Buyer Beware
Is it just me, or does there seem to be more to be wary of these days?
Scams and schemes abound, from the automated phone calls that threaten you with Revenue Canada if you don’t contact them to the truly horrific bogus kidnapping messages that claim they have your children.
And then there’s the people promising to change your life if you only hand over your wallet.
Case in point, recently I’ve been approached by companies offering to promote one of my books. Sounds good, right?
“You’re book has been recommended to us by …”
“We will flog your book on social media daily …”
I don’t know how much money these companies want because I hang up on them before they get to that point. Am I skeptical?
Hmmm… Am I breathing?
The first solicitor didn’t even know the title of my book. The second one sent me an email that could have used a grammar check.
Hmmm…
One caller said his company was based out of Las Vegas. Really?
So many books out there, so many that never get seen let alone read. Every indie author knows this — so do the companies offering to help you.
Caveat Emptor
How do they get your phone number? The number of bogus calls I get is insane. Most of them don’t even hire people to make the calls anymore. I like to mess with the computers that call me. I ask, “Are you human?” After I hear whatever creative lie is programmed in I hang up.
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Yeah, I wondered that too. They had my phone number and email address and, not the name I write under, but my “real” name.
They only knew about my first book so I’m thinking maybe they got my info from the self-publishing company I used.
LOL! Those automated calls are just insulting. How dumb do they think we are? 🙂
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I had never heard of this book scam before. It’s not surprising though. I get those goddam robocalls constantly, even though I’m on the official no-call list. My “favorite” call informs me that my Microsoft computer is infected. I got rid of my Microsoft system years ago.
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We’re on the no-call list too. Doesn’t seem to help much. Most of the calls to my landline are these bogus scams or the ever favourite duct cleaning 🙂
I’m not sure this book thing is a total scam, I didn’t research it.
I do know they have no clue as to what kind of books I write 🙂
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I bet it is a scam. It reminds me of those TV ads for companies that want you to think your invention is the next best thing and they will promote it.
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Exactly! As Hugh says, “Too good to be true. ” 🙂
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What’s the saying? “If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.”
As for the calls, I answer the phone and say “City Morgue.” It usually helps. 😀
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Too true 🙂
“City Morgue” LOL! That’s good 🙂
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Other than the CRTC requiring all telemarketer calls to begin with a clear message identifying the caller, and to display the originating phone number, there are no anti-robocall laws in Canada. Seriously, I do not understand why not. While frustrating to all, they have also terrorized and caused much financial ruin — especially for seniors. You have every right to be skeptical. Great post!
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Some people have been hurt, usually the ones who can afford it the least 🙂
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Sadly true!
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When they call and ask me by my name I usually just say – “who’s he?”
JP
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LOL!
We like, “Sorry, he’s dead.” 🙂
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Argh. Thanks for teaching me a cool phrase. I’d never heard “Caveat Emptor”. And ARGH again. It does suck. The whole scam phobia running rampant. I keep getting a call, for months now, no matter how many times I block the number, that I have committed a horrible crime and unless I call back and give my information I will spend my life in jail. Seriously? Alrighty then. Sad. I have an elderly mother who is hilarious and pretty much all there. I tell her often to absolutely ignore ANY call that wants any sort of information. I believe I’ve said, when it pertains to a bill or service “I don’t care if it’s Jesus Christ himself. Hang up. Find the right number from a bill, and then call that company and see if they called You for any reason.” She received one the other day, laughed and said, “This isn’t how life works!” and hung up. Yay. Whew.
I got one of those emails years ago about people wanting to publish, promote my book. And I get them about my art. I got SO excited the first time. Then I looked them up. Lord. I think all those people should be sent to another planet altogether. Where they are bogusly solicited constantly—not matter where they are or what they are doing—until their life runs its course.
Apparently You touched a nerve, Aimer! 🤣 Great post. Fun reading the comments as well. Thank You and Cheers!!! 😊💖☀️
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That’s how they get you, right? They plug right in to what we want in our secret dreams 🙂
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It’s so mean. 😕
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