They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Savannah Guthrie’s new book is so popular, scammers have been scheming to print fakes.
The “Today” anchor’s new faith-based publication, “Mostly What God Does,” sold out immediately when it was released last week, even causing Amazon’s “buy” button to go down.
We’re told scammers have been trying to dupe readers into buying imitation copies and workbooks, since the book is currently not available on the site.
Guthrie told us her mom alerted her to the fakes.
“I couldn’t believe it. My mom sent it to me, and it says it’s a ‘workbook,’ and it’s even yellow like the color of the [real] book. But I didn’t write any workbooks, so don’t buy them!” Guthrie told Page Six.
Guthrie’s publisher, Damon Reiss of Harper Collins’ imprint W Publishing Group, told us it’s all par for the course for fakes to pop up after a new release quickly rises to the top.
“When a book hits No. 1 as fast as Savannah’s did, third-party sellers will often create fake books,” he said.
“We are thrilled Savanah’s book continues to sell out in a matter of hours and days. However, that means scammers are still trying to sell fake copies,” he added.
A rep for Amazon did not get back to us.
There seemed to be 11 “workbooks” available on the site as of Friday. And one didn’t even didn’t bother to spellcheck her name!
“These ‘workbooks’ are not real and not by me! Watch out (they spelled my name wrong — that’s the first clue). I haven’t done any workbook,” she wrote as a warning to her Instagram followers.
We’re told Guthrie’s publisher had the fakes removed from Amazon.
Either way, the NBC News star was on cloud nine as her colleagues — including Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, Sheinelle Jones, Willie Geist and Laura Jarrett — celebrated her new book with a party at Peoplehood in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood.
“A book party about God! [There was] a lot of love. My husband gave a beautiful speech… I’m so happy and so grateful,” the author told Page Six on the scene.
She added: “The reception has kind of surprised and shocked and delighted me. I was really scared to put myself out there in this way. I still am in a lot of ways.”
But, “People want to talk about faith. They want to talk and have deeper connections, and I’m so glad to be a part of that.”
Guthrie’s pals in media — such as Deborah Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Lester Holt, Poppy Harlow, Stephanie Ruhle and Arianna Huffington — were also there to celebrate, and the lieutenant governor of New York, Antonio Delgado, also swung by.
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