Spam "friend requests".

[Lia]

I asked this in the GR feedback group as well, but they suggested it might be better here.
So in the last month, I have flagged at least five "friend requests" from "people" wanting to review my book (and providing a website link that appears to provide more spam if you fill out their "review request form" --per the fine print), and one "ghost writer" (same deal). I keep blocking them, but they come back a few hours or days later with a different profile, different email, but same message. I've asked in some of my groups if anybody else is getting these (initially, they might seem legitimate to some-- but I'm a cynical, suspicious sort), but it seems I am the "lucky one".

So has anyone else seen something like this? Is it only affecting authors? Am I just doomed to flag and block until the company sending these runs out of generic email addresses?

[V.W.]

I haven't received anything like that even though I've got an author page on GR and I'm active on various discussion groups.

[Emma]

I have. Contact goodreads via the 'flag' button and they will remove the member. I must admit that the ghost writer was a new one for me, especially as he said English wasn't his first language. He promised he could write an article for you on any subject for a fee. He is sending this to authors who, erm.... Write for a living?
Did make me chuckle.

[Lia]

Emma wrote: "I have. Contact goodreads via the 'flag' button and they will remove the member. I must admit that the ghost writer was a new one for me, especially as he said English wasn't his first language. He..."

Yeah-- I have flagged and blocked them all, but they keep coming back with the same intro letters and different email addresses/member names. Glad (sort of) that it's not just me (and I found it funny that the "ghost writer" said he couldn't write about tech topics)!

[Hannah]

You should have said, "Too bad. That's my next book."

[Susan]

I've received 2 requests like this. I figured they were spam by the email address (lots of consonants that didn't spell anything). How do you block them? I just hit ignore.

[Lia]

Susan wrote: "I've received 2 requests like this. I figured they were spam by the email address (lots of consonants that didn't spell anything). How do you block them? I just hit ignore."

There is actually a little "Block this user" link down there (tiny and difficult to see-- right near the "Flag" link). :-)

[T.H.]

I was getting one a day and deleting them. But instead of deleting the request, I just leave it as pending and so far, haven't gotten another one.

[Patricia]

It really depends on your which email you are using. Using Yahoo mail for yahoo groups, anything like that should be marked spam, and then deleted from the spam file. Takes time, but eventually Yahoo kicks them immediately into you spam file. Yes, you have to delete, but the whole kit and kabuddle for the day.
Patg

[Lia]

Patricia wrote: "It really depends on your which email you are using. Using Yahoo mail for yahoo groups, anything like that should be marked spam, and then deleted from the spam file. Takes time, but eventually Yah..."

Well, they are actually coming through Goodreads, so they are hitting my GR mailbox first.
It's not the email notices that bother me, it's the fact that there are "companies" resorting to using Goodreads to try and entice authors into spending money on "reviews" --plus-- mountains of spam. A new indie author, who might be desperate for reviews might think it's a legitimate service (the email has a couple of versions wherein the "reviewer" claims that they are a poor college student who is trying to jumpstart their career as a book reviewer, or some nonsense-- all you have to do is fill out the "free" review request form on the website). So far, it seems other people who have received the email recognize it for what it is. I just don't want someone less savvy (or cynical!;-)) getting scammed.

[Aaron]

This is definitely something we want to be aware of. If you see others like this, continue to flag them, or even email support [at] goodreads [dot] com and point them out to us there.