Amazon Book Scams Targeting Authors: How to Protect Yourself
Scammers are targeting authors with fake Amazon services and phishing emails. Learn how to spot these threats and protect your publishing business.
Amazon is the world’s largest bookstore, making it a prime target for scammers looking to exploit eager authors. From fake “Amazon Publishing” partners to sophisticated phishing attacks, the threats are growing.
Here are the most common scams targeting authors on Amazon right now and how you can protect your work and wallet.
1. The “Amazon Publishing” Impersonators
This is the most widespread scam today. You might receive a cold call or email from a company claiming to be “Amazon Publishing” or a “Kindle Direct Publishing Partner.”
They often use Amazon’s logo and official-sounding names like “Amazon Publishing Pros” or “Kindle Publishing Official.” They will offer you a “publishing package” for thousands of dollars.
The Reality:
- Amazon KDP is free. It does not cost money to upload your book.
- Amazon does not cold call authors to sell services.
- Amazon has a real imprint called Amazon Publishing (APub), but they operate like a traditional publisher. They contact you to buy rights; they never ask you to pay them.
Protection Tip: Check the URL. Real Amazon emails come from @amazon.com or @kdp.com. If the website isn’t kdp.amazon.com, it’s not them.
2. Account Termination Phishing
Scammers know that losing a KDP account is an author’s worst nightmare. They exploit this fear with phishing emails.
You receive an urgent email: “Your KDP account has been suspended due to a policy violation. Click here to appeal immediately or lose your account.”
The link takes you to a fake login page designed to steal your password. Once they have it, they can redirect your royalty payments to their own bank accounts.
Protection Tip:
- Never click links in “suspension” emails.
- Go directly to
kdp.amazon.comand log in. If there is a real issue, you will see a notification on your dashboard. - Enable Two-Step Verification (2SV) on your Amazon account immediately.
3. The “Bestseller” & Review Services
Services that promise to make you an “Amazon Bestseller” or guarantee 50+ reviews for a fee are often scams.
Amazon has strict rules against paying for reviews. Using these services puts your account at risk of termination for manipulation.
Some “bestseller” campaigns simply buy your book in bulk using bot accounts, which Amazon’s algorithms detect easily. You might get the “Best Seller” badge for an hour, but you risk getting banned for life.
Protection Tip: Focus on legitimate marketing (Amazon Ads, email lists, BookBub) rather than shortcuts. If a service guarantees a specific ranking, run away.
4. Third-Party Resellers & Pirates
You might see a third-party seller listing your paperback for $30 when you set the price at $15. Or worse, you find a pirate copy of your ebook being sold by someone else.
- Resellers: Often, these are dropshippers who don’t actually have your book. If someone buys from them, they buy it from you (at your price) and ship it to the customer, keeping the profit. This is annoying but usually legal.
- Pirates: These are thieves selling stolen files. This is a copyright violation.
Protection Tip:
- For resellers: Ignore them. They still have to buy the book from you, so you get your royalty.
- For pirates: File a copyright infringement notice with Amazon immediately using their official form.
Conclusion
The golden rule of self-publishing is simple: Money should flow to the author.
Amazon will never ask you to wire money for “server fees” or “publishing packages.” Stay skeptical, verify every email, and protect your KDP login like the business asset it is.