Advanced Copies for Review & Book Giveaways discussion

Hello,

I recently wrote a book and posted a simple request for readers. After a whirlwind of spammy emails and posts, I believe Goodreads may have many trolls and harassers coexisting alongside others trying to promote books and readers.

I contacted Goodreads support about these threats but also wanted to post here in case others encounter the same sudden harassment and threats.

First, I was contacted about a review service. Since I was new to this, I responded and asked for more details, including pricing, since I knew there would probably be a cost and process.

After that initial contact, I was bombarded by hundreds of email offers for review services, together with these two threats:

Threat #1:

MAGGIE, WARNING:STOP YOUR PROMOTIONS ON GOODREADS AND SOCIAL MEDIA IMMEDIATELY!

WE GIVE 24 HOURS TO VANISH. IF YOU DON'T STOP, WE WILL RE-PUBLISH YOUR BOOK THE VESSEL USING AI TECHNOLOGY AS SOON AS IT IS RELEASED. INSTEAD OF YOUR NAME, YOUR BOOK WILL BE 'AUTHORED' BY ONE OF US. AN EXACT REPLICA OF YOUR BOOK WILL BE SELLING ON AMAZON UNDER OUR NAMES AND YOU WON'T LIKE IT! AMAZON CANNOT DETECT THIS TECHNOLOGY YET AND YOUR LAWS CAN'T HARM US! NOT ONLY IT WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF YOUR POTENTIAL INCOME, IT WILL ALSO GET YOU BANNED FROM AMAZON. AMAZON IMPOSES DIGITAL EXCLUSIVITY ON AUTHORS. THAT MEANS IF THE DIGITAL VERSIONS OF YOUR BOOKS SHOW UP ANYWHERE ELSE BUT AMAZON, EVEN ON PIRATE SITES, YOU RUN THE RISK OF HAVING YOUR BOOK(S), OR EVEN YOUR ENTIRE ACCOUNT, SHUT DOWN WITH LITTLE TO NO HOPE OF APPEAL. IN ADDITION, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY’S INFORMATION WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO CRIMINALS (THUGS AND RAPISTS) AND SCAMMERS IN YOUR AREA!

Threat #2:
LET ME SEND YOUR DETAILS TO ALL THE CRIMINALS AND SERIAL RAPISTS IN YOUR AREA SO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GETS *ROBBED, RAPED AND CHOPPED* MAGGIE

LET ME SEND YOUR DETAILS TO ALL THE CRIMINALS AND SERIAL RAPISTS IN YOUR AREA SO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GETS *ROBBED, RAPED AND CHOPPED* MAGGIE YOU PIECE OF SHIT. WE TOLD YOU LAST TIME TO FORGET ABOUT GOODREADS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS AND MOVE YOUR ASS FROM THERE. I AM GIVING YOU 24 HOURS DEADLINE TO LEAVE SOCIAL MEDIA MAGGIE, THAT IS IT!

I have decided to take these threats to the authorities, and I encourage anyone else who receives them to do the same. Just because we are online and somewhat anonymous doesn’t mean we should tolerate these scary threats.

In addition to the threats, I have received really strange posts about my book on the thread where I posted asking for readers.

One comment was this:

This author is crazy. She takes time to write to local newspapers about punishing gay activists and this book is horrible. If anything, the author should be punished for writing this nonsense…

Another:

I was anxious to read this book based on its promising description. Although the message is timeless, the presentation wasn’t as strong. At times it got preachy with a lot me “telling” than “showing”. The characters were two-dimensional caricatures. Vital message needs a stronger story.

I would welcome the reviews or criticism, but I have no idea what the person means for the first, and for the second, I don’t think the person read the book.

I am rethinking my use of Goodreads and am disheartened by all this spam and the threats. Initially, I was scared of the threats, even though I knew they were baseless.

I hope sharing this information might help someone who encounters the same outcome so they don’t panic or feel targeted.

Maggie wrote: "Hello,

I recently wrote a book and posted a simple request for readers. After a whirlwind of spammy emails and posts, I believe Goodreads may have many trolls and harassers coexisting alongside ot..."

Goodreads must delete all bot account that are having not details. Whenever, I see any such revert on any discussion, I immediately report it. But Goodreads need to do something on their end.

I received exactly the same second message but with no mention of Goodreads, from noreply@anonymousemail.eu. I didn't notice the first, I guess it just went to spam.

It's very easy to mass send 1,000's of emails. I know the words are intended to alarm, but don't let it worry you. The threat is empty and Amazon can detect AI very easily, as can readers.