Help - Need Removal from 3 Listopia Listings > Likes and Comments

Hi, Librarians. I'm a new author and I need your help. I released my debut, Caught Looking In San Diego on March 2nd. Since that time I have received scam emails almost daily with all kinds of offers, but many of them have been to "help" boost my visibility by placing me on Goodreads lists. I have not partnered with any of these people, but I have had to block several because of repeated, aggressive emails. One of those people is S***** M*******. I can send a screen shot of where she was blocked, but unfortunately I can't seem to recover the deleted emails. Today, I discovered that my book has been added to three Goodreads lists that are completely unrelated to my book and it seems that S***** added my book. What do I do? Are y'all able to help remove my book? How can she be stopped from doing this to others? I have a fade-to-black contemporary sports romance and she added my book to Edgy Christian Speculative Fiction, Best M/F Erotic Romance like Fifty Shades of Grey (not paranormal, high school, gay or sci-fi), and The Best Time-Travel Romance Novels. Readers are going to be disappointed if they read my book based on those lists. I believe she has purposely done this, either because I blocked her or because she was hoping to prove to me that she could manipulate my visibility. 😭

Just saw that I needed to link the lists:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Hi, I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this. As an indie author myself, I know how frustrating these scam promotions can be, especially after releasing a debut book.

What she did was completely misleading, and readers expecting those genres would definitely be confused since your book sounds nothing like that. But please don’t let it discourage you. Sadly, many new authors go through similar situations with aggressive marketers and fake visibility tactics.

You did the right thing by trusting your instincts and blocking them. And if you ever need help with genuine book visibility or author support, I can also recommend someone trustworthy who could help you out with it professionally.

A.G. wrote: "Hi, Librarians. I'm a new author and I need your help. I released my debut, Caught Looking In San Diego on March 2nd. Since that time I have received scam emails almost daily with all kinds of offe..."

Hi A.G.

Sorry to hear you are going through this.

Firstly, you need to remove the scammer's name from your post. There are very strict rules against calling people out in this group.

Secondly this group is volunteers who do book cataloging/ correct quotes & stuff like that.

You need Support/Staff
https://www.goodreads.com/about/conta...

I would put Attention Legal Department at the top of your message. I won't remove your book from these lists. as Support will need to see what has happened.

Good luck!

Please note the person in Message #2 is not Goodreads Staff or a Goodreads Librarian.

In fact, it is a scammer/fake account in message #2. Anyone saying they will help promote your book's visibility on Goodreads is lying and just wants money.
This happens a lot now. They spam lists using fake accounts. I'm sorry that happened to you.

You can flag accounts but definitely write to support and explain it as Carol says above.

Thank you all! I'll do that! And I'll edit out the name.

A.G. wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
"

Hi A.G.,
I’ve removed your book from the three lists you linked.

Sorry @Carol: I didn’t see your message earlier. I hope support will still be able to take action against the spammer/scammer.

Ska Ⓥ wrote: "Sorry @Carol: I didn’t see your message earlier. I hope support will still be able to take action against the spammer/scammer."

Nevermind. I am sure the op won't be the only victim of this scam. If any other authors happen to read this please just contact Support directly.

Thank you!

A.G. wrote: "Thank you!"
Thats ok. Hope all has been resolved for you.