Scams and impersonation are an unfortunate reality in publishing, and it’s important for authors to be vigilant. Here are some things to look out for:    

• We (and other reputable agents) will never ask for payment from a prospective author.  

• Be sure to check the email address of senders. All emails from our agency will end in "@dystel.com,” including in response to queries.   

• Check for typos in the names of agents and the agency.   

• Make sure that the contact information matches the information on our website and in previous communications. Impersonators often use very similar but slightly different phone numbers, email addresses and websites.   

• Does the email match the usual style of the sender? Scammers might use different vocabulary or sign offs.   

• Recent scams have impersonators asking authors for material that is on submission to publishers or recently sold. If your agent is asking you for a document they should already have, take a closer look at the communication.  

• If you have any reason to be suspicious, contact your agent in a separate email chain or by phone to confirm.  

•  For more information, please see this post from Writer Beware, which includes more tips on recognizing impersonation and other scams.