AI-Generated Publishing Scam Defrauds Aspiring Authors in Australia
A network of publishing websites across Australia, the UK and New Zealand reportedly used AI-generated staff images and fake testimonials to defraud aspiring authors seeking publishing contracts. Victims lost money to scam sites including Melbourne Book Publisher, which impersonated an established publisher, and First Page Press, which listed books it did not publish.
What happened
A suspected network of publishing websites operating across Australia, the UK and New Zealand used AI-generated staff images, fake testimonials and cloned websites to defraud aspiring authors. The websites included Melbourne Book Publisher, First Page Press (UK), Aussie Book Publisher, Oz Book Publishers and BookPublishers.co.nz.
Melbourne Book Publisher used a name and Australian Business Number closely matching the legitimate publisher Melbourne Books to confuse victims. First Page Press listed books actually published by US-based Atmosphere Press without permission, which its CEO described as 'brazen theft'.
Reported impact
Aspiring author Andrea from Western Australia lost A$88 that she was told would buy her an ABN after engaging with Melbourne Book Publisher. Another author, Peter Ortmueller, lost A$150 believed to be a first down payment on a publishing package.
Index analysis
The Meet Our Team pages on Melbourne Book Publisher and First Page Press displayed AI-created images of white executives with no known presence in Australian publishing circles. Red flags included varying logos, claims of establishment in 1999 despite domain registration only the previous month, and a fake 4.7 star rating on Trustpilot with no actual reviews.
Aussie Book Publisher and Oz Book Publishers used fake testimonials featuring images and names of real authors. The websites listed real books available on Amazon, most of them self-published.
Governance controls
Australia's National Anti-Scam Centre began investigating the case after an aspiring author realised she may have been defrauded. Atmosphere Press issued a cease and desist notice to First Page Press and reported the matter to Scamwatch.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.