Filippo Bernardini Accused of Resuming Publishing Scam After Conviction

Filippo Bernardini, convicted of impersonating publishing professionals to steal unpublished manuscripts, appears to have resumed his fraudulent activities, according to a New York Times report published on September 25, 2026. Prosecutors had argued that over a span of more than five years, Bernardini created approximately 160 fraudulent internet domains and impersonated hundreds of publishing professionals in order to obtain over a thousand unpublished manuscripts. The scheme targeted the literary and publishing world, with Bernardini allegedly using fake domains and false identities to trick authors, agents, and publishers into sending him manuscripts before publication. Despite his prior conviction, the new report suggests he is back in business, raising concerns about the vulnerability of the publishing industry to such deception. The case highlights the ongoing risks of cyber-enabled fraud in the literary sector, where pre-publication manuscripts are highly valuable and often shared digitally. The New York Times article details the scale of the operation, which involved years of sustained fraudulent activity. No specific new charges or legal actions were mentioned in the available excerpt, but the report indicates that Bernardini's activities may have continued or restarted. The story underscores the challenges publishers face in protecting intellectual property and the trust networks that underpin the acquisition of new works.