you’re taking people’s money for commissions, you owe them two things: communication and refunds.
If you can’t do the work—fine. Life happens. Everyone gets that. What’s not fine is ghosting the very people who paid you. Ignoring messages and sitting on their money? That’s not “overwhelmed,” that’s straight-up stealing.
At the very least: have the common human decency to answer your DMs. Say you can’t finish it. Send the refund. Don’t make people chase you down for months wondering if they’ll ever see what they paid for.
And I’m speaking from experience—I commissioned something months ago, tried to be nothing but nice and patient the whole way through, and I still haven’t gotten a single word back or my money. I even gave the writer, a full week’s heads up to respond before posting this, and they still said nothing. So this is my last resort.
It’s not hard. Respect the people who respect your work. Own up, give the money back, and move on.
Creators deserve compassion, but commissioners deserve basic decency.
A friend of mine was just hit with one of these (thankfully they didn't lose any money) and it occurred to me that not everyone may know about this scam that's going around because it doesn't immediately seem scammy.
It's hitting a lot of writers--I've gotten them both on FFnet and ao3--where you'll get a comment that goes something like "I really enjoyed [fic title] and would love to enhance it with some art! Contact me if this is something you're interested in!" or something to that effect.
Basically the person claims to love your story, and wants to draw something for it. Sounds good, right?
Only they don't. They likely didn't even read it. They want to charge you a lot of money for something that--if it exists at all--is likely cheap ai crap.
Do not fall for it. Delete on sight. Report if you can.
Pass it around and make sure all your writer friends know not to engage with these scammers.
Hello. I recently stumbled across this blog. Thank you so much for bringing these problems that plague the site (all of social media really) to light. :)
I don't know if you allow this though. I haven't seen anyone bringing these scammers up.
I'm a member of the writing community here and I have noted an alarming number of new accounts claiming to be beta readers or even known Authors.
These people will often show up in the comments under posts giving out generic positive praises/trying to be your friend/ Asking others to send them a DM for their beta reading service, which is probably them just using ai or 'feedback' of the story they so-called have read and the text reads as if it's ai. So these individuals could be putting others stories into ChatGPT or Prowritingaid's Beta Reader program (Which I forgot the name of).
Here's an example of one I found in a post:
"This is beautifully introspective. The imagery is strong, especially the contrast between “empathy softening my edges” and “just bones with a heartbeat.” If anything, you could lean even deeper into that tension the parts of yourself that feel too much versus the version that feels nothing. But as it is, the voice is clear and the emotional core hits. Really well done."
________
The user names of these accounts would always ends (from what I see) with Beta, Reader, or Script. The profiles are either empty or some generic message that goes like:
"I am [name], a skilled book editor and beta reader. I provide clear, actionable feedback to enhance clarity, structure, pacing, and overall impact while keeping your voice intact. Share your draft anytime—I’ll help refine it." or
"Writers, your story deserves the best! I offer Beta Reading, Book Editing, and Cover Design to help your manuscript shine from first draft to final cover. Let’s turn your words into a book readers can’t put down"
If not then they may have something really similar like it.
Part 2 follow up of this anon can be found here.
Hello! Thank you for letting me know about this!
There is, unfortunately, a scam going around targeting authors on Ao3 that is similar to this, where bots will comment on fics and then after a long description of "what they liked" about the fic, they will say 'I feel inspired to draw something for it. lets talk on <website."
I feel that the accounts you mentioned are likely trying to do the same thing, get the users to contact them, and then try to offer 'services' of some kind.
The ones that offer "art" via comments, are the same scammers that are performing what is known as the "muse" scam.
💬 1 🔁 113 ❤️ 97 · 🚨Scammer Alert🚨 + 🔎Scam Exam(ination)🔍 · Seen as: 'I'm feeling so inspired by your picture/art!'
