Eva’s Byte #268 – The Eff Word: FRAUDSTERS
Social upheavals are prime time for cockroaches to crawl out of the woodwork to riot and loot, blending in with those exercising their freedom to assemble and petition.
Mandated or self-imposed social-distancing and isolation during a pandemic invite fraudsters to set up shop online. Raking in credit card payments for nonexistent merchandise, you’ll receive a shipping notification for “nothing”. I fell victim twice through purchases made for hand sanitizer and face masks never received from vendors affiliated with two large, reputable online retailers. Both issues were resolved in my favor.
I never expected to encounter a fraudster in the Indie author community. Happy to say, no one on my FB Friends List. Just someone crawling out of the woodwork for personal gain at the expense of integrity.
The incident occurred the other day via one of my ad posts in a promotion group where the author commented on how much she enjoyed one of my books. As I would to anyone stating such, I replied with sincere gratitude.
The exchange continues:
In the next comment, I’m informed that she was not able to post a review on Amazon. I let it go because that happens.
In her following comment, heaping more praise, she asks me what other books I’ve written so she can purchase one. I respond with blurbs and links. Her next comeback is telling me the title of the book she purchased.
Now, far from being a best-seller—yet—I see no evidence of a sale in my reports. I take it with a grain of salt because sometimes there are delays in reporting.
No said sale ever materialized!
The following day, she lays the flattery on thicker, this time valuing my opinion so much, she’d like me to purchase her book and let her know what I think. She posts a link.
Not one who is full of myself, I’m getting uncomfortable with what I perceive is “smarminess” and bad form. I deleted my entire post. Gone in under sixty seconds!
There’s a distinct line between sincerity and disingenuousness. She crossed it through fraudulence to procure a book sale. Some marketing strategy, eh?
*Regarding the Indie Community: In my capacity as writer, I’ve met so many talented authors who are also fine human beings. As much as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading their books, I am especially grateful to those who have read and reviewed mine.
If you’ve read this far, thank you!
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Mandated or self-imposed social-distancing and isolation during a pandemic invite fraudsters to set up shop online. Raking in credit card payments for nonexistent merchandise, you’ll receive a shipping notification for “nothing”. I fell victim twice through purchases made for hand sanitizer and face masks never received from vendors affiliated with two large, reputable online retailers. Both issues were resolved in my favor.
I never expected to encounter a fraudster in the Indie author community. Happy to say, no one on my FB Friends List. Just someone crawling out of the woodwork for personal gain at the expense of integrity.
The incident occurred the other day via one of my ad posts in a promotion group where the author commented on how much she enjoyed one of my books. As I would to anyone stating such, I replied with sincere gratitude.
The exchange continues:
In the next comment, I’m informed that she was not able to post a review on Amazon. I let it go because that happens.
In her following comment, heaping more praise, she asks me what other books I’ve written so she can purchase one. I respond with blurbs and links. Her next comeback is telling me the title of the book she purchased.
Now, far from being a best-seller—yet—I see no evidence of a sale in my reports. I take it with a grain of salt because sometimes there are delays in reporting.
No said sale ever materialized!
The following day, she lays the flattery on thicker, this time valuing my opinion so much, she’d like me to purchase her book and let her know what I think. She posts a link.
Not one who is full of myself, I’m getting uncomfortable with what I perceive is “smarminess” and bad form. I deleted my entire post. Gone in under sixty seconds!
There’s a distinct line between sincerity and disingenuousness. She crossed it through fraudulence to procure a book sale. Some marketing strategy, eh?
*Regarding the Indie Community: In my capacity as writer, I’ve met so many talented authors who are also fine human beings. As much as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading their books, I am especially grateful to those who have read and reviewed mine.
If you’ve read this far, thank you!
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
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Pamela wrote: "What this woman (I don't use the term author) knows about marketing is obviously less than zero. What bothers me, are those who offer to write a glowing review in exchange for a free book. Of cours..."Well-said!
Same here: I refuse to solicit for reviews and do not do any type of blatant swaps. It's unprofessional and beneath my dignity.
Happy writing and reading! Joys unto themselves.
"you read/review mine - I'll read/review yours." I have never, and I never will solicit for reviews (glowing or otherwise). Certainly, when another author reads and reviews one of my books, I look closely at their work and in most cases add it to my "read" list. And so it goes....