Sophisticated internet grifters are leveraging artificial intelligence and public data to create scams explicitly tailored for individuals.

Sophisticated internet grifters are leveraging artificial intelligence and public data to create scams explicitly tailored for individuals.

Sophisticated internet grifters are leveraging artificial intelligence and public data to create scams explicitly tailored for individuals.

An internet scammer nearly took me for $155 this month. If it can happen to someone who routinely writes about scams, it can happen to anyone.

The scam began with an email praising my first book, Tomlinson Hill. The reader described the book well and asked if she could promote it to the 3,552-member Austin Fantasy and Science Fiction (Book) Club, which has members across Texas.

“I’m truly excited to highlight such an important and deeply human work for our readers,” the email said, explaining how its themes about Texas history and overcoming injustice would resonate with science fiction fans.

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All the group needed was help defraying the cost of marketing materials. It was my first step into a frightening new world of sophisticated internet grifters who leverage artificial intelligence and public data to create a scam explicitly tailored for me.

Looking back,........

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