The Spam “Book Experts” Are Back… Again

Lately my inbox has been looking less like a place for genuine reader messages and more like a carnival of spammy “book marketing experts” who claim they can transform my author career overnight.

They usually begin with something heartfelt like: “Hi Fran Clark,” “Hello Frank,” or my personal favourite: “Dear Author of [completely wrong book title].”

Apparently they’ve “analysed my website,” “reviewed my sales,” and “studied my marketing strategy”… yet somehow they can’t get my name right, mix up my books, and occasionally invent new ones for me. A bold creative choice, I suppose.

Some pretend to be from real companies. Some link to websites that look like they were built during a lunch break. Some list “authors they’ve worked with” who, after a quick Google search, turn out to be as fictional as the characters in my novels.

I delete them, of course. But they’re becoming a nuisance — and more importantly, I worry about authors who might not realise these messages are scams. The people sending them are getting better at imitation, and they know exactly how to prey on writers who are trying to grow their readership.

So here’s a quick checklist to help you spot the fakes before they waste your time, energy, or money.

Author Safety Checklist: Spotting Scam Book‑Marketing Emails

• Wrong name — If they call you Frank, Frances, or “Dear Author,” it’s not a good start.

• Wrong book title — Scammers often mash your books together or invent new ones entirely.

• Fake urgency — “Your sales are dropping!” “Your website is broken!” They haven’t checked anything.

• Pretending to be a real company — Always Google the company name + “scam.”

• Fake testimonials — Look up the authors they claim to have worked with. Many don’t exist.

• Untraceable website — No team page, no address, no history = no trust.

• Pushy call‑to‑action — “Let’s jump on a call today!” Real professionals don’t pressure you.

• No portfolio — If they can’t show real campaigns or real authors, walk away.

• Grammar red flags — Not always, but often.

• Unsolicited contact — Legit marketers don’t cold‑email authors with miracle promises.

If you’re ever unsure whether an email is genuine, ask another author, check the company’s website, or trust your gut. Your book deserves real support — not scammers who can’t even get your name right.