Marketing Scams > Likes and Comments

Apologies if this has already been dealt with - couldn't see an obvious thread...

Has anyone else been hassled recently by people offering marketing services after talking enthusiastically and with apparent first hand knowledge of your book?

I've recently been inundated by such offers and can't help but suspect they've used some sort of AI content scraping tool to get a sophisticated precis of my work - to look like they've read it and thought about it deeply - and thereby get my confidence (and money).

Even more insidious, I'm also getting emails from "famous" authors who want to discuss my writing style with me. These don't ask for anything but they do have links to their profiles which I wouldn't touch with a bargepole.

In fact, I feel like I've been targeted by a sophisticated scamming crew/algorithm and it's a bit scary.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

Well shared, Adrian. I experience the same “interest and courting” for a few months - ranging from dudes ready to turn my book to film to whatever else in marketing, promotion and other areas. While describing they’d read a certain title, I’m kinda sure they didn’t.
I guess authors as probably artists desperate to stand out and break through look like an easy prey for sophisticated scammers.
Friends beware there is an onslaught 😎