Is it possible that Goodreads has many trolls and harassers?

[Maggie]

Hello,

I recently wrote a book and posted a simple request for readers. After a whirlwind of spammy emails and posts, I believe Goodreads may have many trolls and harassers coexisting alongside others trying to promote books and readers.

I contacted Goodreads support about these threats but also wanted to post here in case others encounter the same sudden harassment and threats.

First, I was contacted about a review service. Since I was new to this, I responded and asked for more details, including pricing, since I knew there would probably be a cost and process.

After that initial contact, I was bombarded by hundreds of email offers for review services, together with these two threats:

Threat #1:

MAGGIE, WARNING:STOP YOUR PROMOTIONS ON GOODREADS AND SOCIAL MEDIA IMMEDIATELY!

WE GIVE 24 HOURS TO VANISH. IF YOU DON'T STOP, WE WILL RE-PUBLISH YOUR BOOK THE VESSEL USING AI TECHNOLOGY AS SOON AS IT IS RELEASED. INSTEAD OF YOUR NAME, YOUR BOOK WILL BE 'AUTHORED' BY ONE OF US. AN EXACT REPLICA OF YOUR BOOK WILL BE SELLING ON AMAZON UNDER OUR NAMES AND YOU WON'T LIKE IT! AMAZON CANNOT DETECT THIS TECHNOLOGY YET AND YOUR LAWS CAN'T HARM US! NOT ONLY IT WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF YOUR POTENTIAL INCOME, IT WILL ALSO GET YOU BANNED FROM AMAZON. AMAZON IMPOSES DIGITAL EXCLUSIVITY ON AUTHORS. THAT MEANS IF THE DIGITAL VERSIONS OF YOUR BOOKS SHOW UP ANYWHERE ELSE BUT AMAZON, EVEN ON PIRATE SITES, YOU RUN THE RISK OF HAVING YOUR BOOK(S), OR EVEN YOUR ENTIRE ACCOUNT, SHUT DOWN WITH LITTLE TO NO HOPE OF APPEAL. IN ADDITION, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY’S INFORMATION WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO CRIMINALS (THUGS AND RAPISTS) AND SCAMMERS IN YOUR AREA!

Threat #2:
LET ME SEND YOUR DETAILS TO ALL THE CRIMINALS AND SERIAL RAPISTS IN YOUR AREA SO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GETS *ROBBED, RAPED AND CHOPPED* MAGGIE

LET ME SEND YOUR DETAILS TO ALL THE CRIMINALS AND SERIAL RAPISTS IN YOUR AREA SO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GETS *ROBBED, RAPED AND CHOPPED* MAGGIE YOU PIECE OF SHIT. WE TOLD YOU LAST TIME TO FORGET ABOUT GOODREADS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS AND MOVE YOUR ASS FROM THERE. I AM GIVING YOU 24 HOURS DEADLINE TO LEAVE SOCIAL MEDIA MAGGIE, THAT IS IT!

I have decided to take these threats to the authorities, and I encourage anyone else who receives them to do the same. Just because we are online and somewhat anonymous doesn’t mean we should tolerate these scary threats.

In addition to the threats, I have received really strange posts about my book on the thread where I posted asking for readers.

One comment was this:

This author is crazy. She takes time to write to local newspapers about punishing gay activists and this book is horrible. If anything, the author should be punished for writing this nonsense…

Another:

I was anxious to read this book based on its promising description. Although the message is timeless, the presentation wasn’t as strong. At times it got preachy with a lot me “telling” than “showing”. The characters were two-dimensional caricatures. Vital message needs a stronger story.

I would welcome the reviews or criticism, but I have no idea what the person means for the first, and for the second, I don’t think the person read the book.

I am rethinking my use of Goodreads and am disheartened by all this spam and the threats. Initially, I was scared of the threats, even though I knew they were baseless.

I hope sharing this information might help someone who encounters the same outcome so they don’t panic or feel targeted.

[Ankit]

Maggie wrote: "Hello,

I recently wrote a book and posted a simple request for readers. After a whirlwind of spammy emails and posts, I believe Goodreads may have many trolls and harassers coexisting alongside ot..."

Goodreads must delete all bot account that are having not details. Whenever, I see any such revert on any discussion, I immediately report it. But Goodreads need to do something on their end.

[Sam]

I received exactly the same second message but with no mention of Goodreads, from noreply@anonymousemail.eu. I didn't notice the first, I guess it just went to spam.

It's very easy to mass send 1,000's of emails. I know the words are intended to alarm, but don't let it worry you. The threat is empty and Amazon can detect AI very easily, as can readers.

[Susan]

I received the exact same emails myself in the last week, with the same email address except .se at the end, which I found out was Sweden. In addition, they specifically named someone as having 'sold' me to these people as a possible lead, which makes me think they're more interested in going after her than me. (She was mentioned BY NAME in each of the two emails I got--and I don't know her--just had her host me on a stop of my virtual book tour--and that happened last week too.)

I'm not re-thinking my book strategies at all; if anything, I know I'm reaching somebody out there if they're coming after me. I've been advised to report this to local law enforcement, and I've already reported it to the tour operator who got the named individual in the email connected to me. She referred me here, likely because it's happened to others.

But I'm not giving up my ownership of this book OR leaving marketing strategies that are working for me. Makes me wonder what kind of person does a thing like this and expects to profit from it--but I also noticed a 2000% increase in the number of spam emails I've gotten offering to review my book--and they all came ON TOP OF the 2nd threatening email, which demands I use 'their' book promotion or they'll send the bad guys after me. Coincidence, you say? I don't believe in coincidence...

[Liz~In~Colorado]

Wow!! That's kinda spooky... and YES I do believe GR could have trollers. I say this not as an author, but a beta/arc reader/ reviewer. The experience I have a problem with - and many other women on GR- is that of guys who "friend request" then immediately ask for how to connect with you, some are more clever, but I've had them ask for $$ and also exposed a few frauds claiming to be famous ppl. One said he was a 4* general... yet could barely speak english. I googled his pic and he had indeed stolen it off the real persons public site.
I have a statement right in my profile that this is not a dating site and if you are in zero groups and have read zero books, then don't contact me. They never read it.
I have reported many of them and so have other women. They just return under another name.
But your situation is a bit more scarey! I wish GR would try harder on these things. Especially bots. Because it ruins the author meeting review sites!
Blessings,
Liz🌷