Return of the Nigerian Prince Redux: Beware Book Club and Book Review Scams (2025)
writerbeware.blog
July 5, 2026
10 min read
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44/100
Summary
A new marketing scam involves operators in Nigeria sending highly personalized, AI-generated email solicitations to authors, posing as marketing or PR experts. Authors are offered various marketing services for a fee, typically a few hundred dollars, and are then referred to a Nigerian contact.
Key Takeaways
- A new marketing scam targeting authors involves AI-generated emails from scammers posing as marketing or PR experts, often leading to requests for access to authors' KDP accounts.
- Recent iterations of the scam include fake book clubs that charge authors fees for features or spotlights, with amounts ranging from $55 to $350.
- Scammers are increasingly using bank transfer information instead of Upwork contracts for payments, with a preference for Wells Fargo due to its international business services.
- Some authors have reported their names being used falsely as references in these scams, with fake testimonials being circulated.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- Giving away eBooks for free is a way to achieve fulfillment and support the community, which resonates with many indie authors tired of the marketing grind.
- There's a sense of camaraderie among indie authors who prefer creating for passion rather than profit, reinforcing the idea that art should come first.
Concerns
- The ecosystem stacked against indie authors is disheartening, making them susceptible to scams, which highlights the pressing need for better safeguards.
- The prevalence of scams in the book industry signals a troubling trend where genuine creators are often exploited for profit.
