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JANUARY 9, 2005 at 9:22 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
A web site purporting to offer electronic versions of all five Harry Potter novels by JK Rowling, including the unreleased sixth book, has sprung up and is advertising online to fans through search engines and ad-supported sites like HPANA. We have received numerous e-mails about this issue in the past several days.
DO NOT place any orders with a site claiming to sell such rubbish. It should be noted that there are no authorized electronic text versions of the Potter books, period. The sixth, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is to be released July 16.
The Leaky Cauldron reported
yesterday that after submitting an order on the site -- which will remain unnamed -- a message was returned stating that credit card processing was unsuccessful (after card numbers were already collected and presumably stored).
HPANA has contacted the site's web host to inform them of the illegal nature of their client's site. Rowling and/or her representatives have no doubt already been alerted to the situation. It's highly likely we'll hear something official very soon, in the form of a message from Jo on her web site, or through one of her representatives.
UPDATE: According to BBC News the web site in question has been closed down.
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226-249
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1619
DurmStrang says:
Hmmm, ok. wow that was a complete waste of time. I mean why even risk it?
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 11:18 PM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
This is actually really sad. I would never trust these kinds of websites, but I can see how some people can. Never give your credit card number to a site that you don't know!
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 11:20 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 864
emmasboy4ever says:
Wow.thanks guys for the heads up.helps alot and i am not saying that in a sarcatic or rude way.emma rocks..thank everyone keep a look out.god bless.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 11:22 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1369
Scarysecrets says:
Well that didn't take very long did it! It is not a shock, thats for sure. People take such a popular thing and exploit it for all its worth. Its so sad.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 11:26 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1264
-Alf- says:
This is very bad news, all those persons who had ordered and given their credit card number away , you have to feel sorry for them. I hope that these matters somehow get fixed in order to stop these frauds.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 11:29 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1614
hermy-ninny712 says:
Hopefully no HP fans have fell for this scam. Any informed HP fan would know that if that was true, it would be on JK's site, or on one of the major HP sites as a story; not an advertisement. Really sad that people try to pull stunts like these...when will they learn...
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 11:42 PM EST
The Warrior Sorceress
Points: 3333
Devilish Katlyn says:
What low-life little cheats! That's got to be one of the nastiest things I can imagine doing to a fan!
Hope they catch them!
Devilish Katlyn
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 11:49 PM EST
Student
Points: 267
silverpixie27 says:
It's sad that people have to do things like this to try to make a buck. At least we true fans have places like HPANA to let us know that these things are happening.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 11:50 PM EST
Hogwarts Psychologist
Points: 4236
Patronus Wiz says:
Geesh, the lengths people will go through. That is just so wrong. I'm glad you are all on top of this to make sure we are all protected.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 11:57 PM EST
Witch
Points: 770
Thisbe says:
How very frustrating! I hope that it gets stopped before many people get scammed. Best of luck to JK Rowling and her representatives in stopping this and other scammers!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:02 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1206
*Jinxed* says:
I can't believe people would actually do that. They are abusing JKR's good name and her books. I hope they get caught soon! And I know I would never trust any source that says that they have the "official" HBP book before the actual release date!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:18 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 529
Dementors Shadow says:
Gosh i hate it when people have to do things like that.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:23 AM EST
Forgetful Werewolf
Points: 14831
Patronus_Potter says:
Dirty rotten scoundrels!!!
The cheek of some people! What is sad is that some may fall for their ruse, and download the stuff :(
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:24 AM EST
The Last Herald-Mage
Points: 2621
darrrrkwind says:
Really not cool. People are always trying to make a fast buck somehow or other. It makes me wonder sometimes, though. Do they really think the general population is that easily fooled? :-(
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:32 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 354
Eldgeth says:
What scum!
I see ads for "free" HBP at the top of almost every HPANA page, and I assume they are all scams. Is there any way to remove them?
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:33 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 83
9thWeasley says:
It's usually a good rule not to sent out your credit card numbers on the internet unless you've seen good results with the site. Plus, it's not even the same reading a book electronically. Kind of defeats the purpose if you can't curl up with a good book, doesn't it?
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:40 AM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3836
hermionefan1 says:
People like that make me sooooo mad, why would they do such a crappy thing!?! Anyways i hope they catch the people and make them pay.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 1:07 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2465
undisputed760 says:
Thats pretty pathetic how people have the nerve to scam people like that. I hope they get caught. Capital punishment to the lot!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 1:27 AM EST
Wind Made Solid
Points: 2579
GryffindorGrad99 says:
Oh, that is horrible that someone would do that! I just hope not too many people fell for it, I hope the scammers are caught!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 1:28 AM EST
Unspeakable
Points: 3920
stocco says:
Well, if that site claimed to have the sixth book already, you know it has to be a hoax. I mean, who would actually fall for that?
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 1:35 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1414
Hp Fan 9374 says:
That is wrong. . . so very wrong I can't believe I hpe this is only the irst case and I hope that they will be caught.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 3:11 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1542
Supreme Mugwump says:
Some people are so scum, they would do anything to get some extra money wouldn't they. Cheapskates. People be careful, don't get dragged in to these cons.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 3:41 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1921
Kirathena says:
I was wondering about that site. I posted message on the boards about it a few days ago. I figured they must be a scam to get card numbers. Or, it was possible someone had illegally acquired an advance reading copy of book 6 and scanned it into e-book format or something. I think that has happened a lot in other countries with the other books. Either way, it wasn't for me! :) Anyhow the site was really well done and looked perfectly reliable with a SSL certificate and everything. Amazing what lengths people can go to in order to cheat other people. I bet they have gotten a ton of cc numbers from this.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 4:00 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1922
emma_wannabe says:
that is just horrible. These people are just so rude... why would they do such things?!?!?
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 4:48 AM EST
Student
Points: 299
Ravi_ND says:
I knew it wasn't true. I don't know why people steal and do such things.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 4:51 AM EST
Witch
Points: 756
MeerzBeerz says:
That is soo annoying, i mean why, why! Its so unnecassary. but then again there are scum on this earth so im actually suprised it hasnt happened sooner.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 4:59 AM EST
226-249
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