Author Topic: Movers and Shakers taken over by Spammers? (Read 10174 times) Tweet

AsianInspiration · « **Reply #50 on:** October 30, 2016, 08:11:22 pm »

someone really likes donkeys...

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Some Random Guy · « **Reply #51 on:** October 30, 2016, 08:15:34 pm »

Quote from: AsianInspiration on October 30, 2016, 08:11:22 pm

someone really likes donkeys...

Well, I heard about these shows in Tijuana....

JRTomlin · « **Reply #52 on:** October 30, 2016, 08:22:08 pm »

I have been skeptical about human checks but it may be the only solution.

PhoenixS · « **Reply #53 on:** October 30, 2016, 08:24:15 pm »

#128-138 now. One of the ones pulled made it to #127 early this morning (CT).

Another thought: They could be autoset for 1000 *sales/reads* each. That would keep them just outside the Top 100. And it may not have been Amazon that even pulled the earlier ones. As soon as all 1000 copies were *bought and read*, the scammer may have been the one to pull them. $14 X 1000 = $14,000 per book. The 10 books that are up right now = at least $140,000 in profit assuming the books are being bot read or click-farm read. That's a pretty good day's take. No need really to keep them up beyond that point.

KelliWolfe · « **Reply #54 on:** October 30, 2016, 08:27:58 pm »

You know, I thought *my* speculations were bad. Phoenix, you just took it to a whole new level. This is just insane, and the worst part is that I didn't have so much as a second's hesitation in believing that you called it.

Patty Jansen · « **Reply #55 on:** October 30, 2016, 08:28:58 pm »

Quote from: JRTomlin on October 30, 2016, 08:22:08 pm

I have been skeptical about human checks but it may be the only solution.

But Amazon can't *possibly* do that, because it's what Apple does.

/snerk

sela · « **Reply #56 on:** October 30, 2016, 08:32:55 pm »

Quote from: PhoenixS on October 30, 2016, 08:24:15 pm

#128-138 now. One of the ones pulled made it to #127 early this morning (CT).

Another thought: They could be autoset for 1000 *sales/reads* each. That would keep them just outside the Top 100. And it may not have been Amazon that even pulled the earlier ones. As soon as all 1000 copies were *bought and read*, the scammer may have been the one to pull them. $14 X 1000 = $14,000 per book. The 10 books that are up right now = at least $140,000 in profit assuming the books are being bot read or click-farm read. That's a pretty good day's take. No need really to keep them up beyond that point.

OMG you're right... it might not be Amazon pulling the books. It might be the scammers. Why risk hitting the top 100 which might bring notice. Pull the books one the target is reached and put up new versions. Rinse, repeat. Brilliant. Evil but brilliant.

Atlantisatheart · « **Reply #57 on:** October 30, 2016, 08:39:27 pm »

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AsianInspiration · « **Reply #58 on:** October 30, 2016, 08:40:59 pm »

I don't know, if they really didn't want to be discovered, I'm sure they had much better ways of doing this, like doubling the number of books and halving the number of reads per book so that none of them get attention like this...

sela · « **Reply #59 on:** October 30, 2016, 08:50:43 pm »

Quote from: Atlantisatheart on October 30, 2016, 08:39:27 pm

I can't take screenshots but you should grab one of bestsellers in childrens literature; Harry Potters been invades by scam books.

Yep. Top 12 - 20 in the Kindle Store bestsellers Children's Books:

555aaa · « **Reply #60 on:** October 30, 2016, 09:08:43 pm »

The Donkey In Meadow is up to 109.

Joseph Malik · « **Reply #61 on:** October 30, 2016, 09:12:16 pm »

What really makes this crazy is that "Champion Donkey" is my porn name.

(You take your first pet's name, and the street you grew up on . . . you know what? I'll just show myself out.)

Atlantisatheart · « **Reply #62 on:** October 30, 2016, 09:12:48 pm »

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Jena H · « **Reply #63 on:** October 30, 2016, 09:16:31 pm »

So are these shysters making money on KU page reads? 'Cuz I can't imagine anyone paying $9.99 for these books.

