I Got Scammed on Fiverr by a So-Called Amazon Ads “Expert” — Here's What Really Happened

I lost $800 on Fiverr by hiring someone who claimed to be an Amazon Ads and SEO expert. Instead of boosting my book sales, I walked away with zero results, spammy backlinks, and a hard-earned lesson in trusting my gut.

If you're a self-published author using Amazon KDP to build passive income, this story could save you time, money, and a ton of frustration. I'm going to walk you through exactly what happened, the red flags I missed, and the smarter way to handle your Amazon ads and KDP SEO.

How It Started: Overwhelmed and Looking for Help

If you've ever run Amazon ads or tried to optimize your KDP listings, you know it’s a lot. I figured hiring someone more experienced would save me time and grow my book sales faster.

So, like many people do, I went to Fiverr.

I found a seller with a solid-looking gig, promising “Amazon Ads Management,” “KDP SEO,” and to “rank my books with high-converting keywords.” The reviews were decent. I messaged her to clarify what “book SEO” meant. Her answer? “Improving book SEO is part of my service.”

When I asked if that included the title, description, and keyword fields on Amazon KDP, she replied: “No, it’s your book SEO.”

That should have been my first red flag—but I didn’t want to seem inexperienced. So I paid $800 for her to “work her magic” on three of my books. Big mistake.

What She Did (or Didn’t Do)

Red flags came quickly.

When I followed up, she said she was “backlinking my books.” That made me pause—because backlinks don’t help your Amazon listings the way they might with a blog or website.

She sent me a list of sketchy directories. No screenshots, no proof these links were connected to my KDP listings. In fact, several sites were known for black-hat SEO tactics. These links could’ve actually hurt my Amazon standing—or even triggered penalties.

Then came the Amazon Ads.

She set up one ad for all three books—even though they were in completely different categories (a planner, a coloring book, a journal). That’s not strategic—it’s sloppy.

She also dumped 600 unrelated keywords into that single ad campaign. I asked why, and she replied: “You’re supposed to add words that don’t align with the book.”

That’s not how negative keywords work. I even sent her an article explaining proper Amazon Ads structure. She never responded.

What It Cost Me (Beyond the $800)

Once I realized how off-track things were, I asked for a refund. She begged for more time. I gave her another chance—but after four more days and zero progress, I canceled the order through Fiverr and thankfully got my money back.

But here’s what I really lost:

• Momentum.

• Energy.

• Confidence.

I started doubting what I knew. But the truth is—I was already doing things the right way. I just didn’t trust myself.

What I Learned (and What You Should Do Instead)

There are no shortcuts to real success with Amazon KDP ads or SEO. If someone’s promising magic or buzzword tactics without clear explanations, it’s time to walk away.

Here’s what works:

✅ Learn the basics.
Use tools like BookBolt (use code CLANCY20) and ChatGPT to find keywords your readers are actually searching for.

✅ Start small.
Run a simple Sponsored Product campaign for one book. Watch the numbers. Adjust. Don’t toss in hundreds of keywords—be intentional.

✅ Trust your instincts.
You can learn this. You don’t need to outsource everything. When you do hire someone, make sure they explain their strategy and show proof of real results.

✅ Invest in education, not shortcuts.
If you want to go deeper, my full KDP course breaks down how I run ads and research effectively: Start the KDP Course here

You can also download my free KDP toolkit to get started with proven tools, guides, and strategies.

Fiverr Isn’t the Problem—But Trust Matters

I’ve had great experiences on Fiverr—with designers, editors, and formatters. But this experience reminded me that not every seller has the expertise they claim.

From now on, I’ll:

• Ask detailed questions up front

• Request proof of past results

• Never ignore my gut instinct

If you’ve had a similar experience—good or bad—I’d love to hear it. Leave a comment below so we can help each other avoid the scams and find the good ones.

And if this post saved you from wasting money or time? Share it with someone else trying to grow their author business.