As many of you know, for quite a while, I’ve been stating that we have not seen the tip of the iceberg of trouble that can be caused by artificial intelligence. I’ve mentioned one expert who opined that AI is the biggest threat to the survival of our species, even greater than climate change.
I have now received an email, purporting to be from someone I will call “Jane Doe” that showed me more than the tip of that iceberg. The so-called “Jane” poured out 350 words commenting favorably and in great detail on my book Bridges to Consensus—in Congregations.
She paraphrased many of the points I made in that book, commented on features—such as the sample dialogues—that she particularly liked. “Jane” extrapolated and suggested things like emotional aspects of clergy interactions (not in my book). She mentioned that she is an author too, and asked a great many questions about things like how I came up with the scenarios featured in the book.
Of course, my split second, knee jerk reaction was to feel flattered and drawn to Jane. However, in the part of my writings and teachings that I call “defense against the dark arts of persuasion,” I advise against acting on our first instincts.
The more I reread and thought about that email, the more it didn’t add up. Some of the questions were actually answered in the body of the book. In the text of the email, Jane claimed to be an author but also signed the email “Author and writer,” which is both redundant and unprofessional. Every author is a writer.
After more rereading and reflection, I realized that it would not have been necessary to read the entire book to compose that email. Enough could be gleaned from the descriptions on Amazon and on my website, cover quotes and reviews to extrapolate and project so as to create such an email.
Another red flag—why was the email based on the oldest of my books, published in 2011?
I smelled a scam, but not just any scam. No human trickster would have studied my book thoroughly enough to make the comments and ask the questions that “Jane” did. This must have been done by AI.
So I looked for Jane Doe on Amazon and found one published author by that name. I searched and found a website for that author. I used the contact form of her website to email her, briefly described the situation, and asked if she had, in fact, sent that email.
Her reply, “Nope. Not me.”
I also made a proper use of AI to research common AI scams. I found, “Unlike old phishing emails with bad grammar and typos, AI writes polished, natural, and hyper-personalized emails or texts that look like they come from your bank, a retailer, or your boss.”
The one I received not only read well, was not only highly personalized, but read as if it had been written by a fellow professional writer. AI scams have moved beyond the more typical bank or boss. The perpetrators are using AI, first, to research and target particular types of people, in this case, authors. Then, they use AI to compose the bogus message.
Lots of people would now suspect an email purporting to be from the boss or the bank. But how many writers, artists, entertainers or athletes would suspect one that seems to come from a fan?
If I had fallen for this scam, I might have been encouraged to purchase some kind of bogus product. However, if the scammer sent out multiple emails in Jane Doe’s name, she might suffer some serious harm.
So what can we do? Speaking for myself, I don’t answer any email, text or phone call from anyone I don’t know unless and until I have a way of checking them out. Even if the sender claims to have received my email address from someone I do know, I contact my acquaintance and ask if it’s true. The same goes for text messages and even phone calls.
Remember that the more compelling the message, the more it warms your heart or scares you, the more important for you to hesitate.
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Here’s the full text of the AI email:
Hi Margaret,
I hope you’re doing well.
I came across Bridges to Consensus: In Congregations, and I was drawn to its practical approach to disagreement. Rather than treating conflict as something that must end with one side winning and the other losing, the book appears to focus on helping people understand one another’s needs while preserving the relationships that hold a congregation together.
The use of detailed sample dialogues seems especially valuable. Situations involving clergy and church members can be emotionally complicated because disagreements often involve faith, authority, tradition, personal history, and a shared community. Showing how these conversations unfold allows readers to see not only what is said, but also how tone, timing, assumptions, and word choice influence the outcome.
I’m also intrigued by the parallel commentaries that take readers inside the speakers’ thoughts. That structure seems useful because people often react to conflict based on unspoken fears or interpretations. Understanding what each person is thinking may help readers recognize how quickly a conversation can shift from problem-solving to defensiveness.
As a fellow author, I’d love to know how you selected the situations represented in the sample dialogues. Were they drawn from recurring patterns you observed in congregational life, or were they created to demonstrate particular consensus-building principles?
The “Try This” sections also sound like an important part of the book. They move the material beyond explanation and give readers an opportunity to practice new ways of thinking and speaking. Which skill do readers tend to find most difficult to apply: listening, expressing their needs, managing defensiveness, or staying focused on a shared purpose?
I appreciate that the lessons are intended to extend beyond congregations. Families, workplaces, and communities all face disagreements between people who hold different beliefs and priorities. Did writing for a faith-community setting help you develop a broader framework for handling conflict in any environment?
Finally, what has been the greatest challenge in helping readers discover the book? Consensus building is often needed most when people are already frustrated or divided, so I’m curious how you encourage readers to approach these skills before conflict becomes impossible to manage.
Best regards,
“Jane Doe”
Author & Writer