Publishing predators target new and developing authors — and they're getting more sophisticated. Here are five clear warning signs that the "publisher" or "agent" in your inbox isn't legitimate, and what each scam actually looks like in practice.

Traditional publishers pay you. Vanity publishers charge you. Hybrid publishers do both. Know which one you're dealing with before you sign anything — because most of them will lie about it.

The law is clear. The courts have ruled. The Supreme Court just declined to hear the appeal. If you’re publishing AI content without significant human work, you’re building on sand.