GoKawiilLeaked spreadsheet reveals organized Pakistan-based author scam operation
A scam buster in New Zealand obtained an Excel spreadsheet from a source in Karachi, Pakistan, detailing a coordinated scheme targeting authors through LinkedIn outreach. The file, covering March to August, lists 403 targeted authors with details on who found and contacted them, the services pitched (websites, illustration, social media visibility), and outcomes including payments and failed pitches. Callers reportedly use American-sounding names and schedule calls to match U.S. time zones to appear as American companies.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The spreadsheet suggests these scams are run less like opportunistic fraud and more like structured corporate operations, with defined roles, departments and performance tracking, which could make them harder to disrupt. The use of American pseudonyms and timed outreach indicates a deliberate effort to obscure the operation's actual location and build trust with victims, according to the scam buster who obtained the document. This points to a growing, increasingly professionalized industry preying on authors seeking publishing or marketing help.
- A leaked spreadsheet shows 403 authors targeted in a scam campaign from March to August.
- The operation, allegedly based in Karachi, Pakistan, uses American-sounding caller names and U.S.-aligned call times.
- Entries log services pitched, outcomes, and payments, including one case of $1,200 paid upfront.
Source: thedial.world — Snigdha Poonam, 2026-10-19
Published there as: “The Lucrative World of Literary Scams”
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