Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Entertainment
Walter Marsh

I wrote a book about theft and deception – and now AI scams are flooding my inbox

A book with code and emails emerging from it's pages.
‘The fake names in my inbox didn’t just come to shower me in praise – they also had a variety of pitches,’ writes author Walter Marsh about being targeted by AI-powered email accounts promising exposure and reviews of his new book. Composite: Guardian design/Getty Images

My latest book had been out for less than a month when the emails started to arrive.

One came from “Elena”, with the tantalising subject line, “When history flutters its wings and reveals a crime too beautiful to ignore.” Then followed a long, florid message about how it was “one of those rare true stories that makes you question everything you thought you knew about history, museums, and human obsession”.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.