There is a new scam aimed at authors, and perhaps other content creators, going around.
How it works is that creators get an email telling us how wonderful our book is and they offer a way to reach new readers.
Key phrases:
- It’s inspiring to see an author whose work carries such sincerity and emotional depth, the kind that stays with readers long after they’ve finished the book. — how flattering! (how fake, my books resonate, certainly, but not in the way you imply)
- I’d love to share your story with a [group, size varies from small and committed to large and active].
- I’m reaching out as a fellow author who values genuine connections in our writing community. (Me too! Too bad you’re fake.)
- My name is XX, I write cozy fiction, small-town stories, and gentle mysteries. (Nice. I don’t, and our paths do not overlap at all.)
- I run <Name of Book Club>, a highly engaged community of passionate readers who love discovering impactful authors. (One email even purported to be from the coordinator of the Oprah Book Club).
- Your book resonated with me, I have ideas about how to keep your readership growing.
You can see the pattern and how fake it is, right?
I particularly despise this scam because it preys on authors’ need to promote their work, reach new audiences, and basic hope of being liked. We want these emails to be real.
They aren’t.
At least one of these contacts, who I found online, has a large “this is a scam using my name” notice on their book club website. Most of the others can’t be verified at all, which is always a big red flag.
Spread the word about this scam, don’t let your author friends get hurt, or get scammed.