Scam Assessment: Uzair Yaqoob
Here is an example of an unsolicited message apparently leveraging a legitimate business for scamming purposes.
Original Message
Header: Best-seller signal authors miss
From: Uzair Yaqoob <uzair.yaqoob@hawknotchcloudai.com>
Hi Rae, I wanted to share a quick thought I didn’t mention earlier (and hopefully share an angle that might actually help visibility) since we help KDP authors like yours get more organic readers and stronger Amazon visibility by using simple positioning tweaks—keywords, categories, metadata alignment that don’t require heavy time or big ad budgets. We helped mid-sized KDP authors achieve started pulling in more natural readers. Want a peek at what we’ve seen working really well lately?
Ozair
Co-Founder
Hawk Notch
Scam Assessment:
High Risk of Scam or Unsolicited Spam
Overall Verdict: This message exhibits strong scam/phishing indicators, particularly as a cold email (no prior context). It’s not a blatant “Nigerian prince” scam, but a sophisticated lead-generation or service upsell tactic mimicking legitimate marketing. Treat with extreme caution—do not engage.
This unsolicited email from “Uzair Yaqoob” at uzair.yaqoob@hawknotchcloudai.com carries a high risk of being a scam or phishing attempt, despite Hawk Notch appearing as a real business based in Pakistan. While the company exists—with Uzair Mirza (aka “Hawk”) listed as founder and CEO—there’s no record of anyone named Uzair Yaqoob working there, suggesting potential impersonation or a rogue spam operation using their domain.
The message’s red flags are glaring it fabricates prior context (“a quick thought I didn’t mention earlier”) despite no previous interaction, vaguely promises Amazon KDP success through “simple positioning tweaks” like keywords and metadata, and teases a “peek” to lure engagement—all without delivering upfront value. The sender name inconsistency (Uzair to “Ozair”), sloppy phrasing (e.g., incomplete “achieve started pulling”), and generic AI-hyped domain further scream mass spam or lead-gen bait targeting authors.
Such tactics exploit KDP users’ pain points, often escalating to paid scams, fake tools, or credential theft. FTC data shows a surge in these Amazon-related frauds. Legitimate outreach from Hawk Notch would come from verified staff like Mirza, not a ghost employee.
Evidence & Context
- Prevalence: Amazon KDP scams surged 300%+ in 2023 (FTC data); cold emails promising “organic traffic” often funnel to fake tools, review farms, or phishing for AWS/Amazon login creds.
- Domain Check: hawknotchcloudai.com – No WHOIS history or reviews on ScamAdviser/Trustpilot. AI-branded domains explode for spam (per cybersecurity reports like Proofpoint).
- No Value Upfront: Legit services (e.g., Helium 10) provide free resources first; this withholds to extract contact.
Bottom line: Ignore, delete, and report to phishing.gov or Amazon. Do not reply or click implied links—verify independently via official channels if curious. This is almost certainly not helpful advice, but a hook for trouble. Stay vigilant.
Rae Stonehouse is a Canadian author, publisher, and advocate committed to exposing publishing scams and supporting writers through education and community. As the creator of Authors Against Scammers, Rae provides clear, practical guidance to help writers protect their work, their money, and their peace of mind. His books and resources reflect a lifelong dedication to empowering others through knowledge, clarity, and real‑world experience.
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