Beta Reader Group discussion

I am writing this post to bring attention to the authors on this group. There appears to be no moderation on the 'paid services requested' section. If you are posting your book for paid beta reading - be careful! There are a lot of scammers here now. When you are checking a beta reader, ask them for their websites or the link to their Goodreads thread in the 'paid services offered' section. There are several legit professional beta readers here and they all have their own thread over on that section with verifiable testimonials.

Red flags to look for:
-Accounts with two first names like George Charlie
-No website
-no testimonials thread
-email that doesn't match the name
-people who don't know how to follow directions on where to post on this group

I'm inviting other legitimate beta readers to comment here any other advice for authors navigating these shark-infested waters.

Hey Ayesha,

We do have a thread set up in the free section:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

You're right though. Perhaps it would be helpful to have one here as well.

I think they've advanced a bit. I've had "beta readers" reply to me with websites full of testimonies and I still didn't trust it. It read like AI for some reason. Just want everyone to be careful with their money and stories out there.

Oh my😨. This is quite serious and getting out of hand! Please could you share the websites, so we could be wary and at alert. Thank you

A.K. wrote: "I think they've advanced a bit. I've had "beta readers" reply to me with websites full of testimonies and I still didn't trust it. It read like AI for some reason. Just want everyone to be careful ..."

A.K, be careful. After checking your profile, I’ve noticed the only person you have added as a friend is Julie Catherine, a scammer of this group.

Olivia wrote: "A.K. wrote: "I think they've advanced a bit. I've had "beta readers" reply to me with websites full of testimonies and I still didn't trust it. It read like AI for some reason. Just want everyone t..."
Great, I just sent this person my manuscript. What can I expect?

If you go through this thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Several people have commented that she uses AI for feedback. I'm sorry about that, Carey. I wish there was a way we could pin the thread.

BookTailor wrote: "Oh my😨. This is quite serious and getting out of hand! Please could you share the websites, so we could be wary and at alert. Thank you"

Unfortunately, that was a little while ago, but if I find anymore, I will definitely alert you all!

Olivia wrote: "A.K. wrote: "I think they've advanced a bit. I've had "beta readers" reply to me with websites full of testimonies and I still didn't trust it. It read like AI for some reason. Just want everyone t..."

Oh wow! I had no idea. Thanks so much for letting me know. I'm going to block her now.

Liz wrote: "If you go through this thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Several people have commented that she uses AI for feedback. I'm sorry ab..."

I just got back a 3 chapter review (minutes ago) from her and it isn't as bad as one I got on Fiverr (yeah, its a thing there too) but at least I didn't pay for it. In the body of the email, I could tell most of her opinions were hers, but the attached doc was all AI. It's always the same format: the good, the bad, suggestions. That said, I thought a few of the suggestions were spot on and will probably use them.

Oh no, this is so sad. I am a professional beta, and due to people scamming others, it can be hard to get work. I have worked with authors who have had several betas work on a piece before me, only to have me find spelling, grammar, punctuation mistakes, or plot holes, etc. I feel for authors, it's hard enough putting your creation into the world without people scamming you. I hope you all find your beta ❤️

Julie wrote: "Hello Liz
I think it is now high time you address this issuing of you damaging my reputable image and pinning me as a scammer. Kindly remove my name cause I did not talk before cause am not that t..."

Julie, you want to address scam/AI accusations? Great. How about you address what these authors said about you, on the Scammers thread in the Authors Seeking Free Betas Folder:

Lost wrote: “I'd also like to add vivianbarry@gmail.com and damseyjulie@gmail.com.
The latter has given me feedback which mentions events that aren't even in the story, and talks of improving grammar of sentences that don't exist. Hightly suspect she uses AI.”

Alan wrote: “In regard to Damsey” (and YES —we’re very much aware that you go by Julie Catherine and Damsey Julie) “she definitely uses AI. Some of the passages that are 'quoted', if you can call it that, look like they've been through Google translate at least twice, rendering them nonsensical.”

