Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has initiated legal action in the Northern District of California against a group of nearly 20 individuals and associated companies who have been falsely claiming affiliation with Amazon services, such as Amazon Publishing and Kindle Direct Publishing.

The lawsuit, which seeks to protect authors and publishers from fraudulent schemes, comes as part of Amazon’s ongoing efforts to combat unscrupulous entities preying on its customers. 

“We have a consistent track record of working to stop bad actors from taking advantage of our customers, and this lawsuit against publishing scammers continues that work on behalf of authors,” said David Naggar, vice president of Books and Kindle Content at Amazon, in a statement.

The individuals and entities targeted by the lawsuit have been operating websites designed to deceive authors into paying fees for publishing services falsely claimed to be affiliated with Amazon. These services often result in substandard or non-existent outcomes, leaving authors and publishers defrauded.

Amazon is determined to put an end to these scams, asserting that the defendants named in the lawsuit have no genuine affiliation with Amazon’s trade publisher, Amazon Publishing, or its self-publishing service, Kindle Direct Publishing.

Read: FTC and 17 States Sue Amazon, Alleging Monopoly Practices That Inflate Prices

Information for this story was found via Amazon, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.