Meerkat Books: The Scammer Game
Dear
I hope this message finds you well.
I recently had the opportunity to learn about [Book Title], and I wanted to reach out personally. It is clear that you’ve created a work that offers readers something meaningful—whether through compelling storytelling, valuable insights, emotional depth, or a unique perspective that resonates with its audience.
What stands out most is the potential this book has to connect with a much wider readership. Readers today are actively searching for books that inform, inspire, entertain, challenge perspectives, or tell unforgettable stories, and [Book Title] has many of the qualities that make books memorable and shareable.
That is why I am reaching out today.
I am currently leading a strategic author promotion campaign designed to help exceptional books gain greater visibility, reach new audiences, strengthen their market presence, and create long-term opportunities for growth and recognition.
This is not a generic promotion package. It is a structured initiative focused on helping authors expand their reach through targeted marketing, strategic partnerships, and audience development.
The campaign includes:
• Bulk Buyer Connections
Leveraging established networks to introduce books to organizations, educational institutions, libraries, book clubs, professional associations, and other groups that regularly purchase books in volume.
• Amazon Visibility & Bestseller Strategy
A coordinated approach designed to improve category rankings, increase discoverability, and position books in front of readers actively searching for content within their genre and subject area.
• Featured Promotional Opportunities
Outreach to newsletters, podcasts, blogs, online communities, media outlets, and promotional platforms that can introduce your book to highly targeted audiences.
• Review Growth Strategy
An ethical and organic approach to encouraging authentic reader reviews that strengthen credibility, increase social proof, and support long-term sales growth.
• Book Award Opportunities
Researching and identifying relevant literary awards and recognition programs that align with your book’s genre, audience, and publishing goals.
• Author Brand Development
Helping strengthen your visibility as an author while creating opportunities for future books and long-term audience growth.
This campaign is designed for authors who believe in their work and are ready to take the next step toward greater visibility and recognition.
We are currently onboarding a limited number of authors, and I would be delighted to discuss whether [Book Title] would be a strong fit for this initiative.
If you are interested in learning more, simply reply to this email and I will be happy to share additional details, answer any questions, and discuss how we can tailor the campaign to support your specific goals.
I believe every great book deserves the opportunity to find its audience, and I would love to explore how we can help expand the reach and impact of your work.
I look forward to hearing from you.
The above email has been copied word-for-word, so where the person writing has failed to either address me by name, and where they have written [Book Title]… well, it underscores one key element about this email. It’s a con.
Scams and cons are as old as humanity itself. There are always people who seek to deceive others out of their hard-earned cash. In the field of books and writing, this most often presents itself in the shape of marketing and promotional services, such as what this individual is offering. What’s clear is that they have developed a cookie-cutter email, but when they emailed me, they forgot to include the name of the book they wished to promote!
This is clumsy and amateurish, but make no mistake, a lot of these scammers are slick and polished. Always, always, ALWAYS check the sender’s email address. If they have referenced a business or book club, look it up online. Reach out to said business or club via that site’s contact page, not via the original email you received. If you have any doubts whatsoever, do not respond, or at the very least, make it clear you will not be parting with any of your well-earned money.
In this specific instance, I decided to have a little fun, responding with reference to [Book Title]. When they responded, they reacted as though I’d taken the bait. In reality, I was wasting their time. Whether you want to do the same is up to you, but I cannot stand scammers and will delight in stringing them along. I certainly won’t be giving them any cash, not least because their ‘services’ are non-existent.
In that same vein, do not trust random emails claiming to be from famous authors! I had the author of The Hunger Games email me once, to ask about my writing journey, and then to try and flog me marketing services. Suzanne Collins does not need to make money on the side by offering marketing services! I suggest passing on any such scam emails to the actual author, or to their office, so they can take the appropriate action. I would always advise dilligence and caution when looking into any promotional services, because there are a lot of scammers out there.
‘Kat Comments