This is just on that thread. I’ve read several other complains in other threads of the same folder.

Why don’t you address the fact that you constantly change email accounts? Why don’t you address the fact that you constantly delete your Goodreads account to open a new one days after?

As someone who has supposedly five years of experience in the literary world, where are the references dating back to all those years? To last year even? Where are your references and qualifications as an editor too? (As I’ve seen you offer editing as well). Someone who has supposedly been on this field for half a decade, only offering to show their portfolio for being accused of suspicious activity, is unheard of. If you’d really have all those years of experience on you, you should have a website up (either free of paid) and a verifiable, long-time presence in social media as either a beta or an editor.

Julie,

I'm really not trying to attack you personally but keep the community aware of a potentially risky situation. I have done this with other accounts as well, so it's not just you. I would highlight what Olivia mentioned above. Several users have gone by variations of Julie Catherine over the last few months, which is typical of other scam and spam accounts. On top of that, others have mentioned the usage of AI.

I also, if I'm being completely honest, find it suspect the way you respond here versus the way you respond to authors. The language is completely different. Of course, we all speak more casually when we're not dealing with a potential client, but when others have suggested that you use AI, it makes me think you're using it in proposals too.

Edit: Carey, in this thread, even suggests it, and you did not respond to it. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to think, but as stated previously, I will keep warning people about potentially risky situations. If this is all wrong, I will certainly apologize but right now I have no reason to think any of this is incorrect.

"I don’t switch Gmails regularly. The reason I stopped using my old one (damseyjulie@gmail.com) was because I noticed unauthorized activity, someone else seemed to be accessing it"

I can certainly understand this, but the thing is, there have been multiple accounts using your username and variations of the same email in a short amount of time. This is on top of other users, who are scammers, doing the same thing. (David/Ben and most recently, Abigael, were doing this constantly.)

"As for the feedback mix-ups (events/sentences that weren’t in the stories), I take that seriously. If mistakes happened, they were genuine oversights, not AI."

I don't understand how referencing events that didn't take place in the story could be an oversight, unless you had multiple clients at once and were just confused. That is a possibility, for sure.

"I haven’t been super active lately,"

Someone has. This may not have been you and it may have. I have no idea.

"And sorry if I missed responding to Carey earlier. I’m not avoiding it, I just might not have seen it."

You still haven't really addressed what he said, though.

I'd like to believe you, but there's stuff that just isn't adding up. Even now, I'm thinking, wow, this response is so different from the one in her thread where she's offering her services, did she use AI for this?

I.E. How am I supposed to reconcile:

"Hello Liz
I think it is now high time you address this issuing of you damaging my reputable image and pinning me as a scammer. Kindly remove my name cause I did not talk before cause am not that type of person and I think I can address what I did not do. If you want more proof I can send you my portfolio link to see the what people I have worked with said about me. So stop tainting my image"

with

"I totally get where you’re coming from; scams and spam accounts are everywhere, and it’s smart to be cautious. Honestly, I had no idea other people might be using variations of my name, but that’s really unsettling to hear."

Those are different styles and sound like different people. One has a firmer grasp on the way this site works, too. (For example, I cannot remove your name because I was not the OP, although this could have been said while in an emotional state and so you were less than accurate, admittedly.)

I'm trying to be as fair as possible. Really, I am.

Can you see how suspicious this looks coupled with the accusations of AI usage from other users?

Julie wrote: "Liz wrote: "Julie,

I'm really not trying to attack you personally but keep the community aware of a potentially risky situation. I have done this with other accounts as well, so it's not just you...."

I just ran this comment (posted by Julie, the one that starts with “I totally get where you’re coming from…”) through GPTZero, which is a well-known website to check for AI, and it confirmed the text is 99% AI generated. That is why this message seems so different from the other comments Julie has made. I uploaded the proof here so everyone can see: https://ibb.co/HfjHgm83

I also thought the manner of speech was glaringly different, lol. Thank you Olivia and Liv.

