Has anybody used: votemyreviews.xyz/contact.html?

[L.V.]

This is the second time I got this message in a few months, like before I ignored it. The thing that I found really weird though, is that a copy was sent to an email address I don't share publicly (that I know of). Has anyone else had this?
thanks!

[P.S.]

Apparently this "Jamie" character is trying to appear more legit. I got the same message through my goodreads account today. Only now his website is votemyreview.com/contact. He, and I use the term loosely since I don't know if Jamie is a He or a She-- must be reading the thread. Anyway, so glad to see all of these comments and warnings. I appreciate all the guidance and advice that I get from all of you.

[Ginny]

Thanks for the info. Both my friend and I received information from this Jamie person. She got an email directly and I got two messages, one at my wordpress blog and one here.

The whole thing is way too form chain letter. Will mark as spam, delete etc.

[H.E.]

I've just received another email from this Jamie, having been sent one at the end of July. Interesting what you say, Alex, given that you've not even released your book yet. The person in question is evidently a scammer and keen to catch new mugs, and is possibly renewing his/her efforts after an apparent break in August and September, which is probably when he/she set up their website.

[Mysti]

I've reported and blocked several of these on here. It's a problem because I'm sure there are authors still giving them money for these things. I can guarantee that they aren't reading these books, even if they do post reviews.

[Dan]

I just came here with the express purpose of warning people about this 'company'.

I actually just received a message from them through my actual website's contact portion and nearly doubled over with laughter. That is until I thought of all the people they might've bilked. Then I just got angry. If there's one thing I hate, it's a vulturous people preying on those they deem as an easy mark.

I'm thankful that I'm leery by nature, because I don't give people like that the chance to pull one over on me, but it really pisses me off to think that they're out there and that they've very likely scammed some trusting, hard-working people out of any amount of money.

It's hard enough to sell books and stay afloat as a complete unknown as it is. We don't need people like this making it harder.

I'm glad to see that people here are looking out for each other.

db

[Janet]

I'm saddened that people are desperate enough to fall for this. Wish there was a law against people putting things like this up. Sometimes it pays to be leary of everything on social media.

[J.B.]

I've submitted a few books to promotion sites on sale or free days. Nearly every time it ran, I got that exact same email, verbatim, I've also managed to get my gmail captured by someone offering me 1000 reviews for 2k. I had to mark one as spam because I kept getting one email that my book would be made an instant bestseller if I paid them $400 to make it the book of the day, but before that, I had to pay so much money for them to review the book first

[Briony]

I know I'm probably not the only one to get this but I think these guys have changed their tactics slightly. I got this message through my website today:

Hi
I am interested in reviewing your latest book. Can you please send me an ARC copy to doungd56@gmail.com? I accept PDF, MOBI and EPUB. Thanks

Doug

Sound innocent enough but I googled him to see if I could find a website or maybe a review he's posted but all I found was him spamming authors on FB with messages that included a link to votemyreviews.xyz/contact.html
Gotta keep on your toes with some of these.

[Lillian]

Yes, thanks for the heads up, Briony. Much appreciated.

[David]

Briony wrote: "I know I'm probably not the only one to get this but I think these guys have changed their tactics slightly. I got this message through my website today:

Hi
I am interested in reviewing your lates..."

Thanks Briony.

[Jane]

Thanx Briony.....

[David]

This is the message I got when I googled it.

This site can’t be reached

votemyreviews.xyz’s server DNS address could not be found.
DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

[Jane]

I think there's a song
* sings loudly and off-key*

Spam spam spam spam spammety spammety spam spam

[David]

Sorry I don't know what that means.

[Angel]

I don't think I've received that kind of email, but if I have I'm sure I've deleted it or it went to my spam folder. If I don't recognize it that's pretty much what happens.

[David]

I was only replying to your question.


Angel commented on the topic: Has anybody used: votemyreviews.xyz/contact.html?

[G.G.]

David wrote: "Sorry I don't know what that means."

I think Jane meant that the website in question is a spam and had nothing to do with your answer, David. :)

[Jane]

G.G. wrote: "David wrote: "Sorry I don't know what that means."

I think Jane meant that the website in question is a spam and had nothing to do with your answer, David. :)"

Yup. Did mean that. Sorry if I confused. Happens a lot. Put it down to my madness...

[Roger]

I fell for what seems to be a marketing scam, responding to an email:
pluxedo@gmail.com (see above discussions).

Someone at this email ""Barry Townsend"?) claimed to offer a money-back guarantee regarding Amazon reviews. I paid them over $500 for twenty-five reviews. That was in July 2021. Today, Jan 19 2022, I have no Amazon reviews, nor any sales of the book (since July) by prospective reviewers. Total non-performance.
I asked for a refund a few days ago.
So far, have not heard back.

Roger Alan Bonner

PS Writing fiction is already hard enough without this crap.

[Eldon, Lost on the road to Mordor]

Roger wrote: "I fell for what seems to be a marketing scam, responding to an email:
pluxedo@gmail.com (see above discussions).

Someone at this email ""Barry Townsend"?) claimed to offer a money-back guarantee ..."

Hi Roger,

I'm sorry to hear you got taken in by scammers. It can happen to anyone. A word of advice for the future, even if the paid reviews materialize they can land you in big trouble with Amazon. Buying reviews is a strict violation of their terms and conditions. If anymore promised review emails come your way, best to just ignore them.

[B.A.]

Darling, you are not allowed to pay for reviews for Amazon. If you do and get caught they will close your account. It's there in the rules. Never, ever pay for reviews unless its an editorial one from a company like Kirkus ($450 the last I looked). Reviews are difficult to get and sometimes totally impossible.

With that said, start building an email list. Make friends with them. Keep them entertained and interact with them. Then when it comes time to publish a book, ask for ARC readers. And then remind them to leave reviews. You can NOT give them incentives to leave a review so don't off gift cards, or other things for that review.

Yeah, you fell for a scam and chances are Amazon caught on to them and closed them down and deleted a few author accounts in the process. If you get emails that offer reviews, marketing, publicity, etc just delete. They are all scams. You need to learn how to do that for yourself and it isn't that difficult, just time consuming when you are starting out.