How to spot a scam?

Recently I've been getting fan email from strangers with names like "Amelia Readsforauthor" and "Harper Collinsworthbookexpert."

Each email starts with praise. Take this one from "Ameiia Readsforauthor":

"I just read the summary for To Walk Humbly and I have one question: Why is a book this gutsy timely, and emotionally raw sitting in the Amazon void with 3 lonely reviews? Three. I'm mad. I'm offended. I'm borderline yelling on your behalf."

Golly, Ms. "Readesforauthor," I was sorta wondering too.

The praise typically continues, along with details to convince you the emailer groks your story. Take the following from one "Charlotte Ronald":

"I just finished To Do Justice and I had to reach out -- what a powerful, timely, and deeply human story. ... [It] completely pulled me in and left me thinking long after I turned the last page. Your ability to blend thorough research with such personal, emotionally raw story telling is remarkable. Pinkie's vulnerability and strength were so honestly rendered[,] I ached for her as she faced not just the brutal realities of the streets but also the ache of unanswered questions about her identity. And Mollie [--] her sense of justice, her willingness to risk comfort for truth [--] gave the story both heart and momentum."

Couldn't'a said it better myself, "Charlotte."

You know a sales pitch is about to happen, and it does. But sometimes the sender just can't seem to resist lathering it on for a few more sentences. Continuing to quote from "Charlotte Ronald":

"The historical setting of Dr. King's fair housing campaign and the city's racial unrest not only grounded the novel but gave it a weight that feels profoundly relevant today. You managed to capture the chaos and courage of that time without ever losing sight of the individual human cost [--] and hope [--] that comes with it."

I'm quoting a lot from this "Charlotte Ronald" because it's one of the best: praise that doesn't quite veer into flattery; a seemingly deep sense of my novel's particulars and purpose; and prose that's ... um ... pretty good.

The sales pitches that follow promise reviews by the dozens, podcast and book club placements, website optimization -- everything a floundering author could wish for. And they finish with the softest of sells. "Victor Israel's" closer is typical:

"If you're open to a conversation, I'd be honored to help elevate this story to the audience it's meant for."

But notice: I put the senders' names in quote-marks. That's because I smell a rat.

They're spam, for starters. Most (though not all) go straight into the junk mailbox.

Add frequency. Over the past three days, I've received 11 such emails -- almost four per day.

And even though their content rings eerily true, it's based on information available from my website, reviews on places such as Amazon and Goodreads, and the pages of the novels themselves.

Most senders say they've read these novels -- deeply. But the evidence doesn't show up in new sales.

Even the email addresses offer a clue. They're all Gmails, easily created at no cost. And when I search the Web for them, no hits.

I can't prove it but I suspect what's going on: Artificial Intelligence. AI that is able to zero in on the hopes, dreams and weak spots of hungry authors, with pitches that offer the sun moon and stars and a demeanor of fetching modesty.

So they're spams. But are they scams?

Don't know. I haven't responded to any and don't intend to. But some weeks ago -- before the current deluge began -- I got a brief email from one "Sandra Adams" that said:

"I'd love to ask a few questions about your book. When you have a moment, could we connect?"

This too was spam. Even so I responded, cautiously:

"SA -- I'm a little suspicious here. Do I have reason to be?"

But "SA's" response sounded reasonable so a conversation began. Unlike the emails above, she didn't shower me with praise. She just asserted she could get book reviews and quoted a price of $300. I said that was steep. She dropped it to $100.

I bit. She delivered.

Over the next few weeks, at least 35 reviews showed up on Goodreads (though none on Amazon). They ranged from three to five stars. Every reviewer had credit for prior Goodreads reviews. Some of the reviews sounded robotic, but others seemed from-the-heart.

Four were highly suspicious:

Reviews by two different reviewers that were identical word-for-word.

Two separate reviews of the same book by the same individual, one "Charlotte Adams."

I couldn't tell what was going on so I asked: Are these living breathing readers or are they AI robots? "Sandra Adams" ducked the question. The relationship petered out ... until the other day, when "Sandra Adams" posted her own Goodreads review.

I reproduce said review in its entirety -- including the error of calling the novel Summer 1966 (rather than To Walk Humbly):

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Bold, Beautiful Tale of Identity and Courage

Summer 1966 [sic] is a stunning, deeply moving story that blends personal discovery with the fire of history. Through Pinkie’s search for belonging and Mollie’s rise as a truth-telling journalist, the novel explores race, justice, and love with heart and urgency. Every twist feels earned, every emotion real. Richly drawn and powerfully told, this is a story that lingers. A triumph."

I guess I should thank "Sandra Adams." So far I haven't.

Frank S Joseph Author

P.S. Reader reviews really do make a difference. I'd be hugely grateful if you posted yours now. Here's how:

For To Do Justice, go here for Amazon and go here for Goodreads.

For To Walk Humbly. go here for Amazon and go here for Goodreads.

If you haven't yet read either novel:

For To Do Justice, go here for Amazon, go here for Goodreads and go here for Bookshop.org.

To Walk Humbly is available only on Amazon for the first 90 days. To buy it, click here. If you're in Kindle Unlimited, the download is free.

P.P.S. These are great book club reads -- thought-provoking, conversation-starting, just what book clubs love. Nominate them for your book club, and tell other members you're a Friend of Frank and can arrange a personal appearance. That ought to impress them.

P.P.P.S. If you love these novels, please please please recommend them -- to relatives, friends, neighbors, acquaintances ... anyone and everyone you know or have ever known.