Scammers claiming to be authors are trying to pluck money from California booksellers. From the L.A. Times:
… slowly but surely, stores are being contacted by people claiming to be someone they’re not and trying to persuade the bookstore staff to send them money. It’s bewildering to a community that operates largely on trust and personal relationships.
The “authors” call retailers with a sob story — their car was impounded, their computer was stolen, etc. — and they ask the bookstore owners to wire funds to help them out of their jams.
The onslaught of digital scams from deposed Nigerian princes must have prepared the booksellers for this latest scam; all of the interviewed retailers caught on before sending money.
(Via Publishers Weekly)