Carol (was Dara) · « **Reply #64 on:** October 30, 2016, 09:34:31 pm »

Quote from: Jena H on October 30, 2016, 09:16:31 pm

So are these shysters making money on KU page reads? 'Cuz I can't imagine anyone paying $9.99 for these books.

I doubt they want actual readers to buy them. Actual purchasers would draw unwanted attention by returning and reporting the books, getting them yanked faster by Amazon. It's about KU page reads.

PearlEarringLady · « **Reply #65 on:** October 30, 2016, 09:39:06 pm »

Quote from: AsianInspiration on October 30, 2016, 08:40:59 pm

I don't know, if they really didn't want to be discovered, I'm sure they had much better ways of doing this, like doubling the number of books and halving the number of reads per book so that none of them get attention like this...

This is my feeling, too. It's just so outrageously blatant that the scammer's account is going to be taken down long before he/she can collect any payout. So why do it? Either it's just malicious, to screw Amazon over, or it's a well-intentioned attempt to force Amazon to change their system by breaking it comprehensively. At this point, I really see no alternative to human eyes on every KU book before they go into the system. I for one would be happy to pay for increased scrutiny rather than this shambles.

Atlantisatheart · « **Reply #66 on:** October 30, 2016, 09:45:13 pm »

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Alan Petersen · « **Reply #67 on:** October 30, 2016, 09:47:57 pm »

Amazon pays royalties 60 days out, I would think that's more than enough time for them to get busted, banned, and payment withheld (as long they're reported to Amazon).

Atlantisatheart · « **Reply #68 on:** October 30, 2016, 09:51:46 pm »

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555aaa · « **Reply #69 on:** October 30, 2016, 10:10:35 pm »

Quote from: Atlantisatheart on October 30, 2016, 09:12:48 pm

That donkey's lazy. The champion donkey is at 106 and number 6 just behind Harry Potter and the order of the phoenix in bestsellers childrens lit.

Hah. My donkey's up to 96. There goes my theory about staying below the top 100.

H.C. · « **Reply #70 on:** October 30, 2016, 10:22:30 pm »

Donkey and Meadow is just a misunderstood literary work. Sure, its message is repetetive but isn't it a message that we need to hear? I, for one welcome the message.

......~...... · « **Reply #71 on:** October 30, 2016, 10:28:21 pm »

I hope they hit #1 in the paid store! Just for the lolz!

Gator · « **Reply #72 on:** October 30, 2016, 10:55:53 pm »

The 10 BotMobile riders are currently at sales ranks #75 to #86. It takes about 1,100 to 1,200 borrows to reach those ranks in a day. Bet the scammer has more borrows coming, huh?

Gentleman Zombie · « **Reply #73 on:** October 30, 2016, 11:20:59 pm »

Quote from: PhoenixS on October 30, 2016, 08:24:15 pm

#128-138 now. One of the ones pulled made it to #127 early this morning (CT).

Another thought: They could be autoset for 1000 *sales/reads* each. That would keep them just outside the Top 100. And it may not have been Amazon that even pulled the earlier ones. As soon as all 1000 copies were *bought and read*, the scammer may have been the one to pull them. $14 X 1000 = $14,000 per book. The 10 books that are up right now = at least $140,000 in profit assuming the books are being bot read or click-farm read. That's a pretty good day's take. No need really to keep them up beyond that point.

You know what? I believe you are right. That's exactly what's happening.

Well, there are now 10 of these in the top 100 for the Amazon store overall. That's 10% of the top 100 Best Sellers list- spots that should go to legitimate authors, not scammers. So the big question is - will Amazon pay these guys out? And of course, we're only seeing the most aggressive scammers at work here. I;m sure there are others quietly making a pretty penny that we'll never notice.

BellaJames · « **Reply #74 on:** October 30, 2016, 11:21:48 pm »

Sorry I just don't understand how these people are making money.
I read the article on David Gaughrans site /KU Scammers Attack Amazon�s Free Ebook Charts but that's about the free chart. How are they making money on a book priced at $9.99

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