Watch Out for Editing Scams

Some people at Club Ed (including me) recently received a scam email about an editing “opportunity” and I thought this was a good time to remind everyone about how to spot these.

When you receive an inquiry (usually by email), before responding, always stop to consider whether it’s a true request for services or a scam.

• Scam operators often impersonate legitimate companies and agencies. In this case, the sender is allegedly Motion Point, a translation company. But it is unlikely that a company/agency will cold contact you unless you’ve reached out to them first. (This isn’t necessarily true of an indie author, but most scam operators do not present themselves as indie authors.)
• Scams are often from weird Gmail addresses. This one is from [email protected].
• The reason they reached out to you is usually extremely generic. In this case, the email reads, in part, “I came across your profile through (clubedfreelancers) and was impressed by your professional background, skills, and experience. Your expertise stood out to us, and we believe you could be a valuable addition to our growing freelance network.” A legitimate inquiry will include some details about why they reached out to you, specifically. It will sound something like, “I’m looking for a romance editor and I see that you edit romance.”
• Similarly, the project being offered is extremely generic. In this case, the email reads, “I would be happy to share additional details regarding available positions, project scope, expectations, timelines, and compensation.” A legitimate opportunity is usually something very specific: “I’m looking for a developmental editor for an 80,000 word mystery.”
• For some reason, they often use “kindly”: “kindly forward your resume for further consideration.” That’s a tell I always see as a red flag.

If you suspect you’ve received a scam email:

• Google some keywords + “scam” to see what others are reporting. In this case “Motion Point” + “scam” yields a report that scammers are actively impersonating its recruiters, so you would know to be careful.
• Ask your colleagues if they’ve received a similar email. Legitimate offers are rarely sent to 10,000 people at once.
• Remember that you should never pay anyone for any opportunity. The money should flow to you, not away from you.

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Jennifer Lawler has been a freelance editor for more than twenty-five years and has been teaching editing skills for more than fifteen years. She is the founder of Club Ed LLC.