To Julie:
Like Liv said, so many things just don't add up! Why did you only come online after you claim was using your name stopped using it that you came online? Also when you came online and saw someone posting in your name, why didn't you immediately flag the person and call attention to it?

BookTailor wrote: "I also thought the manner of speech was glaringly different, lol. Thank you Olivia and Liv.

To Julie:
Like Liv said, so many things just don't add up! Why did you only come online after you claim ..."

Probably because your site is challenging to work with, and it doesn’t notify people by mail of postings or replies.

Do you think people have the time, patience or inclination to log in to Goodreads every day and search for messages? I’ve posted several things on here, and I have never been notified that anyone has replied. THIS IS A POOR WEBSITE and a disgrace to Amazon, who own it.

I had to threaten Goodreads with legal action when they attributed my name to a bunch of other authors using the same name as me, and it’s my REAL name, not a pen name.

Even now, I still have Author Thom Tate’s books attributed to me (and scored with mine) simply because I’m his EDITOR.

I own Beta Reader Bookings LLC. I have seen an increase in new social media profiles claiming to be affiliated with my company. They are not. I don't know if these scammers have made their way to Goodreads as well, but if not, I imagine that it's only a matter of time.

The safest way to contact my company is directly through the website or by sending an email to admin@bookabetareader.com. We do not use Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc. All emails will come from an email address with the bookabetareader.com domain name.

It is extremely common for scammers to pretend to be affiliated with reputable companies. This hurts those who fall victim to the scams, and it can also damage the companies' reputations. If you receive any correspondence from someone claiming to be affiliated with my company, please report it to admin@bookabetareader.com.

Thank you!

Liz wrote: ""I don’t switch Gmails regularly. The reason I stopped using my old one (damseyjulie@gmail.com) was because I noticed unauthorized activity, someone else seemed to be accessing it"

I can certainly..."

I would advise anyone serious about privacy, security, and who wants to avoid 'spoofing' to STAY AWAY FROM GMAIL.

Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo (in fact, all so-called free accounts) are responsible for the most spam and spoofing.

There are plenty of affordable email providers, and if you consider yourself a professional (and I include everyone on this list, including Liz), you should at least be able to afford a reputable email provider, rather than one that's a spammer's dream.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.
Your personal and private information is passed on to spammers and anyone willing to pay for it. Do you really think businesses operate for FREE?
The entire system is wide open to cybercrime.
I pay $48 per annum for my email account. Less than $1 per week. It's one of the most secure email systems out there, and it's IMPOSSIBLE to spoof the sender.
If you can't afford $1 per week, don’t call yourself a professional, and if a dozen criminals use your name with IP addresses from India or China, IT SERVES YOU RIGHT!

Kate wrote: "I own Beta Reader Bookings LLC. I have seen an increase in new social media profiles claiming to be affiliated with my company. They are not. I don't know if these scammers have made their way to G..."

Anyone using a free email address should be prepared to be scammed, spoofed, spammed, or hacked. Having your own domain email does NOT ensure your privacy. I have a personal email server, which I stopped using because I received emails from hmartin@ attempting to scam me for money. When I checked the sender’s IP address, it was from India, China or the USA. Cybercrime is rife. Until I retired, I was a computer engineer, so don’t attempt to teach me how mail works!

@henry while scams are incredibly common, I don’t think that we should just not brush past them or try to avoid them. just because something happens a lot doesn’t mean we are required to just shut up and deal with it.

and also- is it really such an insane idea that they know something you don’t and are trying to explain it?

@henry and saying that somebody deserves to be hacked because they don’t pay for an email is actually incredibly cruel.

Are you still looking for a professional Beta Reader, Book Cover Designer, Proofreader, Book Editor? If Yes i would love to discuss that with you.
https://www.fiverr.com/s/1qjxg19

And obviously this previous reply from Liam Alpha is spam since this post has nothing to do with looking for a beta reader