Amazing account Sean,
Just a week ago I was asked by a publisher to join, etc, etc. Just doesnt pass the smell test. Given the simple fact that Ive never sold a damn thing, (partly because Im not from this country, partly because my quality may not be good enough...).
Writers do need to be careful though, as does everyone in every walk of life it seems. As these cyber miners get better and better at what they do: milk it til its dry...
For me it's a bit simpler. In Medium Ive found a home for my stories at An Idea (An Ingenious Idea). I'm a happy camper as they publish my work. I write things on life, travel, danger mostly non fiction.
Thanks for the heads up and we really do need to be careful.
Tom