing is generic and my title they could be interested in is not mentioned nor why they feel it would work with Netflix’s audience.
• He mentioned pay within a few lines and it is a large amount that isn’t very realistic for this type of deal. Even if it were, they rarely tell you a number before even having a discussion.
• Why do they need a screenplay and book trailer? Those are two very different formats/promos. Also, didn’t they say they would develop this through collaboration.
• The collaboration is another red flag. Production companies tend to buy your work and adapt it the way they see fit. That level of collaboration is rare.
• Talking about the film getting industry awards. That’s funny and not something that would be discussed at such an early stage in the process.

Things That Feel Off

“Before moving forward, I strongly encourage you to consult with an experienced entertainment lawyer to review any agreements. Their guidance can help protect your rights and ensure clarity regarding intellectual property, royalties, and creative involvement.”

I’m not sure of their point with this. Perhaps this is part of the scam. If you respond, they might have an attorney they can recommend, for a fee, of course. Maybe they are just trying to gain your trust here and assuming you won’t hire an attorney. It just feels icky, though.

Mr. Hastings is the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The role itself isn’t going to be hands-on to this degree. Also, he’s announced he is stepping away from some of these executive roles. Even a quick Google search on the man would tell you this letter wasn’t legit.

The leader of Netflix Film is listed on their about page, and it isn’t Mr. Hastings, but again this isn’t the person who would contact you about an acquisition.

Dealing With the Disappointment

Even though I can spot a scam like this, I still felt that little nudge of disappointment that it wasn’t real. I can’t imagine what someone who buys into it feels when they realize they’ve been duped. People who prey on human emotions like this are the vilest of creatures.

If you’ve been tricked, I’m so sorry. I wish you’d seen this post first and avoided that pain. However, life is a learning experience, so count it as a lesson and strive to be more cautious going forward. Even though it’s embarrassing, you should share your story with others to save them from a similar fate.

Steps to Protect Yourself From Writing Scams

I have some rules I’ve implemented that help me pause and hopefully not get scammed.

• I never do business with someone who spammed me.
• I only do business with promotional opportunities I’ve sought or people I know.
• I don’t respond to gmail addresses tied to offers. I will respond to readers with gmail.
• I never click on links in emails or messages. I always copy/paste or go look up the company separately.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
• Important people you don’t know rarely contact you out of the blue wanting to give you money.

Writer Beware!

Until Netflix does come knocking on my door, I’ll be vigilant. Who knows? Maybe they will turn Mildred Wiggins Mysteries into film one day. It isn’t going to happen through a generic email, though.

Proceed with caution with everything. I hope you find every success, and I’ll be thrilled for you if you do. That said, these types of emails are scams and these people will trick you and take your money. Don’t trade your dreams for promises of quick cash. Let your audience and your opportunities build organically. Stay safe out there!

XOXO,

Lori