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Protecting Yourself from Fraudulent Publishing Scams

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Lily & Foster is a new and growing publishing company, and we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all authors who wish to work with us. Unfortunately, fraudulent accounts impersonating employees of reputable publishers have become increasingly common. These scammers attempt to trick people into applying for fake jobs, entering into bogus publishing agreements, and sharing sensitive personal information. At Lily & Foster, we want to take proactive measures to protect our authors and maintain the integrity of our work.

We DO NOT offer jobs, publishing agreements, or any related services through social media or personal email accounts. All legitimate communications from Lily & Foster will only come from our official company email addresses, which use the domain: @lilyandfoster.com.

If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from Lily & Foster or any other publisher, we strongly urge you to not respond or click on any links. Instead, please report the fraudulent account to the platform where you encountered it. Below, you’ll find more information about how to identify fraudulent offers and tips on how to safeguard your personal information.

What to Look Out For

At Lily & Foster, we understand how valuable your stories are and how much time and effort you put into creating them. The last thing we want is for your work to be stolen or exploited by bad actors. Fraudulent third parties, pretending to be affiliated with major publishers, literary agents, or other publishing services, often reach out to authors via email, social media, or phone. They may ask for payment, manuscripts, or other personal details in exchange for assistance with publishing. These are scams, and they have no legitimate connection to Lily & Foster.

In their efforts to deceive, these scammers may create fraudulent publishing agreements, fake endorsement letters, or false acquisition proposals, often using logos or marks that look official. To protect authors, we are taking the necessary precautions and sharing these guidelines with you.

Publishing Fraud Tips

Lily & Foster is not affiliated with, nor do we endorse, any third-party agencies or companies offering publishing, marketing, or any other related services to authors. If any third-party company or individual asks for an upfront payment to help you submit your manuscript, book trailer, or sizzle reel to us, it is a scam. We will never ask authors for any kind of payment to submit work for consideration.

Here are some common red flags to watch for when you suspect a publishing scam:

  • Unsolicited Communication: You receive a phone call, social media message, or email unexpectedly.

  • Request for Payment: The sender asks for upfront payment or banking details to submit your manuscript to Lily & Foster.

  • Urgency: The sender pressures you to act quickly, claiming that you’ll lose the opportunity to publish with Lily & Foster if you don’t respond immediately.

  • Exclusive Access: The sender tells you not to contact Lily & Foster directly, claiming only they have the special authority to connect you with the company.

How to Respond to Suspicious Communication

If you receive a suspicious phone call, social media message, or email, here’s what you should do:

  • Be cautious. As a general rule, we will not initiate contact with you via phone calls or social media platforms like Facebook or WhatsApp.

  • Request Verification. Ask the caller or sender to email you directly from an official Lily & Foster email address. Our legitimate email addresses will always use the domain: @lilyandfoster.com.

  • Verify the Email: If you receive a suspicious email, do not click any links or open attachments. Review the email carefully for errors in the sender’s email address, tone, and formatting.

  • Do Not Respond Directly: If you’re unsure, do not reply directly. Instead, contact the sender by other means to verify the legitimacy of the email or communication. You can also perform an online search for the exact wording of the message to see if it’s part of an existing scam.

  • Consult an Attorney: Before signing any document, including publishing agreements, we strongly encourage you to consult with an attorney.

If You Believe You’ve Been Scammed

If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam, please stop all communication with the sender and report the fraudulent activity. You can also report the scam to the platform where the contact occurred. In addition, contact your local law enforcement agency.

If you are unsure about the legitimacy of any communication claiming to be from a Lily & Foster employee or from a third party claiming to be affiliated with us, please email us directly at our official email address: contact@lilyandfoster.com.

Resources for Reporting Scams

For U.S. Residents:

For International Residents:

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