Scam Type: Muse Scam
1
the short end is- they try to get you to "commission" them, then they send you a fake check/order that, once you cash it- you get the money, but if you spend even $100 of- say- the $500 they sent you, once the check bounces, the bank takes $100 of your money to compensate for what you used.
They also usually have you send some sort of "shipping fee" to get the check, which obviously nobody should do.
The golden rule is: never give money, to get money.
And if someone wants you to download a program or go to a website you've never seen before to 'complete a deal' or 'download' something, it's best to report and block them as soon as possible.
Malicious data can infect PC's and phones via cookies, so getting your passwords stolen or worse- your bank info, is not something you want to happen. :(
I hope this helps and thank you for helping others!
Boy, do I have a freelance writing scam for you. I was duped! Would be angry if I wasn’t so impressed by how well-executed this scam was.
While you’re scouring the online job boards for writing positions/contracts/freelance jobs – be it on PeoplePerHour, Guru, Upwork, or any other site of your choosing – watch out for a scammer claiming to be the Brand Point Experts.
The person I encountered claimed to be Mary-Anne P., one of their content directors, on PPH. They used the email address [email protected] and the Skype address: bradrichardson111. This person, turns out, is in no way affiliated with the real Brand Point Experts (something I only found out after jumping through a lot of customer service hoops to talk with officials on the site).
I know what you’re thinking; the excessive use of “ones” should’ve tipped me off. But since my business also started on a semi-personal email, I was willing to let it slide and thought perhaps I’d found a kindred spirit. The rest of their process was extremely well organized – extremely! They were thorough and solid. They possessed great English skills (which scammers rarely have), offered the right paperwork, and went through all the normal checks of a reputable business/client.
But, plot twist, radio silence and unpaid invoices are all that awaits you.
They will take your work and run. Steer clear and spread the word! If you get contacted by them, double check with the Brand Point Experts themselves through their site. They’ll know who they sent out headhunting and who they haven’t.
My account is writing focused, it's a pretty obvious thing. There was ths account marketing that it was a beta reader, I followed it, stupidly enough. And now, they started to text me being quite forceful about how it wanted to read one of my manuscripts--or in my case that I should finish my manuscript as soon as possible for them to review it. They asked my age, I declined. And the conversation ended with them wanting to gain access to my other social media accounts.
Could this be a scam?
Hi there Anon!
This is, in fact, a scam!
I covered this a while back with another anon as seen here.
From that post, this was part of their ask, it's likely what you're experiencing if i'm not mistaken!:
I'm a member of the writing community here and I have noted an alarming number of new accounts claiming to be beta readers or even known Authors.
These people will often show up in the comments under posts giving out generic positive praises/trying to be your friend/ Asking others to send them a DM for their beta reading service, which is probably them just using ai or 'feedback' of the story they so-called have read and the text reads as if it's ai. So these individuals could be putting others stories into ChatGPT or Prowritingaid's Beta Reader program (Which I forgot the name of).
Here's an example of one I found in a post:
"This is beautifully introspective. The imagery is strong, especially the contrast between “empathy softening my edges” and “just bones with a heartbeat.” If anything, you could lean even deeper into that tension the parts of yourself that feel too much versus the version that feels nothing. But as it is, the voice is clear and the emotional core hits. Really well done."
________
The user names of these accounts would always ends (from what I see) with Beta, Reader, or Script. The profiles are either empty or some generic message that goes like:
"I am [name], a skilled book editor and beta reader. I provide clear, actionable feedback to enhance clarity, structure, pacing, and overall impact while keeping your voice intact. Share your draft anytime—I’ll help refine it." or
"Writers, your story deserves the best! I offer Beta Reading, Book Editing, and Cover Design to help your manuscript shine from first draft to final cover. Let’s turn your words into a book readers can’t put down"
If not then they may have something really similar like it.
Part 2 of that ask can be found here.
