There wasn’t much money in writing when I stumbled off the starting block and there’s not much money today. Unless you’re running an email scam. When beginning writers discover that success in the creative arts is elusive and might take years, some start searching for a short cut. That’s what scammers are waiting for. They arrive in your inbox like promises for weight-loss drugs and erection extenders. This problem has become so pervasive that there’s now a site dedicated to sharing data on scammers and fighting them.

Scammers are clever, but they’re also morons. A U.S. lawyer in Tokyo recently published a book about the history of the gold standard. This lawyer’s name is my first name and my middle name. So naturally the scammers latched onto me. Like leeches. They’ve leeched onto me.

The emails I receive about the gold standard book I didn’t write are well-written, because the scammers scooped the text from the book’s jacket copy or from reviews in Kirkus or Publisher’s Weekly.

“In my work with a trusted network of over 10,000 active book clubs, I see a consistent appetite for meticulously researched works that combine academic rigor with compelling narrative,” Evelyn Carter, Book Club Placement Specialist, writes. “Readers in history, economics, and political science-focused clubs, particularly adults aged 30-65 who enjoy thoughtful, discussion-driven texts, will find your book both illuminating and provocative. The way you illustrate how nationalist concerns and imperial ambitions shaped the adoption of the gold standard provides numerous entry points for conversation.”

Ms. Carter doesn’t mention her employer. Her address is from gmail, where there are already 413 other Evelyn Carters. Spam spam spam spam egg sausage and spam.

“If this sounds like an opportunity you would like to explore, simply reply with the word Interested, and I will share the details of how we can connect your book with engaged book club readers. There is no obligation, just a chance to ensure that your work is read, appreciated, and discussed by audiences who will treasure it.”

No mention of money. Guess she doesn’t want any. Her name changes with each email. It’s always Anglo-Saxon. It’s never Carlos Danger.

I’ve decided not to ask Ms. Carter to pretend to promote a book I didn’t write, won’t read, and want to forget.

Another man, whose name is the informal version of mine, Steve Bieler, self-published a science fiction novel a few years ago. Scammers came after me on that one, too. A college friend read the book, which was a big deal for him because he has dyslexia and reading costs him something. You can imagine his aggravation when he found out he had wasted his time.

What are the lessons here? You already know them. Never engage with scammers. If it’s too good to be true, it’s not true. And keep your hopes up! Even if you never make a dime at writing, if you want to write, write.