How Publishers Scam New Authors
1. Overcharging for Basic Services
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ISBN: They charge ₹2,000–₹10,000 for an ISBN, which is free in India from the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN (RRNA).
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Copyright registration: Costs only ₹500–₹1,000 in India, but they demand ₹5,000–₹10,000, creating false urgency like "protect your book before someone steals it!"
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Editing: They may charge ₹10,000–₹50,000 for poor or AI-generated editing.
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Cover Design: Simple Canva-style covers sold for ₹5,000–₹20,000.
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Marketing Packages: These are the biggest scams — ₹20,000 to ₹1 lakh+ for fake "promotion" through bots or useless listings.
2. Fake Legal Threats
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They tell authors: “If you don’t register copyright or ISBN, someone will steal your work and sue you.”
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They may include terms in the contract that give them exclusive rights over your work, claiming it's for “legal protection.”
3. Manipulated Royalties
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You’re promised “100% royalty,” but you end up earning ₹5–₹10 per book, even if it’s priced at ₹300.
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Some don't give sales data at all. You never know how many books sold.
4. Hidden Clauses in Contracts
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They include non-refundable fee clauses.
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Claim rights over future editions or translations.
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Lock-in period of 3–5 years where you can’t publish anywhere else.
5. Fake Awards and Promotions
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They sell you awards like “Best Author of the Year” or “National Icon Award” — for ₹5,000–₹25,000.
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Fake media features like: "Featured in Hindustan Times" which is just a paid PR ad in a digital supplement.
6. ISBN and Copyright in Publisher’s Name
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Even though you pay for everything, the ISBN is registered to the publisher, not you — giving them legal control.
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Later, if you want to move your book elsewhere, they refuse or demand a fee.
🚨 Red Flags to Watch Out For
| Red Flag | What It Means |
|---|---|
| “You must pay ₹15,000+ for ISBN and copyright” | Scam — ISBN is free, copyright is cheap |
| “We’ll publish in 7–10 days” | Likely no real editing or quality |
| “We’ll send your book to 100 countries” | Just Amazon/KDP access anyone can do |
| “We’ll submit your book to international awards” | Fake or paid contests |
| “100% Royalty on MRP” | Check if they deduct printing & listing fees — usually misleading |
| “We’ve published 5,000+ authors” | Quantity ≠ Quality; check reviews |
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself
✅ What You Should Do Instead:
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Register ISBN yourself: http://isbn.gov.in
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Copyright registration: https://copyright.gov.in
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Self-publish via trusted platforms:
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Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) – Free
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Notion Press Free Plan – Only pay for copies you buy
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Pothi.com, Blurb, or Draft2Digital
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✅ Check Before You Pay:
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Google “[Publisher name] scam” or “reviews”
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Ask: Can I keep all rights and remove my book any time?
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Get everything in writing — especially royalty % and print cost.
⚖️ What You Can Legally Do If Cheated
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File a complaint with:
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Consumer Forum
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Ministry of Consumer Affairs https://consumerhelpline.gov.in
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Cyber Crime Portal https://cybercrime.gov.in
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🧾 Real Author Experiences
Many authors report:
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Paying ₹30,000–₹80,000 and receiving poor-quality prints
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Fake Amazon “bestseller” tags
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Royalty reports that never match real sales
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Getting trapped in multi-year contracts