[imoreno]

> only way to really combat this is through closed / semi-closed trusted networks,

How so? The linked article has plenty of ways that are available to outsiders that aren't "in" with the "right crowd":

Most or all of these will appear on its website:

    The names and biographies of member agents
    A client list
    Verifiable book sales, in the form of book covers, announcements, news releases, and the like
    Clear submission guidelines
    Information on agency history–when it was founded, by whom, etc.

In addition:

    A real agency will have at least some internet footprint beyond its website (listings on sites like Publishers Marketplace and QueryTracker, sales announcements, mentions in the trade press, references to clients and sales, and the like). Ditto for the individual agents.
    A real agency is highly unlikely to email or phone you out of the blue with an offer of representation or a claim that a traditional publisher is interested in your work (real agents don’t pre-shop manuscripts for authors they don’t represent).
    A real agency will not require you to pay anything or buy anything as a condition of representation or publication. Other than the agent’s commission, there should never be a cost associated with rights acquisition.