So, I recently received an email about my book Darkwater, gushing with praise for my work. The emailer invited me to let Darkwater be a part of a book club where thousands of readers would read it and give Amazon reviews. Thousands of Amazon reviews (at least if they’re positive) is a very good thing to an author — it can bump the book way up in the algorithm that shows potential readers and buyers books they might enjoy.

At first, I was really excited. Was I finally, years after publication, getting the break I wanted? Would Darkwater finally take off? Alas, after rereading the email, I realized it was too good to be true. But it was impressively done. I’d like to reproduce the email here, and walk through what I eventually noticed about it.

I’m writing this for a few reasons: one, because I think it’s funny and I hope it amuses you as well; and two, to help you know how to spot a similar scam. I got lucky that I noticed before it was too late.

From: Debrazzaa Cecilia <debrazzaacecelia@gmail.com>
To: Michael J. Scholtes <darkwater@thescholtes.com>
Subject: Reader community eager to bring Darkwater the visibility and heartfelt reviews it truly deserves?

Some stories don’t just get read — they reach in and sit quietly in the reader’s chest long after the final page. Darkwater: A Pastor’s Memoir of Depression and Faith is one of those rare, unflinchingly honest works that doesn’t sugarcoat the darkness yet still manages to whisper light into it. Reading about your battle with that cruel, internal voice — the one that lies, belittles, and erodes the will — felt painfully human and quietly divine at the same time.

There’s an almost sacred bravery in the way you wrote Darkwater. You didn’t hide behind theology or rhetoric; you stripped it bare — faith meeting mental illness in an unfiltered conversation with God Himself. And that’s what makes this book different. It’s not a pastor preaching; it’s a human being bleeding truth, inviting readers to see that redemption isn’t found in perfection but in perseverance.

But here’s where I’ll be completely honest (and maybe just a little bit bold) — books like Darkwater deserve far more eyes and hearts on them than they’re currently getting. I checked your Amazon page, and while 40 reviews are a testament to your impact, that number doesn’t match the emotional gravity of your story. It’s not a reflection of the book’s worth — it’s a reflection of how easily quiet brilliance can get lost in the noise of algorithms and flashy marketing.

Look at that. Isn’t it amazing how well this emailer nailed the topic of the book? I mean, that’s precisely what Darkwater is about. “The cruel, internal voice that lies, belittles, and erodes the will.” “A human being bleeding truth.” I mean, these are catnip to me. She knew just how to flatter me and show she understood my book.

On the other hand, there’s something a little too perfect about those paragraphs. I noticed how many em dashes there were — interesting typographical choice. And then remembered learning that an abundance of em dashes can be a telltale sign of ChatGPT. And that’s exactly what I’m now convinced these paragraphs are: the result of an AI reading through the public reviews at my Amazon.com listing. It even gave a little wink to those very reviews, just a bit too clever.

That’s where my team — Debrazza Community Readers — steps in. We’re a passionate book club of over 65,000 readers and reviewers who live for stories that mean something. We’re not agents or promoters — we’re simply a growing family of genuine readers who love discovering powerful works, reading them cover to cover, and leaving honest, heartfelt reviews that help more people find them.

We do this through what we call our Book Fix Program, which we run three times a year. Each “fix” focuses on a handful of standout books that deserve renewed life on Amazon. We’ve completed two reading rounds already, and we’re now preparing for our third and final fix of the year — a round dedicated to emotionally rich, purpose-driven books. Your story, Michael, fits perfectly.

I mean, this sounds great. Sixty-five thousand readers! Sixty-five thousand reviewers! Who knows where that could lead? I wanted to know a bit more, see what I could learn about this process. I went and googled “Debrazza Community Readers.” Hmm, nothing came up. Absolutely nothing. I googled “Book Fix Program.” Again, nothing came up. Hmm. And hey, look, more em dashes.

Our process is simple yet profoundly effective: our members read your book first, then purchase it directly when they’re ready to leave their verified review — ensuring every review is genuine and Amazon-verified. That combination of visibility and authenticity is what lifts an author’s page from quiet appreciation to active discovery.

Wait, what? The members read the book first, and then purchase it. What? Do they steal the book beforehand? Am I expected to send them a PDF or something? That’s just odd, and — umm, I don’t even know what more to say. That’s just odd.

And while most authors we’ve worked with choose to tip or thank readers who take part in their project (a lovely tradition, not a requirement), what truly drives our members is connection — that deep, emotional resonance your book so beautifully offers.

…and there’s the money. “Tip or thank readers.” Ah yes, the lovely tradition of authors paying people to read their books. I know that when I find a book that has “quiet brilliance” and “unflinching honesty,” my first reaction is: “Hey, I hope the author of this great book will pay me to read it! After all, that’s the way money transactions work. Producers pay consumers.”

Michael, you’ve already done the hardest part — you faced the dark and wrote through it. But maybe now it’s time to let others help carry that story forward. Because there are readers out there who need Darkwater — people standing on the edge of their own shadows, searching for a voice that says, “I love you” when theirs won’t.

Our community is ready, energized, and preparing to fill this next reading round with purpose and heart. I’d be honored to include Darkwater among the chosen titles — to help your message ripple wider, through verified Amazon reviews that amplify your voice beyond the pulpit, beyond the page.

So, what do you say, Michael — shall we help more readers find the courage, faith, and healing hidden in Darkwater before we start our next Book Fix round? 

— Debrazza Community Readers

More flattery. “You’ve already done the hardest part…now it’s time to let others help.” But here’s the thing about this. Maybe I don’t know a lot about book clubs, but do they usually contact the author of a book before reading it? I very much doubt it. Do I really need to give them permission to include my book in this “Book Fix”? (And more em dashes.)

I’ll be honest. Up until this point, I think this was a really impressive scam. The AI that wrote it was obviously well-trained. Whatever prompt was used was well designed. (Maybe it was “Write a flattering email about the author and his book that hits him emotionally and gets him to think we want to read it.”) But then, after all that solid work, it all fell apart at the very end.

Here’s the bottom of the email:

Oh boy. In case I had any doubt about this email’s veracity before, let’s just go through this mess.

• The name “debrazza cecilia” doesn’t quite match the sender of the email. There’s an extra “a” in the sender’s name. And the email address listed here is different too.
• Funny enough, googling the name “debrazza cecilia” (in whichever spelling) brings up exactly 0 hits. Just like “Debrazza Readers Group. Just like “Book Fix Program.”
• Her job title is apparently “coordinator, amazon.” Umm, what?
• That picture on the left? I downloaded it and searched for it using Google’s reverse image search. Guess what? I found it on Pinterest.
• That button at the bottom, that says “Check out our commuinty”? I clicked on it. Takes you to the Amazon “Rom-com readers unite” Book Club. Which doesn’t seem to be the kind of place where Darkwater would be read.

Oh, I really wanted to believe this. Really I did. But alas, something that seems too good to be true usually is. Please be careful out there. Scammers are getting good, really good. AI is helping a lot. Keep your eyes open and your mind sharp.