Many of you will be familiar with this company. I know that some of you take the book-reading challenges, and write about them on your blogs. I checked it out, and found that I could leave book reviews, choose my favourite type of genres, and receive suggestions for books I might like to read.
That sounded pretty good, as it is also free of charge. Since I have been determined to read more, after buying the Amazon Kindle Fire, I concluded that joining Goodreads might be worthwhile. So I created an account, using the app on my Kindle Fire. I soon received confirmation, along with some suggested titles, and an invitation to participate in a challenge. (Which I declined)
Early days, but it looked like something I would come back to in the future, and might make some use of. Either way, I didn’t see how it could do any harm. Two days later, and I have started to receive emails from them, advising me of new followers to my profile, others wanting to read my reviews. I thought this was strange, as I haven’t posted any reviews, but I checked one out anyway, by clicking on the email sent by Goodreads.
I was surprised to discover that the woman in question claimed to be a ‘Chef’, and was looking for ‘good sex’. There was a link to her private contact page, which of course I didn’t click on. A few more arrived, all with nice profile pictures, and a variety of ‘occupations’. Each offered something different, from ‘Private contact’, to ‘Hook-ups’, or access to ‘More photos’. I know better than to click on any of their links, but I wonder if others might be fooled?
After all, it comes from a literary site with a solid reputation, (owned by Amazon) and on the surface may seem innocent, if you don’t read the ‘small print’. I am not suggesting Goodreads encourages or facilitates this. It would appear to be outsiders using the ‘follow’ option to facilitate contact with genuine members.
But sadly, it seems like the scammers have found yet another way through, making me ever more convinced that this stuff will never end.
I have been a Goodreads member for years and never received messages like this. How annoying!
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I suspect it is because of my age and gender, Abbi. π By coincidence, after I put this up, the emails stopped immediately!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Sorry to hear you had this problem. I suppose it is everywhere. I know I have had same sort of issues elsewhere but nothing of that sort on Goodreads.
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Thanks, Marje. Funnily enough, it stopped the day after I posted this! π
Best wishes, Pete.
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Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
About Goodreads – enough said…
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Wow, they had your number (just kidding).
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I suppose my profile looked right for them, Jennie. π
It seems to have stopped since I posted this!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Haha! Best to you, Pete.
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Great information, Pete! Thank you! Never had this problems, but … never say never. π Best wishes, Michael
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Since I wrote this, it seems to have stopped! π
Best wishes, Pete.
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Maybe your browsing habits from Benny Goes Bust are catching up with you π
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I actually believe that, Eduardo. I get all sorts of weird emails, and some very suggestive ‘followers’. Oh well, keeps me ‘perky’!
Cheers, Pete.
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As you muse, it will never end, it is the human condition.
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Thanks, PV. Very true.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Sadly so, and thanks
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I’ve had mainly positive experiences with Goodreads and even do the Reading Challenge. Only had two weird friend requests that got deleted. I post my reviews on my blog, then Goodreads and finally to Amazon as followers vary.
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Thanks for letting me know about your GR experience, Roland. I’m sure I am not ‘doing it right’ on GR, as I can’t seem to get used to the way it operates. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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It is almost an epidemic….hackers and scammers everywhere…..I have now just not trust any site I go to completely and always looking for these guys…..good heads up Pete…well done….chuq
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Thanks, chuq. Seems they are only targeting (some) men. I suppose men+sex is a likely route for that type of marketing. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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My Spam folder fills up with meds/sex/sneakers and jerseys…..to the tune of 300 a day….like I said I trust few sites so I seldom check anything out at random….chuq
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It’s name Goodreads is a misnomer. Especially among authors. Goodreads is a poison chalice…
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I doubt I will bother to continue with it, Jack. Especially since I found out it is just another tentacle of Amazon. I already review things there, and I am on the product testing panel. No need for me to duplicate everything on GR too. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m with you, Pete! π
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Pleased to hear that, Dina. π X
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IΓ’ΒΒm sorry youΓ’ΒΒre having trouble with Goodreads.
I have a good experience. Follow many authors, as well as friends. Have some fellow authors who blog there and have a great result.
Not anything IΓ’ΒΒve ever dealt with the things youΓ’ΒΒre dealing with.
You might want to check your computer security as this is honestly the first time IΓ’ΒΒve ever heard of any such problem.
Not saying itΓ’ΒΒs not happening just never had the experience.
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Thanks, Patty. I have a good anti-virus and other security features. This is coming from Goodreads, who I obviously approved, by way of a notification emal. It’s not that big an issue, and I suspect it mainly affects men who have joined, rather than female members. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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Great post π Sorry that happened to you. Scammers seem to pop-up everywhere. If it is not through the phones (“we have an amazing deal for you”), it is through one’s own computer. I hope you do not have any further trouble. Anyway, keep up the great work as always π
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Thanks, John. It’s not a big deal, but it did leave me wondering. I can just delete the emails.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Was her name Vanessa perhaps? Maybe your story is infiltrating Goodreads.
