Authors, Those Flattering Emails Filling Your Inbox—They’re All an AI Scam
I’m one of those authors who has been inundated with those flattering emails.
If You Get an AI Scam Email
If you also get these AI spam emails, don’t reply!
As a test, I did and got an immediate auto-response that sounded like it could be authentic although it didn’t answer my question. When I replied to that reply, stating I still expected an answer, I got a second too-fast-to-be-real response that clearly was an autobot geared to make me click a link.
So no matter how sincere the first email is, it’s not real. Don’t click any link. Report it as spam and delete.
Tip of the Iceberg
Every day, I get:
- Offers to fix my website, make me an app, or other tech thing I don’t need/want.
- Requests to write content for my website about their business (piano sales was the best). Some offer to pay me, others want me to pay them.
- Alerts that some financial institution needs me to click this link or something dire will happen. I’ve never had so many “wallets” in my life.
Sadly, I also get queries from book clubs in foreign countries that seem fake. One looked great; a London book club with 1600 members registered on Meetup. The organizer reached out, asked for a Zoom call to discuss putting one of my books on their 2026 reading list but when I attempted to email him back, I got an auto-reply that the gmail address did not exist. Not sure what that was all about.
A Day in the Life of My Inbox
So now for your amusement, here’s a day in the life of my inbox, courtesy of AI and friends.
FROM: Racheal Otti <rachealotti0@gmail.com>
Hi Carmen,
I came across your book , and it really caught my eye! I was wondering , is it available on Amazon? I’d love to check it out and possibly feature it.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
FROM: Sunita <sunita@smartseostrategist.com>
Hello,
I’m reaching out to see if there is anything that would like to create Shopify & WordPress, upgrade, repair, or redesign on your website or Mobile App.
I am a web designer/developer that can do just about anything you can imagine at very affordable prices.
Let me know what you think.
If interested. May I send you sample, Portfolio and company Details?
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Kind Regards,
Sunita
Business Consultant (INDIA)
FROM: Lucy Adams <lucybookreader@gmail.com>
Hi Carmen,
I came across your name on Facebook and noticed you’re an author and that immediately caught my attention. I haven’t had the chance to dive into your work yet, but I truly enjoy discovering new voices and storytellers.
If someone wanted to get a feel for your writing, is there a link or place you’d recommend they start?
FROM: Harriet Adam <harrietsmith765@gmail.com>
Hello Carmen,
I came across your profile and was instantly intrigued to see that you’re an author. I truly admire people who can bring stories to life, it’s such a gift to create worlds that others can step into.
I’d love to get to know more about your writing journey. How many books have you published so far? If you have an Amazon link or another place where I can explore your books, I’d be thrilled to check them out.
Looking forward to discovering your stories,
Warmly,
Harriet
FROM: Simon <markdavid887887@gmail.com>
Dear Carmenamato.Net,
I came across your website Carmenamato.Net and wanted to share a quick observation. While it has a good foundation, there?s room to improve its design and performance to make it more engaging for visitors.
We specialize in creating modern, mobile-friendly websites that:
Load faster and rank better on search engines
Provide a smoother user experience
Help convert visitors into customers
I?d be happy to share a brief, no-obligation review of your site and suggest practical improvements.
Would you be open to a quick call this week to discuss? If so, please let me know a time that works best for you.
Best regards,
Simon | Web Expert
FROM: Janet Smith js71248195@gmail.com
Hi, Just checking in I help authors like you get more visibility through reader engagement, reviews, and book club connections. Even small steps can make a big difference in how far a book travels.
Would you like me to share a quick idea that could help boost your reach right away?
On Fri, 12 Sept 2025, 19:18 Janet Smith, <js71248195@gmail.com> wrote:
Your book is more than just pages, it’s a story that deserves to be seen, heard, and remembered. Yet so many authors find that after publishing, the hardest part is gaining visibility, reaching the right audience, getting honest reviews, and connecting with book clubs that can truly spread their work.
“Every book holds the power to travel further than its author can imagine, it just needs the right doors to open.”
I’d love to hear how has this part of your journey been for you so far?
Warmly,
Janet Smith
FROM: Margaret Shore margaretshore513@gmail.com
Hi Carmen,
Congratulations on your book release!
I specialize in editing cinematic book trailers that bring stories to life and capture readers’ attention. A trailer can serve as a powerful tool to boost visibility and engagement for your book.
Would you like me to share a sample of my work?
