Fake "Turn of a Page" Emails Targeting Authors > Likes and Comments
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I got a similar email from info.deborah.org@gmail.com. Some red flags popped up because I'm not even sure if my book is on GoodReads, I'm an indie author with not a lot of views.
P.S. wrote: "A scammer is contacting authors while pretending to represent this Goodreads group.The email I received claimed to be from:
"Lana D. Mayor"
"Selection Committee Chair, Turn of a Page"
The messa..."
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Please refer to this topic and move your message to that thread
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Dobby wrote: "I got a similar email from info.deborah.org@gmail.com. Some red flags popped up because I'm not even sure if my book is on GoodReads, I'm an indie author with not a lot of views."Please read this message
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I have been approached by a [non-moderator] member of the "Turn of a Page" group (Caitlin Robert), who has offered to add my novel, "THE POISON OF THORN'S: The Dragon's Back - Book 1", to your reading challenge list for this year. She says that this requires a handling fee of $66.99. Is this the standard procedure for this group?Her email address is: caitlinrobert7@gmail.com
Thanks,
Robert Dennis Wilson
woodnames@hotmail.com
Robert wrote: "I have been approached by a [non-moderator] member of the "Turn of a Page" group (Caitlin Robert), who has offered to add my novel, "THE POISON OF THORN'S: The Dragon's Back - Book 1", to your read..."No that is not a standard procedure. You can borrow the books from the library for free or any way you usally get books.
⚠️ EXPLOITATIVE IMPOSTOR SCAM WARNING FOR AUTHORS ⚠️Hi moderators and members,
I wanted to alert the group that an active email phishing scam is targeting indie authors by impersonating this community and its moderator, Deborah.
The scammer is scraping author data for newly released or upcoming books, emailing them with highly specific, AI-generated flattery about their book's themes, and inviting them to a fake "Spotlight" feature. They are attempting to charge authors anywhere from $150 to $700 for these "curated features."
They are explicitly stealing Deborah's identity, quoting this exact Goodreads group link, and referencing her real website (piazzagirlreads.com). However, the emails are coming from fake lookalike Gmail addresses.
Please be on the lookout for pitches coming from these specific fraudulent accounts:
• SENDER NAME: Deborah
• EMAIL 1: piazzagirl4.every@gmail.com
• EMAIL 2: piazzagirl.4everr@gmail.com
They are also running the exact same pricing/pitch template under a different persona name:
• SENDER NAME: Nick Org (East London Bookclub For Dummies)
• EMAIL: org.eastlondonbookclub0@gmail.com
P. wrote: "⚠️ EXPLOITATIVE IMPOSTOR SCAM WARNING FOR AUTHORS ⚠️Hi moderators and members,
I wanted to alert the group that an active email phishing scam is targeting indie authors by impersonating this com..."
The website Piazzagirlreads is not mine, it is also fake.
I have spoken with other moderators of other groups (I am also a moderator) that this is happening to and it seems to be happening more on sites that also have a thread that promotes authors and ARCS such as the one we have under our Social Corner thread.The scammers target a moderator or two from a group site that lets new authors post their books.
We might want to discontinue that thread and state that this group does not promote authors at all. It is strictly a social and challenge thread. Even though that isn't kind to new authors. It's a shame that that is what other groups are having to do. :(
The email I received claimed to be from:
"Lana D. Mayor"
"Selection Committee Chair, Turn of a Page"
The message said that The Seeker's Wrath had caught the attention of their selection committee because of its "immersive world-building, compelling character arcs, and rich storytelling".
To be fair, I am not going to argue with that part.
Unfortunately, the supposed invitation that followed was not genuine. It offered a promotional "feature track" involving:
- A targeted community spotlight
- A discussion and review drive
- An author Q&A
- Increased visibility among the group's readers
The email came from:
support.turnofapage@gmail.com
This person is not listed as a moderator or official representative of the group. I can also find no official page, discussion, announcement, or programme describing the supposed "Selection Committee" or promotional "feature track".
This is a scam using the name and credibility of a genuine Goodreads community to gain the trust of authors.
The usual next step in scams like this is a request for a "token donation", promotional fee, registration payment, paid feature, Eventbrite payment, free books, personal information, or some other form of money or material.
DO NOT SEND THEM ANYTHING.
Do not follow any payment link they provide.
A genuine representative of the group should be able to contact authors through an official Goodreads moderator account and provide a direct link to an announcement posted inside this community.
If you receive an email from "Lana D. Mayor" or support.turnofapage@gmail.com, preserve the message and its full headers, then report the Gmail account for phishing.
Please share this warning with other authors. These scammers rely on flattering language and the borrowed credibility of genuine reading communities.
The praise may be lovely. The invitation is still a scam.