Scam Alert
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to let you know today that I recently received an alert from a fan, through my publisher’s website, that someone out there is sending out one of those letters that we have all gotten by now. Usually they say that a friend is stuck in the Philippines, or Lebanon, or some exotic place, their wallet has been stolen, they can’t get home, and please wire them money somewhere. The first time I got a letter like that, I was alarmed for the friend who had allegedly sent it, couldn’t imagine how she had gotten where she was, what was she doing there alone, and why wasn’t her husband helping her get home. I called a mutual friend the next morning, who laughed at me. Apparently the whole world has received letters like that, and of course when I called the friend who was supposed to be in distress, she was happily at home, having breakfast with her husband, with her dogs cozily at her feet. And her email account had been hacked. Getting a letter like that was a new experience for me, and I have had several since, and pay no attention to them now.
The copy of the one I received from a fan was a little more elaborate, but the same idea. This one leaned heavily on religion, promised blessings, and asked for prayers and help, claiming that I was seriously ill, didn’t have the money to pay for medical care, and was asking my fans to send me all their bank information, and to send me money. It annoyed me that they were leaning heavily and abusively on religion, and preying on my fans. But I suppose nothing is sacred to people who are trying to perpetrate a scam, and get money out of innocent victims. I am hoping that anyone who receives it will be savvy enough, and have received enough letters like it, not to take it seriously, or respond to it. Whoever sent it put my name at the end. And it does upset me that anyone would abuse my fans’ and readers’ sympathy and concern for me in that way. I hope none of you received it, but if you did, please know that it is a scam, and I am alive and well, and DON’T want your bank information, nor for you to send money—–(-just keep reading my books!!!!) Seriously, I’m truly sorry if you got that email!!!
It’s sad that there are such dishonest people in the world, preying on others, often innocent people who believe what they’ve been told, and respond to it in good faith. Scams of all kinds are as old as the world, and now the Internet has become a useful tool for people like that, and allows them to reach far more people than ever before.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that all is well, and to warn you that there is some dishonest email floating around out there—-and it’s not from me. I hope that all is well with you, and that the fall is off to a great start. It’s hard to believe that it’s already October. It’ll be Halloween soon, I started thinking about buying pumpkins today…..and before we know it, it will be Thanksgiving….and then Christmas. The time flies by too fast!!! I have three books coming out at the end of this month, which is exciting news for me. A hardcover novel called “Winners”, a little non fiction book “Pure Joy” about our family dogs over the years, and some dog-owning advice after all the dogs we’ve had—it has my 2 pound white long haired teacup Chihuahua, Minnie Mouse, on the cover!!! And the paperback of my non fiction book about working on the streets with the homeless for eleven years. It’s a wide assortment of topics, and I hope you enjoy all three. All three will be out on October 29th….And in the meantime, watch out for scams!!!
love, danielle
PS: My publisher Random House is adding this message to their Facebook page for me. Please heed it!! Neither they nor I want money from you for charity. And we don’t want anyone ‘scamming’ you!!! love,d.
Please be advised that the ONLY Facebook page officially representing Danielle Steel is this one; her only official websites are DanielleSteel.com and DanielleSteel.net. Danielle Steel and Random House, Inc. do not solicit money or other items of value from fans in any media, including direct emails, and explicitly advise against entertaining such requests that purport to be made in the author’s or publisher’s names.
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I read your books for pleasure and have done so from the first one .I want to thank you fomm the bottom of my heart .Elizabeth
Hi Danielle – I was thinking about you when I was working on a art project. It is a radial symmetry collage with beautiful pink diamonds in it. While working on this I decided to try out the new I-tunes radio network. i put on The L.A. Rock – Scene – 60’s & 70’s music & cranked it up. It was fabulous. They played a Johnny Rivers song that I’m sure you’d love. This must’ve been about the time your career was taken off . I bet SF was quite the seen during those artistic years with music and rebellion in full swing. All the artistic talent seemed to explode at once with great bands and music. It was a very interesting time. I love the music from this time compared to the stuff they call music today (Rap). Rush Limbaugh has a great rapper he talks about on his show – good ole Ron – ha ha ha. Anyway – you must’ve been real busy to do 3 books–I’m looking forward to this – Winner – one & the non-fiction one. Do you have any good Halloween parties to go to & what our you going to be this year. If I’m correct SF always has a lot of neat stuff to do. I have to think about it & decide when to make a trip back to the ole stoppin grounds – SF. I remember you talking about art projects & sometime I’d like to get your opinion on these art pcs,- I’m working on. I personally think their better than Warhole’s soup can – but what do I know – I’m a first year art student – hahaha – but not to shabby. Anyway – god bless – mike
Hi, I tried to contact you on the wedsite but cannot get through. I have started reading the Dutch version of Hope is a gift and it has given me the inspiration to do something else as well as being a foster mum. I wanted your advice and suggestions if possible. You are the first person I have ever contacted out of the blue and just hope and pray to receive some kind of answer. best wishes from a cold and damp England. Mec
Dear Mrs. Steele,
I had to write and tell you that I LOVE ALL your books. I have hated to read during all of my education year and for many years after. BUT I picked up Malice at a yard sale to read to stay awake at my motel job 4 years ago. After I read it I HAD to go to library to read more of YOUR books. I enjoy them so much that I started collecting you books. As of TODAY I OWN 68 of your books and I have read 59 of them. I look forward to reading and buying more of your wonderful books. PLEASE KEEP WRITING!!!!
Dear Ms. Steel,
I have purchased all of your books and have been a faithful follower. I wait for your new books to come out and purchase them as soon as I can. I even put your latest books down for Christmas gift ideas. I fell in love with your book as a teen and I am now in my late 50’s. I am currently waiting for your new book to be delivered.I get so caught up in your books that when I worked(I’m retired)I would stay up half the night to finish it. My husband thinks I was crazy for this, but what does he know. I tell him to read one of your books and he would then understand my actions. I have never written to an author before. As a matter of fact I just got the internet last week for the first time and you are my first contact. I want to say thank-you for all of your beautiful books. They have all touched me in some way. Some mad me laugh(Klone), some made me cry(Fine things, Viet Nam), but mostly they have given me a chance to escape and travel the world for a few hours or visit someone life other than mine. Thank you for that.
I hope this is the right place to write to you, if not please forgive me I am truly a novice to the whole computer thing.I am honored to write to you and I hope to one day to hear from you. Also, is there a place I can purchase a signed book from you? Please let me know.
Ms. Steel, please continue to write for I look forward to reading your books.
Thank you again,
Alice Jordan-Hill
I am reading Honor Thyself. I have a complaint. I have to stop reading because my eyes are full of tears and I can’t see the pages…shame on you/jk Thanks for the read.
Hi! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog.
Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast.
I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure where
to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions?
Many thanks
hello maam danielle i am florina raquel from philippine i am a simple person,plain house wife. and a mother of my 3kids.maam just wanted to inform you that somebody sending me your photo and 1 id.they said you have a sick and your husband is already die so you need a foriegn beneficiary like me that you transfer the money from UBA BANK UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA i was surprise because i really dont know about you so thatwhy you transfer the money.the reason why i wrote this comment.i know maam it was not you.they sending me all the details about the bank and datails about you..
I just read Please Come Home for Christmas with Danielle Steele’s name on it. There is no way she wrote it with misspellings and horrible grammar. It is a different book company and her children’s names were not in her book.