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Nicely done, Elizabeth! π
Best wishes, Pete.
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Sorry to hear about it Pete. been in Goodreads for so many years now but I haven’t experienced receiving e-mails like the ones you received. They only remind me what to read next and I have finished.
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From all the comments, it does appear that I might be the only one on here getting those ‘followers’, Arlene. Perhaps it is my age and gender? π
Best wishes, Pete.
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That’s unfortunate Pete! I do hope you enjoy Goodreads in the future.
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I hadn’t thought to use it; thanks for the head’s up. What a shame! How aggravating!
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It seems I may have been receiving ‘special treatment’, Cindy. Most of the others who have commented don’t get them. π
Best wishes, Pete.x
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i’m not on goodreads but good to know Pete. thanks π
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From the comments, it might only be me getting them, Wilma. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m also on Goodreads and have never received an email from anyone. I also haven’t posted a review or profile. I think Maggie must be right. You have that je ne sais quoi.
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The emails are from Goodreads, informing me of ‘new followers’. I seem to be the only one! Should I be worried? Probably not, Peggy. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m tempted to sign up straight away. I thought I would begin by reviewing the Fifty Shades series, but Amazon usefully suggests that people who buy those are also interested in the After Dark series and the Dirty series, so I’d better do them as well.
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Let me know how you get on with those ‘followers’, Tasker! π
Best wishes, Pete.
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Perhaps I should add that I’ve no interest in reading these books. I’ll just write the reviews based on what I think they might be about.
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You must have that certain je ne sais quoi….
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Looks that way, Maggie. I should be worried, I suppose. But still, a female chef who wants sex?
Maybe I shouldn’t have deleted her message… π π
Best wishes, Pete.
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I signed up for Goodreads a few years ago but rarely visit the site – for one thing I always forget my password and it’s a faff getting a new one (which I’ll forget before I next go on the site) each time. All the notifications I receive are about new reviews from people I must have followed or new books by authors whose books I read. No sexy chefs π¦
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Thanks, Mary. It must be all that research I did, for ‘Benny Goes Bust’. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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It’s cos you’re a silver fox π
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More like a shiny badger! π
Best wishes, Pete.
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π€£
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π
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I’m a member of Goodreads, but I almost never visit the site. And I certainly have never received any sexual solicitations stemming from my membership. I guess that means I’m just not as desirable as you are.
I’m not too sexy for my shirt.
I’m not too sexy for my car.
I’m not too sexy for my cat.
I’m too sexy for this blog.
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On second thought, I’m not too sexy for this blog either. (sigh)
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That song is still very popular here, David. They must think I am ‘in the market’, for some reason. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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I have been on Goodreads for awhile, never had that happen, but also not quite sure the point of it all,,,not much interaction from anyone, posting reviews there seems duplicative of what I do on my blog, so don’t utilize it as much as I should
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I am beginning to feel like that after a couple of days, John. The emails were the nails in the coffin. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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Haha, LOL!!
I am sorry but this is funny, I hope that you take care of it!
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It is amusing, I grant you. But it shows a flaw in Amazon’s ‘armour’ too. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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Everything has one or two flaw, It is impossible to be perfect.
But this was a little awkward, I hope you unfollow or send a msg to them!!
Just in case
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I never ‘followed back’, or accepted them. π
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That is what I would have done.
Good day!!
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(Sorry, you are not Felicity. I changed the reply. π
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Well I just googled what that mean and I liked that!!
Np
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It is a lady’s name in the west, and I mixed up the comments. π
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Haha!
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That so strange! I’ve never had anything like that and I’ve been on Goodreads for a few years now… Hopefully it was just an anomaly? π€
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Thanks, Nicole. Maybe it’s because I am an old guy, and they thought I would be in the market for ‘Chef sex’? π π
Best wishes, Pete.
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….I wonder if there would be a lot of food play involved….
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Huh. I never had that happen, however I had my account hacked so Iβm not on Goodreads or Amazon anymore.
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I think I will be ignoring Goodreads for a while, Kim.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Iβll be honest. I never had you down as someone whoβd refuse sex from a chef π
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At least she could cook me dinner afterwards. π
Cheers, Pete.
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See? Youβre reverting to type already.
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HA! Nice!
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He has known me for a long time, John. π
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π€£π€£
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I think we all get these, but they’re easily blocked.
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Thanks, Stevie.
New to me, so I will investigate how to block them.
Best wishes, Pete.
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π¦
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Getting through Amazon by ‘the back door’, it would seem.
Best wishes, Pete.
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