An online scammer is targeting Icelandic authors by sending AI-generated messages in fluent Icelandic, praising their books and offering paid international promotion packages. At least 20 writers have been contacted, according to the Writers’ Association of Iceland (Rithöfundasamband Íslands). The scam has been flagged after one author went public on Facebook.
Key takeaways
- A foreign scammer has approached at least 20 Icelandic authors using AI-written Icelandic-language messages.
- The scammer operates under multiple names — including Danielle Kushner, Clara Hoffman, Lydia Witten, and Lise.
- The pitch offers paid book-promotion packages priced at roughly €395 and €653.
- The Writers’ Association of Iceland confirmed the scam after several members reported contact.
How the Icelandic author scam works
Author Una Margrét Jónsdóttir first shared her experience in a Facebook post. She described receiving an unsolicited message from someone calling herself Danielle Kushner, who praised Una’s book Silfuröld revíunnar in warm, convincing terms and said she worked for a company specialising in promoting authors internationally. The flattery felt good at first, Una told mbl.is — but something felt off almost immediately.
What struck Una most was the quality of the Icelandic. Silfuröld revíunnar has only ever been published in Icelandic, so a foreign promoter praising it in polished, native-sounding Icelandic raised an obvious question. When Una asked whether Danielle lived in Iceland, the reply sidestepped the question entirely. A family member who looked at the messages quickly identified the writing style as AI-generated.
Una had no intention of sending money, but she did contact the Writers’ Association to report her suspicion. That’s when the scale of the scheme became clear. The same scammer — using names such as Danielle Kushner, Clara Hoffman, Lydia Witten, and simply Lise — had already reached out to at least 20 Icelandic authors. The promotion packages on offer were priced at around €395 and €653.
Why AI makes scams like this harder to spot
This case illustrates a broader shift that many people in Iceland’s literary community are now talking about. Scamming a small, Icelandic-speaking literary market used to require real local knowledge or at least basic language skills — both expensive and rare for an overseas fraudster. AI-generated text removes that barrier almost entirely.
Una made the point herself: scams like this are becoming easier to run, cheaper to scale, and more convincing to receive. A personalised message that correctly names your book, praises it in grammatical Icelandic, and arrives with a professional-sounding company pitch is a significant step up from the awkward phishing emails most people have learned to dismiss. The Rithöfundasamband Íslands has effectively become the first line of warning here, which is exactly how it should work — but the incident is a reminder that even tight-knit creative communities are not insulated from AI-assisted fraud.
If you’re an Icelandic author — or an author anywhere — and you receive an unsolicited message praising your work in unusually fluent language and quickly pivoting to a paid promotion service, treat it with serious suspicion. Ask a direct, specific question about the sender’s location or background. If the reply evades it, you have your answer.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the scammer targeting Icelandic authors?
The scammer operates under several names, including Danielle Kushner, Clara Hoffman, Lydia Witten, and Lise. They contact authors through written messages — likely via email or social media — offering paid international book-promotion services. At least 20 Icelandic authors have been approached so far.
How much does the scammer ask for?
Two promotion packages are offered, priced at approximately €395 and €653. No legitimate service is delivered; the goal is simply to collect the payment. Neither package has any credible company backing it.
How can Icelandic authors protect themselves from this scam?
Authors who receive unsolicited praise followed by a paid promotion offer should contact the Rithöfundasamband Íslands (Writers’ Association of Iceland) to report it. Asking the sender a direct question about their location or identity — and noting whether they evade it — is a reliable early warning sign. If the messages read unusually fluently in Icelandic from an apparent foreigner, AI generation is likely involved.
