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 😎

They seem to come in waves - I will have a half dozen in my mail box every day for a week or two, then nothing for a few weeks, then another wave.

The latest were phone calls from an outfit called "Writers Branding" - asking for me by name and pitching their services - they e publish and do the usual formatting, editorial, etc, arrange promotion. Their "services" go from around $1100 to $2600. From their web site it looks like they are based at a book store in an NJ mall.

I've run across some offers. It's surprising that they've read the book though, it's not typed up yet.

You wait till you get emails from Editors from mainstream publishers. So far, I've had Penguin, Random House, and Macmillan. I checked. The editors concerned are real. They do work for the publisher they claim. They claim to be intrigued by the premise of my books. They ask about what I've got in the pipeline and if I have professional representation.
Sounds good, right? A real editor for a mainstream publisher is interested in my work.
Now here comes the hook. They go on to say that, unfortunately, their company does not accept submissions other than through their recognised agents, but don't despair; they can put you in touch with an agent.
It is the so-called agent who will start getting you spending money.
So how do you know it's a scam? Check the email address. An editor at Random House will not be mailing you from a Gmail or AOL or Outlook account. They will have an email address at Random House. The clever ones will create an email domain that is maybe one or two characters different from the publisher so check it out. Editors for mainstream publishers don't contact unknown authors out of the blue.