Fascinating article.

Brian Whiddon, the site’s managing editor, elaborated: “Not every author is a narcissist, but they all want to be recognized. … That’s exactly what these scammers are targeting. They have identified a very, very lucrative niche.”

Writers are waiting “for somebody to read their writing,” Hoy added. She argued that is why many writers believe the praise scammers heap on them. AI makes many of the compliments sound nuanced and personalized. Elderly authors are particularly vulnerable. As Hoy explained, a significant number of people who have a book in them leave off the writing until they have retired. Something else also kicks into the picture at this life stage: a sizable retirement fund. Scammers know American people have worked their whole lives and have retirement accounts, Hoy said.