Beware impersonation scamsters!

TODAY, I RECEIVED the second email from an impersonation scamster in three days. This one was from a Charley Burlock, who says she is an editor at Oprah's Book Club, raving about my new mystery novel, Riversong, wanting to include it in a special book club feature, and offering to give me a "roadmap" of the book club's plans.

I discovered that Burlock is a real editor at Oprah Daily, but I'm sure this real editor didn't send this email which came to me from a gmail address. If I had wanted to see Oprah's "roadmap," I would no doubt be asked to forward money.

The email I received three days ago was from a Michelle Nathan, claiming to be a marketing manager at Penguin Random House. Also a real person, I discovered, in her case working at Penguin in London. Her alias also reaching out from a gmail address. She gave Riversong another rave, with wording very similar to Burlock's, such as "blending emotional depth with page-turning suspense." And both signing off with "warm regards."

Nathan offered to give me an Amazon Visibility Audit. Now why would a Penguin marketing manager want to make my book a success on Amazon?

When something sounds too good to be true, it almost always is.

What bothers me is how these people--or person--got hold of my email address. They didn't send their messages through the contact-me page on this website/blog. They used my personal email address.