Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

Thomas Pynchon Scam - How to Protect Yourself
Thomas Pynchon Scam - How to Protect Yourself

A common phishing scam is targeting authors and writers, wherein fraudsters impersonate notoriously reclusive author Thomas Pynchon to solicit money, hawk publishing services, or request personal details. These communications are fraudulent and should be blocked and reported immediately.

Indicators of the Scam

  • Improbable Contact: The famously media-averse Pynchon does not solicit cold-reach emails or offer paid writing services.
  • Free Email Addresses: Scammers typically operate using free email domains (e.g., thomaspynchonauthor@gmail.com, thmspynchon@gmail.com) rather than an official publisher or verified domain.
  • Financial Requests: The emails often attempt to siphon credit card information or direct payments for fake consulting, marketing, or promotional packages.

How to Respond

  • Do Not Reply: Do not engage, and never click on any suspicious links or attachments. Replying simply verifies your email address for further scams.
  • Report and Delete: Mark the message as spam/phishing in your inbox and delete it.
  • Verify Information: For official Pynchon news, book releases, and verified statements, always refer to the official Thomas Pynchon site.
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