Warning for fan writers

[watervole]

Someone is trying to scam me - and if they're trying it on me, then they're probably trying it on other fan writers as well.

I was contacted by someone who said they wanted to make an audio CD of my B7/Morgan's Boy novel   'Morgan'

I assume the scam part would cut in when they 'run out of money to pay the actors'.

I'm beginning to wonder just how

Comments

[oreouk]

Just a quickie - something's gone wonky with your cut tag (on LJ at least) - did you close it?

[watervole]

THanks. I think I've got it right now.

[temeres]

I'm in their pipeline? Oh goody. It's ages since I've had a good reason to tell someone to f*** off.

[melodyclark]

If they start approaching you for money, I'd say it's definitely a scam. However, they might be an artless start-up company. It does sound like they just grabbed a zine, saw some names, and dropped them on you.

There's a great pro writers forum where everyone knows the real turtle soup, so to speak. I'd recommend asking about them there.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/

[luckykaa]

I agree. It sounds like someone sees themselves as the next big thing and they're just embellishing their resume a little.

On the whole though, it's just a matter of intent. Either way anyone who deals with them will be out of pocket.

[watervole]

An artless start-up would never aim at B7, it's an old fandom and there's little/no money to be made there.

Suggesting Richard as a possible writer is the most laughable of all. He's never written any B7 fanfic at all...

[melodyclark]

If they were artless enough, they would. lol

I live in LA. There are the most ridiculous companies that spring up for little reason. Young clowns think they can bluff even old-time industry folk.

However, I'd suspect -- if they start talking money -- then it is a scam. Well, as you point out, Val Westall is an artist. lol At least the guy has good taste with the rest of the writers.

[rockwell_666]

*WHOOOOOP* *WHOOOOOP* SCAM WARNING *WHOOOOOP* *WHOOOOOP*

Sorry, I'll turn down the volume on my Scam Detector :-)

At a guess I'd say the scam would be something on the lines of "All we need from you is £100 to cover our up-front costs" and then, oops, they need another £500 to pay actors followed by £1000 to provide the advertising campaign that your work so richly deserves...

[vjezkova]

I almost jumped out of my skin...So they tried the tricks on you...Idiots!