I also linked Kindle Direct Publishing's article there on how to identify these fake book publishing scams but I'll share it again:
Here is also a video from good ol Kitboga where he talks about book publishing scammers:
Just remember: You should never have to give money, to get money.
If someone is working to publish something and pay you, you shouldn't have to pay out any kind of 'fee' or the like. I'd also be very careful of signing up to any website they send you, as this could possibly steal your login information to your accounts!
Honestly I just wouldn't trust in any kind of 'promotion' or 'publishing' companies/services here on tumblr as a general rule. There are a lot of 'job' scams and 'free/easy ways to make money' here that people tend to fall for too.
If it seems too good to be true, it's most likely a scam. :(
Hello. This user is going around stealing images off the internet and passing themselves off as a beta reader: https://www.tumblr (.) com/samuelreads/
And people are falling for it.
Note: This is a long (some what passionate but rambly lol) post so i apologize but I do feel it's important to read. :)
I've cut it down with a readmore though.
-----
Hi there anon!
I've reported this account myself after taking a look at it, but usually if anyone approaches you offering a 'service' of some kind (art, medicine, and fundraising help included) that's usually a big red flag to avoid them.
Given now new they are and how they are likely using stolen (or AI) images, I'd say that's also another flag.
As usual, this post is not a call to mass report, merely to spread awareness. However, if a blog like this does contact you or has contacted you in the past, always remember to report a post of theirs that they've made as the following:
something else > unlawful use > phishing.
Then explain in the given text field: why you are reporting the account, and what type of scam is being performed.
For example, the right method of reporting scam accounts is:
If one of those art commission scammers left a comment on your post, sent you a DM, and/or sent you an ask saying "Can you DM me if you're open for commissions?" You DM'd them back, and they tried to perform the art commission scam, and you knew it was a scam, and all they had posted on their blog was a picture of a dog?
You would report that post they made of the dog, not their blog, as something else > unlawful use > phishing, and in the text field you would say something like this:
This is a scam account attempting to perform the art scam/artist scam/commission scam on me. Please check their Dm's as they've left this same comment on other peoples posts too.
Or, you could go more in depth with something like:
I'm an artist and this account <method of contact ie sent an ask/left a comment> in which I contacted them about an art commission. They asked me to draw their son/daughters pet and said they'd pay me <amount>. I knew/realized this was a scam because <reason ie fake paypal email, ect>. Please check their DM's.
Do not just say "this is a scammer" and not explain why.
Your report will likely be ignored.
Reporting a blog/ask/DM as 'spam' and calling it a day is also sadly not the best way to go about reporting scams. Unfortunately blogs themselves can't be reported for phishing, which honestly I think needs to be changed/updated.
So if you are someone who reports blogs, comments, communities and ect, please do not just 'one and done' scams with a 'spam' report.
The more people are thorough and actually report them as they should be, the better and faster these issues get taken down.
This goes the same with scam comments like the 'verify your account' scam. Please make sure that if those pop up again as some 'new' scam, report those, don't just block them or make posts about it.
Sorry for rambling, I do hope people understand where I'm coming from with stuff like this. Just remember that anyone can make posts like i do. It doesn't take anything special to help spread awareness about scams.
Even if you (the person reading this!) decide that one day you want to make a post about scams to spread awareness, if you want to share it with me or any of the other few blogs who do this kind of thing, please do! Everyone writes and explains things differently, it's why I use color text for emphasis and and Kyra doesn't haha.
Helping spread awareness is a group effort, the more information that's out there, the more people know about scams. And the more people that know about scams, the less likely they are to fall for them.
Thank you for your ask and I hope you and everyone reading has a great day and week ahead!
Scammer freelance clients emphasize the “free” in freelance. One of the many scams currently doing the rounds is the “writing samples” scam. This is an old, old scam, but like the yo-yo and roller skates, it goes away for a while, and then comes back again.
The writing samples scam is just what it sounds like. A company is looking for writers, and wants to audition you, by having you write a…