Best,
Margaret
FROM: Nathan Shizzey nathanshizzey@gmail.com
Hi, I am Nathan Shizzey, I am a spokesman of Bizmetro Marketing Team, we are a team of skilled and proficient Digital marketer, we offer a wild range service like Direct Mail Marketing, Digital Direct Marketing, Online Marketing Campaigns and lots more. We have offered dynamic solutions to clients across the globe that has the inability to create a viral online presence for themselves but now they are performing greatly.
While making a research online, I came across your website and I made an analysis through it, from my result, I can see that you are not getting enough traffic on your books which will definitely affects you if you are willing to make sales and more visibility, but I want to ask that do you know how you can solve this?
I awaits your response on this, and I will like to hear from you soon.!
Thanks.
FROM: mail@notification-ledger.live via SurveyMonkey member@surveymonkeyuser.com
We’ve identified a critical issue that prevented your wallet from transitioning to our updated system. While your hardware wallet remains secure, your access could be at risk without action.
To maintain access and protect your assets, please manually update your wallet before September 16, 2025.
Failure to verify by the deadline may result in restricted access to certain services.
FROM: Manish Sharma <manishsharmaseo38@gmail.com>
Maybe my last email didn’t reach you, or you were busy. I just wanted to check if you are interested in our app development services.
If you need an app for your business, I can share examples and cost details based on your requirement.
Just reply to your request, and I’ll send you the exact proposal.
Best Regards,
Manish
FROM: Crissy Rose <crissyrose@booksride.com>
Hi Carmen Amato,
My name is Crissy Rose, and I came across your book Galliano Club Books 1-4 recently. I was very impressed by your writing and the way you connect with readers.
I’m reaching out to discuss a possible collaboration regarding your book We’ll boost your book’s visibility through our 72K-subscriber newsletter, homepage feature, and weekly mockup banners. Plus, enjoy 3 daily tweets, 2 Facebook posts, and 60 Instagram promotions. Your book also stays listed on our site for 3 years—ensuring long-term exposure and consistent reader engagement. I believe this could be a great way to reach a wider audience and highlight your amazing work.
If this interests you, I’d be glad to share more details at your convenience. Please let me know the best way to connect.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.
CLICK FOR PRICING
FROM: Outreach Team nora.lee@updatednetworth.com
Hello,
I hope you are doing well.
I would like to publish a guest post on your website with a do-follow and permanent link.
Kindly let me know your prices and available options.
Thank you!
FROM: Martin Shore <martinshore96@gmail.com>
Hello,
I create cinematic book trailers designed to spark curiosity, capture the essence of your story, and engage readers across platforms like TikTok and Instagram. These trailers help authors reach a wider audience, generate buzz, and build excitement around their books.
I’d love to craft a custom trailer for your story, one that visually brings it to life and draws readers in from the very first frame.
Warm regards,
Martin
FROM: Elle Phakawee <ellephakaweeorganizer@gmail.com>
Hi,
I’m the organizer of the SG Self-Development Book Club, a thriving community of passionate readers based in Singapore. We meet regularly to explore books that spark personal growth, leadership, and meaningful living.
Our group is made up of professionals, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners who enjoy diving into transformative ideas and applying them in their own lives. We are always eager to discover and feature authors whose work resonates with our mission of self-development.
I wanted to reach out to introduce our club and share our enthusiasm for Barracuda Bay. We believe your book would inspire meaningful conversations among our members, and we’d be delighted to feature it in one of our upcoming reading cycles.
Would you be interested in featuring your book with our club readers?
Warm regards,
Ellephakawee
FROM: LTK Creator <teamltk@rewardstyle.com>
You’ve built a trusted relationship with your readers. That trust is worth more than a sponsor logo.
With LTK, you can link the products you organically recommend and earn when your followers shop.
It’s fast to set up, easy to use, and doesn’t require you to change how you write. No pitches. No approvals. Just passive income, on your terms.
Your organic faves could even help you land a brand deal.
You’ve been pre-approved to join LTK. Submit your application now.
MY BACKSTORY— I learned a few things about danger and deception during a 30-year career with the CIA focusing on counterdrug and technical collection. Now a mystery author, those lessons play out on the page, especially in the Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series set in Acapulco. Starting with Cliff Diver, the series is a back-to-back winner of the Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America. I’ve also written historical and political thrillers, essays about the craft of crime fiction, and live with a very large white dog named Bear.
MY BACKSTORY— I learned a few things about danger, deception and resilience during a 30-year career with the CIA focusing on counterdrug efforts and technical collection. Now a mystery author, those lessons play out on the page, especially in the Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series set in Acapulco. Starting with Cliff Diver, the series is a back-to-back winner of the Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America. I’ve also written historical and political thrillers, essays about the craft of crime fiction, and live with a very large white dog named Bear.
