Beta Read Scam

Beta readers beware of this scam! On my latest beta read, I spent sixteen hours providing pages worth of notes on how the author could improve his 161-page manuscript. He had significant plot holes, world building deficiencies, and vulgar language that needed much work. I, as any of my clients will attest to, cannot let issues in a manuscript go unnoticed as my goal is to improve the quality of a story so it can thrive as the strongest version of itself. But when I got to the final page of the manuscript, the author leaves this note:

“If you enjoyed my novel, I would be grateful if you could spend a few minutes to leave a review on my Amazon book page – USA”

I was devastated. I had just typed up pages worth of suggested edits regarding the deep issues of this manuscript for nothing. This author had published this novel in November 2021 and had countless 5-star reviews from names lacking the “verified purchase” badge. One reviewer even said, “Didn’t read it.”

The author had hired me not to beta read, but to review his book on Amazon.

I refused to publish a review considering my report would have abolished the other 5-star reviews he had received. There is no way I could honestly praise any element of this book; my pages worth of notes will explain why.

Now, there’s no saying that this author could have known that I would be as thorough as I was or that I would invest as genuinely as I did. But being upfront would have saved me time and him money. He paid for a service that he ultimately did not receive. And I lost 16 hours that could have been used on an author who needs my feedback.

Quick facts:

Beta reading is a service provided to catch errors in a written piece of work such as plot holes, character development, lack of world building, etc.Beta reading usually occurs pre-publication but can also occur post-publication if the author plans to revise the novel, then upload the new manuscript.Amazon has a zero-tolerance policy for buying reviews, and will flag authors suspected of such, thus limiting their ability to sell on the site.

From now on, I will scroll to the final page of the manuscript prior to beginning my read. I suggest any of my fellow beta readers out there do the same.

(Author’s Note: The fact that there are so many reviewers who were not verified purchasers proves that others have accepted payment to falsely review this book. I am in no position to judge if accepting payment to post reviews is something others do, but I do strongly believe in upfront honesty. I believe if this author had approached me outside of my beta reading business, offered his book for free on Kindle Unlimited, and politely asked me to review it, I likely would have because of his honest conduct. But to misleadingly hire me with the ulterior motive to gain a 5-star review that his novel does not deserve goes against my morals.)

Featured Image Credit: Anna Tarazevich